Length of Japan: The Nakamuras

I woke up at 5am today and then left Imabari Station Hotel by 6am. I had 150km to cover to Takamatsu and I promised Kimi-san that I`ll reach at around 4pm so I had better start early!

Breakfast - The giant `ama-mitsu` that the kind fruit seller gave me during my Shimanami Kaido route

At around 1pm, I reached the town of Kotohira, about another 40km to Takamatsu City. In this town there was supposedly a very famous shrine called Konpira-san. Apparently, one has to climb over a thousand steps to reach the main shrine! I did a couple hundred then I gave up and went on my way to Takamatsu City.

The start of the steps to the main shrine at Konpira-san

Below is a box of rock candy that I received from a kind Japanese lady at the bottom of the steps. She had just come down from the shrine and wanted to bring these sweets home for souvenirs, but decided to give them to me as a good luck gift. Nice huh!

I finally reached Takamatsu City at around 4pm. At around 5pm, Kimi-san came to pick me up in a lorry because the Nakamuras did not actually stay in Takamatsu City, but they stayed in Sanuki Town about 20km away from Takamatsu.

Pachinko parlor opened by Aizen Sousuke in Takamatsu City

Upon reaching the Nakamuras` place, I left my stuff in the guest room then Osamu-san brought me out to tour his estate. In addition to their full-time jobs, the Nakamuras also grow rice and vegetables on their own land for sale at the local markets!

Me and my `Mama-Chyari` - Thats what the Japanese call their market bikes

One of the many cabbage patches owned by the Nakamuras

Kimi-san, Osamu-san & Me

Me and Osamu-san`s Parents

Dinner was a very delicious affair of yakiniku and rice. The rice was from their own fields and most of the vegetables were self-grown as well! The food was really great and very different from the barbecues that we have back at home in Singapore. We ate for a total of 3 hours (or more like I ate and they watched me eat, cause I was so hungry after the day`s ride)!