Tomer's Website: Japan Trip, Spring 2002
[Prev] [Home] [Calendar] [Map] [Japanese] [Next]
Links Home Calender Map Japanese About

Guestbook

I appreciate any compliments and/or criticism. Thank you for taking the time to write emails!

I had a free guestbook, but unfortunately it broke. Instead, I have decided to reprint various e-mails that I've received here:

January 8, 2008

Hi Tomer,
I was looking at the website of your bicycling trip in Japan back in 2002. I'm considering doing something very similar, but am still unsure as to my specific route. (I've never done a biking trip.)

From 2002 to 2007, I lived in Nagoya and taught English in junior high schools. 2007 was a vacation year. Now in 2008, I'll be returning to Japan around the February timeframe, well before the school year starts. So I was thinking of doing a bike trip!

Per your recommendation, before leaving Texas, I will probably go to some bike shops and/or the local REI to do some shopping.

About the bike... did you buy it IN JAPAN? If so, where? What are the most important aspects in buying a bicycle for a long road trip such as YOURS? (I'm guessing a comfortable SEAT ranks close to number 1, eh?). If you didn't buy the bike in Japan, I'm guessing you FLEW it over on the airplane?... Are there certain restrictions to do this?

Anyway thanks in advance for any helpful information and/or suggestions.
David

Hey David!

Glad to hear you enjoyed the website. Here's my advice:

  • Buy the bike in the US. It's cheaper. Also, make sure to bring spare components with you as sometimes sizes and availability are rare to find in Japan. For example if you have a tire shrader valve (thin one) bring the shrader-presta converter (so you can fill at a gas station, for example). Bring extra inner tubes (2 is a good idea) and patch kits, and probably a tire is a good idea as well (although I didn't... I had new tires... and I just risked it)
  • Fly your bike over... you'll need to pack it in a bike box. If you don't know how, just take it to a bike shop, they usually charge minimally for this. However, you'll need to know how to put it back together on the other side... consists of putting on the handlebar, pedals, seat, and rack and wheels... that's it! should be easy. Taking a bike box usually incurs a fee ($50 domestic / $100 international usually), HOWEVER, do NOT tell them ahead of time you are bringing it... just show up with it and check-in. They usually mumble something about an extra charge, just say "OK". I found that out of 7 times, I've been charged twice... they just usually don't take your money anywhere...
  • Business cards! Make em yourself on your printer, it's worth it. They dig that stuff
  • If you go in Japanese summer, avoid the south and do Hokkaido (although you mentioned Feb). Otherwise in winter do the opposite and stick in the south... watch out for rainy times though... come prepared for that... the south may have a rainy season (it's more tropical)
  • Get a comfy seat, however I'm more like a bike racer, in that I like my seat skinny and hard... I hate that cushiony shit, doesn't work well for me. But pick one that works for you.
  • If you go to Okinawa, avoid Okinawa City (unless you like army bases). Get north of the middle of the isle, that's where it's most pretty. Don't eat the sushi there, it sucks (but do try the spam sushi in the 7-11s!)
  • I recommend going to see some Keirin stadiums, atleast one... problem is they run on a schedule, so you'll have to find out where they are, and when the races run in those places.

Enjoy!
(jealous) Tomer

May 14, 2005

tomer, is that you?? funny thing, this morning a friend and i were talking about doing a bike trip around japan so i googled "biking japan" and found your site. i was like "hhmmmm, i once knew a tomer gurantz, i wonder if he's one and the same" and it appears he is! uh, i mean you are! so just wanted to say hello and cool trip and thanks for sharing info and tales of your journey to the masses. hope you're happy and well wherever on earth you are...

c-ya!
anna

Jan 3, 2004

Mr Gurantz

I just have to comment , I mean I find it entirely necessary to tell you how much I enjoy looking at your bike trip you posted on the internet. Ive only looked at it briefly , but thought it was very very entertaining, even invigorating. I was staioned in Okinawa (US Marines) for 3 years. I always made a point of getting away from the hangouts of my commrads in search of scenes of Okinawa's natural settings and "everyday life". I also like bikes a lot , a rode a lot in highschool and worked in a few bike shops. With this backdrop, I find your postings made my mouth water for the sights, smells, and tastes of Japan, Okinawa in particular. I thought your comments were fun to read , you don't sound snobbish, you made it easy to imagine being right there with you! When I have time I will surf through your entire trip. So to you Mr Gurantz I say THANK YOU , thank you for posting such a cool trip

Tom in Chicago area

Nov 20, 2003

I was just reading about your bike trip through Beppu last year and you asked why there were so many people with physical handicaps. Well, I used to live on the north side of town (in Kamegawa next to the Chi no Ike Jigoku (blood-red pond hell) and the Beppu National Hospital is located nearby. One of it's specialties is orthopedic medicine--and that is partially because of they use hydrotherapy using the hot spring waters. Here's a link that explains more in English.

http://homepage2.nifty.com/orthop-beppu/welcome%20to%20beppu%20hos'l. [LINK NO LONGER WORKS]

Oita prefecture also hosts an International Wheelchair Marathon [LINK: http://yushu.or.jp/english/e_sdate/00jpn/00pref/00oct11f1.html]

So, that's why there's lots of people with various crippling diseases wandering about Beppu.

Melissa Sinclair Stevens
http://www.zanthan.com/japan/

[Top] [Next]
This page created by Tomer Gurantz
Content last modified 9 Jan 2008