We were both pretty tired after the last few days’ rides. The winds aren’t cooperating…..a nice tailwind would help. So, today is an easier ride of about 35 km.
Manga books are serious business in Japan and we see Manga libraries in a lot of hotels. You can borrow a book to read during your stay. This library stretched the length of the building from the entrance lounge area through the restaurant.
Microwaves are always available for guests to use. It helps to self cater keeping your costs down with food from a grocery store or a Konbini. This is one of those super powerful microwaves that the staff in konbinis use to heat up your food.
There was nowhere outside to park our trikes so the staff quickly offered that we should bring them inside. Barry’ trike is in the hallway by reception.
Our hotel last night. This new hotel has been built in a village with little else around other than a train station and a Konbini next door. It is filling a need as the hotel was full.
Like the rest of the world, we followed the horrifying news of the tsunami of 2011 but it is hard from afar to comprehend the vast destruction and long term effects it brings. It is sobering to ride in this area processing the extent of this disaster. Yet, the Japanese resilience and constructive nature in the face of this gives you hope. Nahara is located only 12 miles from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant which had a meltdown following the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami.
We left the coast as we saw that there is a Michi inland a few km and we need lunch. We came across this amazing facility, J-Village a large complex which is Japan’s largest soccer training facility. And that’s not all. There are 8 natural soccer fields, a stadium, 2 artificial turf soccer fields, a full sized indoor field, a fitness gym and pool. As well there is a hotel for athletes, tourists and business people. The complex is very impressive. We saw buses parked at the hotel and large groups of children and teens who were here getting training.
What a moment this must have been for athletes and young people being trained for a life of sports. It is a boon for this region with its history of tragic disaster to build for the future.
We reached the newly built Michi and it did not disappoint. Great food. I had Nan Ban chicken on a yummy sauce with the trademark tartar dressing, miso soup, rice, pickled veg and a salad. It was cooked just right and so good.
We continue to have difficulty placing our order at these machines. You look for the price of the meal, but that rarely works. Thankfully a local jumped and helped Barry.
It would be so much easier if we could just point at the sign, but such is progress. The electronic board is meant to streamline the process, but not for us gaijins. The prices on the menu reflect typical prices for food in Japan. You can usually get a delicious meal for about 10 Canadian dollars
We have watched Japanese people, mostly adults, cluster around these machines laughing and trying their luck. I decided to give it a try…what else can you do for 200¥
This Michi was newly built after the tsunami. The efforts to rebuild the stretch of coast devastated in 2011 is easy to see with new infrastructure like roads and new homes. It is an odd feeling to ride through an area with very few buildings that predate 2011.
We are in Namie for the night. We booked a hotel, Hotel Futaba no Mori, which sounds interesting. It is not part of a chain and is Japanese in all ways. The Hotel is very new and immaculate. The staff treat you like an honoured guest and much attention was given to communicating with us despite our lack of Japanese. We asked about our trikes and as we spoke he used a remote control to open the garage for us. We have a feeling that not many foreigners have stayed here, but we heartily recommend it. The welcome we received would be hard to match elsewhere. This hotel gets a high mark from us.
Their approach is unapologetically Japanese, as it should be. They have a strict policy, like a traditional Japanese Inn, that no outside footwear can be worn in the hotel. At the entrance, you put your shoes in a locker and proceed in sock feet or barefoot. I must say that it is relaxing to walk around like you are at home.
