My tip to you as a traveler is that you stay in a major city for three days and then get the hell out. Go rural if you can. Wander around neighbourhoods. Cycling is more efficient, so if you can get your hands on a bike, proceed to do so.
I borrowed this bike from my guesthouse host when I was staying in the Ina prefecture, which is near Nagano, Japan.
Ina City was unpredictable because it was small, very small. I would compare it to Victoria, B.C. and the pace was the same too – chilled out. It was a relief for me, because I had spent lots of time in much bigger cities.
In broken English, my guesthouse host said to me one night: “There is car meet tomorrow, you will bike there.”
Young homie poses up for the boys.
These cars were lined up a ways down from the meet. A small family had just exited this wagon and joined a group of friends in a park nearby – everyone was laughing and smiling.
I saw an old man and his granddaughter playing a card game beside a car at a small table; the whole meet was serene and that element just added to it.
The owner is gen228jp on Instagram. We introduced ourselves NOT at the meet, but on Instagram once I was back in Canada. I hope to visit him the next time I am in that region.
Seeing a familiar ‘face’ abroad was too good.
My flight to Japan was booked five months in advance via Expedia and it cost me $870.00 CAD round trip. I was away for three weeks and backpacked alone from Tokyo to Hakone onto Nagasaki, Fukuoka and then Ina. I recommend obtaining a JR Railpass if you intend on seeing cities that are far apart. Use Airbnb to book your accommodations and try to go alone!
Sugoi!