Cycling Hokkaido

Ep.149 Mashike, Route 231 & Tunnel Bypass Options

In this episode, I head to Mashike to meet up with a friend who is camping by the coast. Over peanut butter&jelly sandwiches and a Frisbee chuck about, we had a great afternoon. Also in this episode I explore the town's history and what makes Mashike such an interesting destination. I also take a much closer look at Route 231, discussing some of its more challenging tunnels, why they can be intimidating for cyclists, and several alternative routes that let you bypass those maniacal tunnels while still loving Hokkaido's most excellent coastal scenery. If you're thinking of riding this part of the Sea of Japan coast, you'll probably find what you're looking for in this episode. Have fun out there, folks! Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/cyclinghokkaido Cycling Hokkaido podcast Instagram page: www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ Brad Bennet's Website & Instagram: www.freewheeling.jp www.instagram.com/freewheeling.jp/

Ep.148 Ryoma Sakamoto's Footsteps in Urausu, Hokkaido

What does one of Japan's most famous historical figures, Ryoma Sakamoto, have to do with a small town in central Hokkaido? In this episode, we follow the footsteps of Ryoma Sakamoto's family to Urausu and explore the story of the Sakamoto family and the impact they've had on Hokkaido. We also visit Urausu Town Local Museum and Tsurunuma Road Station and Campground. Thank you for listening to the Cycling Hokkaido podcast. Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/cyclinghokkaido Cycling Hokkaido podcast Instagram page: www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ Mizuri Sato and Atelier Sui: www.instagram.com/atelier.sui/ Urausu Town Local Museum: http://www.town.urausu.hokkaido.jp/

Ep.147 An Aunt, a Nephew and a Hokkaido Cycling Adventure

In this episode of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast, Marty is joined by Canadian aunt-and-nephew duo Aerin K. Bowers and Quinn Hoffman. This is a story about family, adventure, and discovering Hokkaido by bicycle. For Quinn, it was his first trip outside of North America. For Aerin it was another chapter in a life already filled with endurance challenges, including swimming the English Channel!! Together they discuss their cycling journey through western Hokkaido, which began with two days of relentless rain but quickly turned into an unforgettable adventure. Along the way they camped their way around the region, experienced the famous Shakotan Blue coastline, encountered a campsite closed due to recent bear activity, rode through Iwanai and Kutchan, enjoyed the incredible views of Mt.Yotei, and dealt with the occasional touring mishap, including a puncture on the ride back to Otaru. After getting back to Otaru, Marty joined them for a day exploring some of the city's hidden treasures before they continued their travels on to Tokyo. Want to support the show? You can do that at: buymeacoffee/cyclinghokkaido Cycling Hokkaido podcasts' Instagram page: www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ Aerin K. Bowers' Instagram page: www.instagram.com/aerinbowers/ Aerin K Bowers website: https://openwaterlife.com Quinn Hoffman's Instagram page: www.instagram.com/quinn.hoffman14

Ep.146 Talking Ainu Culture & History with Matt Cotter

This week I'm joined by long-time Sapporo resident Matt Cotter for a conversation about Ainu history, culture, language, and life in modern Hokkaido. The Ainu are the indigenous people of northern Japan, and in this episode we cover a wide range of topics, from some of the darker chapters of Ainu-Japanese history to the ongoing challenges facing Ainu communities today. We also talk about Ainu art, food, language, cultural preservation, and the efforts being made to keep Ainu traditions alive for future generations. Matt shares his own experiences learning about Ainu culture, studying the language, and meeting Ainu people throughout his years in Hokkaido. We also discuss why understanding their history is such an important part of understanding Hokkaido itself. This was a great conversation and one that I think will be of interest to anyone who wants to learn more about the people, history, and culture that helped shape this island we call home. Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/cyclinghokkaido Cycling Hokkaido on Instagram: www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/

Ep.145 Rice Paddies, Headless Buddhas & the Sea of Japan with Ryan Hill

Episode 145 of Cycling Hokkaido features Ryan Hill from Vancouver, BC, who joined me for a ride through the Hokkaido countryside before sitting down to record this episode. We spent the day cycling quiet rural roads through ride paddies during planting season, stopping to check out some mysterious headless Buddha statues, and taking in the views from high above the Sea of Japan coastline. In this conversation, Ryan talks about his long connection with Japan, and of course we talked about Japanese food, and how karate is an important part of his life. A chill conversation about travel, cycling, culture and the unexpected moments that make riding in Hokkaido so memorable. Buy Me a Coffee: www.buymeacoffee.com/cyclinghokkaido Follow Cycling Hokkaido on Instagram page: www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/