Japan trip Tokyo-loop via Alps n west coast

(reupload with added comments)

I have safely arrived in Tokyo last Monday 🏁

After i departed Nomi/Kanazawa, the typhoon 7 n 8 coming from southeast. While i did not get directly impacted, it still caused strong headwinds on the coastal towards Niigata. I had an extra overnight in Kashiwazaki,niigata as the rain came.

Then on my ride inland via Ounuma (there are few path to cut inland thru the alps to go Tokyo, i picked via ounuma as its the least overlapping my prev route, least busy traffic, n least tunnels), as i reached Yuzawa it started raining.

The next day i got into Mikuni touge rt17 thru Naeba. the extra overnight in Kashiwazaki ended as a blessing as i went thru this pass on a Sunday, no big lorries n not many cars. However the original plan to reach Maebashi got cut short to only Numata as it rained again at noon.

On monday i full sent Numata→Tokyo 100miles.

what an adventure. a lil shy of 3400km, n i survived with 1x 40T 11-36. this is my 2nd bikepacking trip ever (my 1st was 2D1N Bintan indonesia 350km) 🥹

By-river/sea cycling path, this is godsent. some are well maintained, while some are rough(cracks, concrit material etc). but overall if you got onto one in these, you can maintain momentum smooth flowing with least intersections n traffic lights. but you may need to plan your supply stops, as theyre usually will be a lil outskirt from town center. some are bicycle+pedestrian only, n some are single narrow lane where kei-truck can fit(inaka farm activities).

The Nakasendo route is interesting if you stay close to the Juku old towns. but its preferable to have buffy tires as some connectors will get you on gravels (an alternative, you can stick to roads where cars go on/parallel road).

Tunnels, this may be nightmare for those with panniers/wide bikes, as some tunnels that have elevated pedestrian/bicycle path at shoulder, it maybe so narrow, n some even have reflection poles.

As for the west coast, besides headwind n busy trunk road, some of the mountain passes are really old un-maintained road with cracks n full of tree branches, n even gravels. overall i think you dont need gravel tires, but big volume tires helps, as the drain/grill covers across town arent standard. so wide tires gives peace of mind going on these.

/my utmb kagaSpa 100K in Kanazawa didnt end as i wanted (dnf) but it was not due to too much cycling. the weather was just horrible, rain causes congestions n muddy af

\*im not sure why my attached pic is shown out of my selection sequence