08 May 2021, 08:39

François on Yahiko Line

François on tracks with only one line. Yahiko Line

2021 may 07 dsc 0622

08 May 2021, 08:38

Day by Day plans for walking ~400km to Niigata

Route across Honshu (dates listed at this link are wrong; locations are off.  Refer to details below the map on this page)

Details:

These are maps of each segment, subject to change. For the latest info, PM me on LINE.

  • Day One, (Friday April 16th 2021 *)
    Walk 21km, From Rinko Park on the bay in Yokohama to my house (not shown). (21km walked so far)

As part of the kickoff event, I will lead a walking meditation in Rinko Park.

Join us Friday April 16th at Rinko Park in Yokohama, (map) on the concrete circle in Rinko Park.

Walk to our area from Rinko Park

  • Day Two (Saturday April 17th *) Part 1:
    Walk 4km, from my house (not shown) To Yomiuriland (25km walked so far)

I will walk from my house to Yomiuriland, possibly via 百合ヶ丘駅 or just go a more direct route.

02 walk 04km to yomiuriland

Join us Saturday April 17th in Yomiuriland

👉🏿 Let’s enjoy riding roller coasters in Yomiuriland!
👉🏿 Anyone want to try the bungee? It’s not that tall!

It will probably be dark by the time we leave Yomiuriland, so I doubt we will be able to see much near Tama River.
But we’ll cross Tama River and then walk a bit to Chuokan Hotel.

03 walk 08km to Chuokan hotel in Fuchu

Walk 3km Hotel Chūō-kan to Musashi Kokubunji Park

Walk 3km Musashi Kokubunji Park to Pizza-La Hitotsubashi Gakuen

Including ~1 hour at the Sewerage Museum

Walk 4km Pizza-La Hitotsubashi Gakuen to Higashimurayama Shiritsu Fujimi Community Center

  1. Meet at 2pm at 東村山市立富士見公民館 (Higashimurayama Shiritsu Fujimi Community Center), close to 八坂駅 (Yasaka Station)
  2. 2:15pm - 3pm Walking Meditation Event in 東村山中央公園 (Higashimurayama Chuo Park)
  3. 3pm - 3:30pm walk to Toilet 5 in 都立狭山公園 (Sayama Park) (nearish 武蔵大和駅 (Musashi-Yamato Station))
  4. 3:45pm - walk mindfully to Toilet 2 in 都立狭山公園 (Sayama Park)
  5. go play at Seibuen Amusement Park (if it is open!)
  6. 5:30pm - 6:30pm Walking Meditation Event for 3.8km along Lake Tama to 西武球場前駅 (Seibukyujo-mae Station)

For latest updates, join our LINE group!

Walk 9km Higashimurayama Shiritsu Fujimi Community Center to Hotel Restay

Plan to hang out in Totoro’s Forest for about an hour until 10am.

walk 1.3km from Hotel Restay to Totoro’s Forest no.1

Eat lunch until 12:45pm

walk 5.6km from Totoro’s Forest no.1 to Fujisawa central park

~45 minutes Walking Meditation in Sayama Inariyama Prefectural Park until 15:15pm

Walk 4.3km to Sayama Inariyama Prefectural Park

See the zoo for an hour until 17:45pm

Walk 4.4km Sayama Inariyama Prefectural Park to Sayama City Chikozan Park Children’s Zoo

Chill at hot spring for an hour until 19:30

Walk 2km Sayama City Chikozan Park Children’s Zoo to Tennenonsen Kachofugetsu Hot Spring

Walk 2km from Tennenonsen Kachofugetsu Hot Spring to

  1. Optional chill Marugame Seimen Beisia Hidaka Mall
  2. Definitely turn here

Walk 7km to Strawberry garden

  1. Probably take photos near Oppe river
  2. Mail postcards at Hatoyama Post Office
  3. Possibly take photos near Hato river

Walk 6km from Strawberry Garden to Lawson Hatoyamaizumii Shop

  1. Take photos of rice fields

Walk 6km from Lawson Hatoyamaizumii Shop to Ranzan Valley BBQ Area

Walk 9km From ranzanto Nokonoko Italian

Along the way:

  1. Dai Sushi (TODO: call to confirm their hours possible number 048-582-2577)

Walk 07kmFrom Nokonokoto Spamu

  1. Write letters / postcards at Cafe ポエム or Ekimae Jido Park

Walk 9kmFrom SPAMUto Cafe ポエムnearish Matsuhisa Station

  1. Mail postcards at Misato Post Office (open 9am - 5pm)

Walk 08km to hotel in Honjo

Walk 12km from hotel in Honjo to Isesaki Shiminnomori Park

Hang out until 14:30pm at Kezoji Park

Walk 5km from Isesaki Shiminnomori Park to Kezoji Park

Walk 3kmKezoji Park to 7-Eleven

Walking Meditation in Maebashishioshima Park until 7pm

Walk 6km7-Eleven to Maebashishioshima Park

Walk 2kmFrom Maebashishioshima Park to 前橋ホテルルカ

  • Day Nine (Saturday April 24th *) Part 1:
    Walk 4km, From Hotel Ruruka To Luna Park (148km walked so far)

Pass by:

  1. Maebashi Childrens Park

Walk 4km from Hotel Ruruka to Luna Park

Walk 10km from Luna Park to Sky Terme Shibukawa

Walk 3km from Sky Terme Shibukawa to Hotel Tatsumi

(?) Possibly stop by Shibukawa Skyland Park via https://goo.gl/maps/yEppuH7sbBVKts1m8

Walk ~8kmfrom Hotel Tatsumi to Kaneshimaonsen Fuki Hot Spring

Will turn left at Planet Restroom and Restaurant Planet (closed)

Walk 10km from Kaneshimaonsen Fuki Hot Spring to Midorinomura Camp Ground

Will likely visit 上州たかやま 田んぼアート (field art) for photos!

Walk 5kmfrom Midorinomura Camping Ground to Kodaira Meat Shop

Walk 2km From Kodaira Meat Shop to 赤根峠 ポケットパーク

Including through a tunnel with a narrow sidewalk..

Will pass Meigetsu Orchards

Walk 5km 赤根峠 ポケットパーク to Ramen restaurant via Meigetsu Orchards

Will pass 7-Eleven Minakami Fuse Shop

Walk 7km From Ramen restaurant to Yumotokan via 7-Eleven Minakami Fuse Shop

Oh nooo the Bungy jump location seems to be closed April 27th!!

Walk 04km to bungee jump

Walk 06km from bungee jump to Sports Inn Fujiya

Will use:

Will not use:

Notice the tunnels on Highway 17 (Mikuni Highway), south of Obansanja Shrine. Along 17, I will take a trail starting here, hike around the tunnels, past Obansanja Shrine, and finish the trail here.

You may notice there is another tunnel looking thing, but it has a sidewalk next to it.

Walk 14kmfrom Sports Inn Fujiyato Family House Akashiya

Walk 03km to dragondola

Walk 07km from Dragondola to Lodge Montoze

There is a tunnel on Highway 17 just north of Lodge Montoze, through which I cannot safely walk because there are no sidewalks.
One of my skiing friends said there will likely be very few skiers by this date, so I can likely use the ski slopes to the west of the tunnel, possibly using Tashiro Ropeway. I prefer walking if possible, but we shall see exactly what is possible!

Walk 06kmfrom Lodge Montozeto Kagura White Horse Inn

Walk 07km from Kagura White Horse Inn to echigo yuzawa Hirokawa

Walk 18kmfrom Hirokawa Hotelto 龍氣別館(六日町温泉 ビジネスホテル・日帰り温泉)

Walk 20km from 龍氣別館(六日町温泉 ビジネスホテル・日帰り温泉) to Sudaya Inn

Walk 19km from Sudaya Inn to Shinanogawa Kasen Park

Walk 13km from Shinanogawa Kasen Park to 旅館 竹花屋

Walk 15km from 旅館 竹花屋 to Mitsuke English Garden

Walk 14km from Mitsuke English Garden to APA Hotel Tsubamesanjo Ekimae

Walk 16kmfrom APA Hotel Tsubamesanjo Ekimaeto ゲストハウス ぐーぐー

54 walk 17 km from staircase to Aoyama Seaside Park

54 walk 9km from staircase to Aoyama Seaside Park

(*) Note: dates are subject to change! For the latest info, PM me on LINE.

08 May 2021, 08:32

optimization of steps

Just for the record, I am choosing not to walk about 60 m the wrong direction including across a busy Street so I can head toward my destination tonight and stop at a convenience store about 31 minutes away according to Google maps which will be about an hour at my pace.

That is to say, there’s a convenience store about 60 m wrong direction from which way I want to go so I’m not going to go there. I will instead walk 2.4 km the correct direction so as to not waste steps.

07 May 2021, 18:59

Finished Day 22 around 6pm

I did a couple of livestreams on Instagram yesterday. (I downloaded and copied them to Youtube so you don’t have to log in to view them.)

Water pouring into rice fields

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ltEFRpkT9U

Great talking to Eddie a bit on his way to get his kids.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DIq1T_-HNc

APA Hotel Tsubamesanjo Ekimae is really the best I have used this walk in terms of price per ameneties.

Private bath, bed, TV with free VOD including adult content, plus a larger than micro sized toothpaste, and a nice toothbrush with soft bristles. Just 3700 yen. Nice.

Day 22 was

Walk 14km from Mitsuke English Garden to APA Hotel Tsubamesanjo Ekimae

07 May 2021, 11:37

little house on the river

Is this a way out outhouse?

2021 may 06 looks like an outhouse out in the middle of fields

In any case, it’s right above the water.

2021 may 06 if so it dumps right into the river

(The door was locked 🔒)

07 May 2021, 11:27

leverage

These doors would have to be paper light for these door stoppers to have a chance of actually stopping them if they really opened.

2021 may 06 two huge doors vs two little stoppers

07 May 2021, 11:22

junk behind a shed

Stereo equipment and other discarded junk

2021 may 06 junked equipment

07 May 2021, 10:49

SUPER CENTER PLANT 5

Okay it’s decided then, we will call it SUPER CENTER PLANT 5. Everyone in agreement?

2021 may 06 super center plant 5

07 May 2021, 10:39

go straight 14 km

Next destination is essentially straight for 14 km.

2021 may 06 walk straight along the tracks

06 May 2021, 17:46

Finished Day 21 in record time

Before I started walking, Jason H described a simple 4 steps to adapting to any stressful situation. I think I am in the last stage now; I have just come to realize walking is my life. Nothing can be done to change it. Just walk walk walk.

I felt quite hot and tired by the end of today. Not a drop of rain in sight, and plenty of sun, so I am glad I put on sunscreen before I started out at 7am. I arrived at the hotel about 2:30pm, so 7.5 hours walking 17.5 kilometers (according to Google Maps)

2021 may 06 day 21 walk map

Walk 15km from 旅館 竹花屋 to Mitsuke English Garden