The Challenge

PEDAL FOR JAPAN

The Goal: To bike the entire length of Japan in an effort to raise at least $5,000 to be donated to Second Harvest Japan for disaster relief. Around 2000+ miles will be traversed in the process, crossing hills, mountains, cities and forests in complete solitude.

(This is a gross estimation of my itinerary. I have no real plan but to go south)

Trip Details: The trip officially starts September 9, immediately upon arrival; the trip will end October 31st, lasting a total of 51 days of travel. From Cape Soya, the Northern-most point, I will make my way South, to Cape Sata, the Southern-most point of mainland Japan. During my journey, all four major islands that make up the Land of the Rising Sun will be traversed. These are Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.

Fundraising: The ultimate goal is to reach $5,000 in donations from organizations and people. All donors will be recognized on the site. Please consider helping the good people of Tohoku to improve their current conditions. Even a small amount helps!

Picture/Video Updates: In the hope to make everyone at home feel like they are also part of the journey, I will regularly keep a journal of each day's events, which I will record on the site daily, or whenever possible. 

I will also share as many videos and pictures as possible, which I will try to map out with the tracks that my GPS will save as I move about. This will show the exact location of each picture taken, while also showing my progress toward Cape Sata. 

Given the solitary nature of my travels, I will be more than happy to receive any messages, comments or calls from you, so don't hesitate. Just mind the 13hr difference (ahead) from US Eastern Time. 

Volunteering: On my way South, I will be stopping at two volunteer organizations to give them a hand. The first one is called AllHands, which I will help with clearing debris in the disaster-stricken coastal area of Ofunato, while the other one, based in Tokyo, I will help with moving food supplies from a warehouse, to be shipped out to disaster areas. This second non-profit is actually Second Harvest Japan, the recipient of your donations. 

Biking and Exceptions: The challenge is to cross the span of the country on bicycle and by no other means. There are two exceptions to this rule. 

The first being large cities. Bicycle accidents are one of the leading causes of death and injury in Japan. Urban environments are not only dangerous (imagine 30 million people moving at once), but also make cycling practically impossible, as each stoplight and traffic stop would make travel far too slow. Therefore, public transport might be used within large metropolises. The other exception is ferries. Obviously, bikes can't travel over water, so in this case, a ferry will be taken to reach the next island.

Sleeping: Throughout the journey, I will be sleeping wherever I place my tent. Under bridges, in parks, in forests, in cities, in campsites, and in backyards. I will try to use websites like Couchsurfing to hopefully get some normal rest (and a shower!) every once in a while. I hope to make a lot of friends this way. These are mostly travelers like me, so I look forward to meeting them!

Eating: I am looking forward to trying out the delicacies of this land and all its regional dishes. I know that a lot of times, however, I will have to be "on the struggle" and will have to eat a can of corn or beans when the budget gets tight. But I am not leaving Japan without trying out at least a bit of everything. Food lovers will understand.


Sightseeing: I plan to stop at major tourist sites as I move about. Castles, palaces, museums, parks, and everything in between. I will make sure to write down any worthy stories that do not get recorded on camera.


About the Site: Although the main purpose of the site is to fundraise for a serious cause, as an answer to a sad and horrible event, I will try to use humor and positivity throught my site. This does not mean that I lack any respect for victims. I fully understand the gravity of the situation, so much so that I decided to put the site up in the first place and embark on this journey. But, I am a firm believer that it is better to smile and roll up one's sleeves than mope around feeling sad. And the Japanese are a firm testament to this concept, as many incredible stories of human kindness and courage have resulted from their willingness to do what must be done to move forward. The site's goal is to sensitize people to the disaster, but also to entertain, give a positive outlook on life, and provide an effective tool for selfless giving.