walkabout-japan

Day 29
Shuffling and holidays
GPS: N 33°, 41.863' E 133°, 52.437'
Place: Odochi
Etmal: 26 km
Total: 652 km
Due to the population density of Japan, I spent the night on a lakefront and beside a way (you are never alone!). Right in
the morning, even before the general wake-up call starts, the intensive shuffling of dog owners gets me out of my dreams.
In Japan it's common practice to take off your shoes almost everywhere: at home, in the bathroom, in the loo (special loo shoes have to be used!), etc. Therefore, most Japanese
wear shoes which are at least two numbers too big. This results in a stagnant shuffling. During my studies in Sendai there was a civil servant called Yusa-san who had got to a really floating and sliding tiptoeing in his 40 years of civil service career. In Japan your identification is your shuffling.
It's going uphill all the time, 26 km, blue sky, warm, no traffic,
a wonderful Japanese picture book scenery and the people have changed from remote-controlled and very important
and busy town people into friendly and smiling country
people - and this only during 25 km! I finish the day and take
a bath in an Onsen looking out of the hot water on the mountains with ancient cedars. Just wonderful! On top of
that a beer and a perfect dinner.


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