Ibaraki & Tochigi: The Bounties of Spring - CYCLE AROUND JAPAN

Journey Begins in Mito, Ibaraki [00:00:00]

• Cyclist Michael Rice starts a 350-kilometer, four-day cycling tour in Mito station, Ibaraki.
• He anticipates seeing early cherry blossoms and enjoys the pleasant spring weather ideal for cycling.
• The initial route follows the Sakuragawa River, offering scenic views and easy cycling paths.

  "Nice cycling roads both sides of the river Beautiful flowers Signs of spring relaxing to be able to underpass all the bridges Don't worry about the cars"

Lake Kitaura and Birdwatching [00:01:49]

• Rice reaches Lake Kitaura, a 75-kilometer circumference lake, and observes local fishermen.
• He meets Kawamata Toshihiko, a birdwatcher with over 50 years of experience, who identifies various bird species.
• Toshihiko explains the importance of the lake's vegetation for bird habitats and his efforts to protect it.

  "The great crested grebe is characterized by its decorative crest-like feathers in Japan it's considered a near-threatened species with breeding confirmed in only a few locations in the country"

Kamisu's Piemann Peppers [00:04:02]

• The journey continues south to Kamisu, a city facing the Pacific Ocean.
• Rice attempts off-road cycling on Nikawahama beach but finds the sand too deep and soft.
• He meets farming couple Hideyoshi and Noriko Hada, who grow Japan's largest harvest of Piemann peppers.

  "This is what I've been after. This is what I've been after. Looks delicious."

The Secret to Sweet Peppers [00:05:44]

• The Hada couple explains that Kamisu's sandy soil contributes to the peppers' sweetness by allowing easy drainage of moisture and nutrients.
• Hideyoshi Hada has been growing peppers for over 50 years, inspired by his wife to make them sweeter.
• Noriko prepares special dishes with the peppers, developed over ten years.

  "It's really delicious. It's really delicious. I don't have a bad taste of it, but I don't have a bad taste of it."

Cycling Towards Mount Tsukuba [00:07:46]

• Rice cycles north along the shore of Kasumigaura, Japan's second-largest lake, towards Tsukuba city.
• He admires the beautiful morning scenery and the ideal cycling road.
• Mount Tsukuba, the symbol of Ibaraki prefecture, becomes visible, towering over the flatlands.

  "This is like the perfect cycling road. Beautiful sunrise. Feels great to be out on the bike."

Tsukuba's Sod Farms [00:08:41]

• Near Mount Tsukuba, Rice discovers fields dedicated to growing "shiba," Japanese sod.
• He meets sod farmer Matsumoto Bunmi, who explains the process of harvesting and growing the grass.
• Matsumoto's father started the sod farm on abandoned land after World War II, transforming it into a leading sod production area.

  "The shiba's plant is green. The shiba's plant is green. Yes, the shiba's plant is Japanese."

Preserving Local Heritage in Tochigi [00:11:49]

• Arriving in Tochigi Prefecture, Rice rides along the Kinugawa River, enjoying the rural mountain villages and blooming plum blossoms.
• He learns about the Meguro motorcycle, a pioneer of Japanese motorcycles, once manufactured in the area.
• Sawamura Yoshiki, owner of a custom motorcycle shop, leads a project to restore an old Meguro motorcycle to revive local pride.

  "The design was a Japanese-like design. For example, it was a carrier. In this case, I think we all used to work a lot."

A Rewarding Climb and Sunset View [00:17:11]

• On the final day, Rice faces a challenging ride with headwinds and gravel roads towards an observation point in Nakagawa.
• The climb to the summit, nearly 300 meters high, offers a panoramic view of both Ibaraki and Tochigi prefectures as the sun sets.
• Rice reflects on the value of the local heritage and the warmth of the people he met, expressing a desire to return.

  "Great cycling. Yeah, don't miss this. Ibaraki and Tochigi, if you're a cyclist, it's definitely not to be missed."