AM20: The Japan Journals

Chapter 3: Kanto Plain

April 15th

The first two regions I visited in Japan were great, for different reasons. Hokkaido had some of the most diverse, beautiful scenery. Tohoku, on the other hand, provided me with experiences that I'll never forget. While some drives between the locations were long and arduous, it gave me time to reflect. To think about every route I've taken, up to this moment. One of the greatest benefits of solo travel is the ability to self-reflect and touch upon one's plight in the universe.

The ever-changing landscape and mounting miles on the dash only propelled my psyche into a self-analytic state. The mistakes I've made. The opportunities I've missed. Despite being so far away, the time on the road only brings my thoughts closer to home. Speaking of which, I started my morning by retrieving the third envelope that you sent me

Ayden,

Here's the itinerary for your time on the Kanto Plain. The headband for this leg of the trip is Murasaki (Purple). For the longest time, this color was reserved only for royalty and/or dignified people in Japan. As time went on, it became a trendy color.

Like the color of this band, I hope that you are trending towards the person you want to be. =)

Safe travels and I can't wait to see you!

-Setsuko

Itinerary

Take in the sights of Mito

Oarai Isosaki Shrine

Hitachi Seaside Park

Nikko Toshugo Shrine

Kusatsu Onsen

Visit Volcanic Park by Kusatsu

Chichibu 

As I pack my belongings and get set to head out, I map out the route on my GPS. It looks like it'll be three hours from Aizu to Mito, which is the first city I'll visit in Kanto. Quite frankly, I'm a little puzzled as to why you're having me only visit the northern half of the region this week.

Technically, Tokyo and Saitama (two of the largest cities) are in this region. I don't know the reasoning for putting off those cities for later but I haven't strayed from the itinerary, so far. I mine as well stick to what you have laid out for me.

As I continue to head south, the growing spring breeze continues to sail the DZed along. I'm so glad I stuck to this path and didn't get a Rail pass to travel about the country. Outside of a few frigid days in Hokkaido, the riding weather, up to this point, has been impeccable.

The first prefecture I'll visit is Ibaraki. Aside from the city of Mito, there are two notable attractions I want to see there. First, the Oarai Isosaki Shrine. The other is the Hitachi Seaside Park. I've heard the view at these places is unlike anything I've ever seen before. The latter is especially magnetic, as the park looks like a literal sea of flowers.

A few hours pass and I find myself in the city center of Mito. This town is known for being a headquarters for one of the most powerful families of the Edo Period. Because of the Mito clan's influence in the area, there are a few sites from that time that are well preserved and are popular attractions.

Of those attractions, the one on the list today is the Kairaku-en Garden. This site was established in the 19th century and has been maintained as a public garden since its inception. I'll spend a few hours there and then use the rest of my day doing a check-up on the bike.

As I take a stroll through the garden, I begin to learn more about its history and significance to the country. While I knew that this was a public garden, I didn't realize how groundbreaking this idea was, in the Edo Period. Up until that time, gardens of that variety were mostly reserved for high-profile citizens. This site was the first of its kind, hence the name Kairaku-en, which translates to "park to be enjoyed together".

One thing that stands out about this park is its abundance of plum trees. Unlike their cherry counterparts, the plum trees tend to blossom earlier in the spring (early March). The thousands of such trees are sprawled throughout the site and give a unique shade of pink to the garden. Aside from the plum trees, a variety of other trees and shrubbery can be found throughout the park. They also have a nearby shrine dedicated to a few prominent lords from that period.  

I spent a good chunk of the afternoon, wandering about the plum-filled park. The shades of this scenery are different than the parks I've already visited. Perhaps it's because I'm past the peak season for this park, but the colors here just don't have that vibrant hue. Regardless, it was a nice afternoon in such a serene setting.

I made my way back to the hotel and did a routine check-up on the bike. The bike was due for an oil change, so I made sure to make the swap. Everything else on the bike looked good. I made about the carburetor jetting when I was at elevation, so I decided to also take a look at the main jet. The elevation change could continue to give me issues with the bike, so I figured now would be a good time to try a new one. Most of the remaining trips should be around sea level, so hopefully, I don't come across the issues I had in Tohoku.

With the bike maintenance out of the way, I ended my day with a nice ramen meal and an early bedtime. Tomorrow, I'll head to the coast and check out the Oarai Isosaki Shrine. I've heard the view at sunset is unforgettable.

Thanks and I'll see you soon!

-Ayden