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Bicycle trip through western Japan

by Jan Boonstra

the ferry terminal at Shimonoseki.

On the first day in Japan I was overwhelmed by new impressions. Everything is different from what I've seen in Korea. And I cannot compare it with any other country in the world.

My tourist guide of Japan is only a small booklet and it does not have a chapter about the language. This was something in my guidebook to Korea that I very much appreciated. Now I felt it a problem to enter Japan without any knowledge of even the most basic Japanese.
On the boat there were two more Western people. One of them I saw sitting at the bar, talking to somebody in Japanese. I sensed my chance and I also went and sat at the bar. After some time I got an opportunity talk to the Westerner. He was an Englishman, living in Japan and he had learned to speak Japanese. So I kindly asked him to teach me some very basic words and fortunately he very kindly did so.
Politeness is very important in Japan and you have to know how to address and greet people. By bowing and excusing yourself you show respect. You have to do this in Japan, especially if you want information or a favour from somebody.

the bicycle tunnel. .

The first kilometers in Japan I rode in a hazy, but yet warm Shimonoseki, on my way to the big suspension bridge to the island of Kyushu, where I had planned to spent most of my time in Japan. But I wasn't allowed to pass over the bridge, so I was told, but for cyclists there is a tunnel, next to the bridge. My first experience with the Japanese helpfulness (and what I have read about it matched exactly with the following incident) came when I could not find the entrance of the tunnel. I addressed a man, in the meantime I kept on bowing and excusing myself. But a few words of polite Japanese was all I could utter, so then I said "tunnel?" He understood me and heavily gesticulating he asked me to follow him. And thus I rode for a mile after his mini Mitsubishi bus to the tunnel. But that wasn't enough yet: he parked his mini bus, took me to the elevator, paid the toll fee and it was the closing door of the elevator that ended the mutual greeting, bowing and thanking.