Tsuwano to Iwakuni

The route from Tsuwano back down to the eastern coast of Japan was mostly downhill and  taking some riverside service roads. It was fast and as seems usual on downhills used by commercial traffic, had some rough sections. 

On 187 1km from Tsuwano

In the above photo, there were two long tunnels on 187 ahead. They have a short walk/bike path. If memory serves, I went back a bit and found a road down to the service road alongside the river. The video below captures some of it. An excellent much more aesthetically pleasing path that has one short tunnel and returns back onto Rt 187 (which has quite a few tunnels!).

Back on 187

I just liked this view with the three mountains. I envy the students (I think it's a school?) that attend school here. 

The bear warning sign was on 187 near Kakinoki. The scarecrow, whose head looks closely like the handywork of Ayano-san from Nagoro in Shikoku (Village of Dolls) was something I spotted in Tachido. Spotting a bear is a double edged sword, I want to see one but I am also aware of how dangerous they are. (I saw none on this trip). Nagoro is a strange place. It has a higher population of scarecrows than actual people due to the older people passing away and the young people leaving to the big cities. It is on my wish list of places to visit. Maybe because the center of Shikoku is such a  difficult place to get to. I first heard of Nagoro, Ayano-san and it's quirky village scarecrows from the NHK documentary "Village of the Dolls" Directed by Marie Linton.

Tsuwano down to the SE or 'how to cure one's fear of tunnels.'

Civilization! Lawsons in Yoshika

Woohooo!! finally a conbini! Since leaving Hagi, There were no conbini at all that I saw save for a dark small store that was unlit (and the supermarket I missed). I celebrated here with a morinaga Ice cream waffle sandwhich.

Kintaikyo  Bridge

A very beautiful, all wooden  bridge in Iwakuni. There is a fee to cross over it. No, you cannot ride your bicycle on it.

My route through Southern Honshu

This was actually partly following the Japan Cycling Navigator route. I do recommend this route as enjoyable, scenic but plan your logistics beyond Hagi.


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