I slowly awoke to a sunny Tokyo October morning.\u00a0 It obviously took me a bit to realize it was sunny as I was inside a windowless pod.\u00a0 Once I was out and about into the busy streets of Tokyo, I could actually embrace the sun\u2019s warmth. It was time to enjoy a coffee and ensure my head was clear from the previous night\u2019s adventure in Akihabara.\u00a0 Today was the day I was to begin an 8-day motorcycle adventure through Japan.<\/p>\n
The caffeine kicked in as I boarded the Tokyo train to Rental819 in Odaiba, where I had reserved a motorcycle 2 weeks prior. Throughout my world travels I have found renting a smaller displacement on a motorcycle when outside the United States is the way to go.\u00a0 The larger heavier bikes just can\u2019t compete in terms of agility in most other countries.\u00a0 For Japan I chose a displacement more in the middle as there are expansive highways in Japan where having some more pick up would be required.\u00a0 A Suzuki V-Strom 500cc would be my chosen steed for this journey through the land of the rising sun.<\/p>\n
You never realize the expansiveness and density of Tokyo until you motorcycle through it. I was familiar with driving on the left side of the road as I have been flip flopping directional driving over the past 2 years month to month and country to country. With this level of comfort, I could fully absorb the awesomeness and size of Tokyo in its entirety. With no highway speed cameras it didn\u2019t take long before I was out of the city and on my way towards Mount Fuji, but before that there was one place I wanted to experience.<\/p>\n
I was on the outskirts of the Aokigahara Forest as mist and clouds began to surround me while the trees grew denser. This forest is also known as the suicide forest. This location is one of the most used places for suicides on earth. I parked the motorcycle next to a small sedan and decided to do a short hike to stretch out from the 3-hour ride.\u00a0 As I began hiking it hit me that maybe that sedan belonged to someone that came here with a purpose.\u00a0 The atmosphere was already very heavy and not wanting to see a body swinging from a tree I opted to end the hike and briskly return to the motorcycle and leave the forest.<\/p>\n
A downside of riding this time of year in Japan was that Mount Fuji was hidden behind a wall of clouds.\u00a0 It reminded me of my home from a previous life near Mount Rainier, which would only show its ghostly glowing during the summer months. It seemed as though today would not be the day I would get my first glimpse of Mount Fuji, so as the sun began to dip into the clouds I opted to find a hotel for the evening, have dinner and prepare a direction for tomorrow\u2019s adventure.<\/p>\n
More Huber?\u00a0 You bet!<\/a><\/p>\n Help us keep the lights on!<\/strong><\/p>\n
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