From Fujisawa to Yokohama

Yokohama was a small fishing village until the end of the feudal Edo period. A significant turning point in Japanese history happened in 1853–54, when Commodore Matthew Perry arrived just south of Yokohama with a fleet of American warships, demanding Japan open several ports for commerce. Yokohama was the first city to be opened for trading.

After a day of riding from Fujisawa and leaving my comfort zone, I am going in the direction of Yokohama. There, I will meet a friend.

I arrive in Yokohama around 5 p.m. I cannot find a safe campsite or place to park the trailer. I realized that finding a place to stay in the cities would be more complex than expected. And I can't risk the gear.

After researching, I get a cheap hostel right at the edge of downtown: half hostel, half apartment complex. I don't know why. It was a strange arrangement, but they let me bring the trailer and bike inside, and the place was clean and cheap.

Finally, that night I can go out with my friend to eat Sushi. Around 8 p.m., she picked me up from the hostel and took me to this tiny sushi place run by the mother as a cashier, the father as a sushi master, and the son as a sushi apprentice and chef.

The place is known among locals for its excellent Sushi and as a hang-out place for some famous people, artists, bohemians, etc. That night I met a movie director, Mister Toru Murakawa, who is 77. He tells me he built a Basho museum. Our conversation went on across the bar for a while. My friend gave me a guide about Yokohama, which she edited, and a map of Japan. After dinner, our name cards were exchanged with Mister Murakawa san, and we said we would meet again.

My friend and I left for a short tour up Yokohama hill. We passed by the foreign cemetery located on the mountain where the immigrants from Europe were discovered during the Edo period. The Chinese immigrants were situated near the ports.

For the following day, I plan to ride my bike to these places before continuing my journey in Tokyo's direction. Yokohama was a small fishing village until the end of the feudal Edo period. A significant turning point in Japanese history happened in 1853–54, when Commodore Matthew Perry arrived just south of Yokohama with a fleet of American warships, demanding Japan open several ports for commerce. Yokohama was the first city to be opened for trading.

After a day of riding from Fujisawa and leaving my comfort zone, I am going in the direction of Yokohama. There, I will meet a friend.

I arrive in Yokohama around 5 p.m. I cannot find a safe campsite or place to park the trailer. I realized that finding a place to stay in the cities would be more complex than expected. And I can't risk the gear.

After researching, I get a cheap hostel right at the edge of downtown: half hostel, half apartment complex. I don't know why. It was a strange arrangement, but they let me bring the trailer and bike inside, and the place was clean and cheap.

Finally, that night I can go out with my friend to eat Sushi. Around 8 p.m., she picked me up from the hostel and took me to this tiny sushi place run by the mother as a cashier, the father as a sushi master, and the son as a sushi apprentice and chef.

The place is known among locals for its excellent Sushi and as a hang-out place for some famous people, artists, bohemians, etc. That night I met a movie director, Mister Toru Murakawa, who is 77. He tells me he built a Basho museum. Our conversation went on across the bar for a while. My friend gave me a guide about Yokohama, which she edited, and a map of Japan. After dinner, our name cards were exchanged with Mister Murakawa san, and we said we would meet again.

My friend and I left for a short tour up Yokohama hill. We passed by the foreign cemetery located on the mountain where the immigrants from Europe were discovered during the Edo period. The Chinese immigrants were situated near the ports.

For the following day, I plan to ride my bike to these places before continuing my journey in Tokyo's direction.