Happy japanese landscapes

As soon as I get off the boat, I feel strangely at home. Every little detail of my previous visits emerges from the landscape as if to welcome me to the land of the rising sun.

 Much like in Germany, and probably for similar reasons, Japan does not fly its flag very often. But you don't need a national flag to recognize that you are in the land of the samurai. The only unique architecture of the houses lets you guess. The tiled roofs raised at the ends. Earth colors, clean and manicured gardens. Very small streets. And no one honking, the dream. The shoulders are not very big here, not to say invisible, but the motorists are courteous and leave me a lot of space, even if it means waiting a long time before passing me.

With great reserve, the Japanese greet me as I pass through small villages.

At the same time, I find the excellent food that I discovered in my previous visits (see here all the blog posts on Japan). And even the one found in many convenience stores, including cheap pains au chocolat and onigiris (these rice triangles with different fillings that represent good Japanese fast food).

And then I can only speak and understand a few words of Japanese, it is already more than the majority of other Asian countries that I have visited in the last two years!

A parade from an elementary school crosses me on the road.

The girls alternate with the boys with different constructions and costumes.

A country of mountains ... and cities

Japan is made up of many islands on which there are 70% mountains. But the roads that go up and through it are not parallel to the coast and are far from going directly from one city to another. I take a few long detours but I'm a bit limited by time, and I have to go back down to the coast. But on these coasts, the cities are so populated that they touch each other. So I have the impression of constantly driving on a huge boulevard. And in such a large city, I have no choice but to camp directly in the city. Even if it means greeting passers-by with their dog a few times! 

In a residential area of ​​Fukuyama.

Under a bridge bordering a pedestrian lane that runs along a small river in Okayama.

 Japanese landscapes

Reflection of Himeji Castle in the surrounding moat.

I frequently come across fishermen while driving along the waterfront in Japan.

Taku, proudly showing me the raw horse tongue I just ordered from his restaurant in Kobe. Although a bit muscular, it was still quite good!

Millions of Japanese cycle to work every day. Here are a few hundred at the edge of an entrance to a train station.

Urban agriculture: a rice field between a few buildings in the big city of Osaka.

Some young Japanese schoolchildren. Even school bags in this country seem unique or from another age.