Around Japan in a Divided Division” by Jixxer (Around Hokkaido Part 1)

IMG_1519.jpg Columns

Takashi Gaso, adventurer and touring journalist

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A round trip around Japan, fascinated by Jixxer

On February 18 and 19, 2017, the IWATE Motorcycle Festa was held in Hanamaki City, Iwate Prefecture. Kasori was invited as the main guest and held a talk show for two days in a row with Nobuyoshi Obara, who is in charge of "Touring Mapple Hokkaido" (Shobunsha). The event was so successful that even the standing room was filled.

There was a Jixxer on display for the first time in Japan. It was a shocking encounter with Suzuki's 150cc motorcycle, the Jixxer.
The person in charge said, "If you fill up the tank, you can run more than 500 kilometers," and that's what really drew me in.
Okay, let's do it. We'll take the Jixxer all over Japan! And I decided at that moment.

It's a lightning-fast scorpion decision.
So the "Divided Trip Around Japan by Dixxer" began in Hanamaki. Travel is a drama. A journey is a good day when you think it is. It is.

Twelve days after my shocking encounter with Jixxer at the IWATE Motorcycle Festa in Hanamaki at 9:00 a.m. on March 2, 2017, my "Around Japan in a Jixxer" split began.

The first was "Round China", covering 2,968 km in 7 days from March 2 to March 9. The second was "Round Kyushu", covering 4,907 km in 11 days, from April 20 to 30. The third one was "Round the Northeast", covering 2,812 km in 7 days from July 19 to July 25. So far, in the first half of the "Round Japan in a Split Session" at Zixar, he has run 10747 km.

These trilogies of "Around China," "Around Kyushu" and "Around the North East" in Jixxer have been serialized in this column, so be sure to check them out.

[Related News]
You're not going to be able to do that.Jixxer to go around Chugoku, around Kyushu and around Tohoku

Resumed "Divided Round Japan" by Jixxer

IMG_1519-680x510.jpgDeparting from Nihonbashi, Tokyo

It was not until 2020 that we began the second half of our "Divided Round Japan" trip in the Jixxer. The first part of the trip was the "Around Hokkaido" version, starting at 6:00 a.m. on April 10 from Nihonbashi, Tokyo in the new Jixxer model. Heading north on National Road 4. We entered Saitama Prefecture, filled up the tank at Soka, and ate onigiri (rice balls) for breakfast at Lawson in Kasukabe. This was my first meal.

IMG_1521-680x510.jpgTake Route 4.

IMG_1524-680x510.jpgCrossing the Senju Bridge over the Sumida River

IMG_1525-680x510.jpgWe entered Saitama Prefecture on Route 4.

IMG_1527-680x510.jpgBreakfast at Lawson in Kasukabe

We drive north and north on Route 4. The length of this distance is the charm of Route 4. It's like the Jixxer and I are one in the same. After passing through Utsunomiya, we crossed the Tochifuku Bridge on the Tochigi-Fukushima border and entered the Tohoku region. We crossed the Tochifuku Bridge on the Tochigi-Fukushima border and entered Miyagi Prefecture, passing through Shirakawa, Koriyama and Fukushima, arriving in Sendai at 4pm. He arrived in Sendai at 4pm, 355 km from Nihonbashi.

IMG_1528-680x510.jpgPassing through Utsunomiya

IMG_1529-680x510.jpgTochifuku Bridge on the border between Tochigi and Fukushima Prefectures

IMG_1531-680x510.jpgLunch at Kobiki, a restaurant in Izumisaki Village

IMG_1533-680x510.jpgSpicy Miso Tanmen at Kobiki

IMG_1534-680x510.jpgPassing through Koriyama.

IMG_1541-680x510.jpgEat salted butter bread at Roadside Station Adachi

IMG_1549-680x510.jpgThe Ogawara Cherry Blossom Festival is in full bloom!

IMG_1553-680x510.jpgArrival in Sendai. 355 km from Nihonbashi.

We refueled at Furukawa (Osaki City), and the Jixxer's mileage was 41.8 km/liter, which was good. After passing through Ichinoseki, Kitakami, and Hanamaki, we arrived in Morioka at 21:00. It was 546 km from Nihonbashi.

IMG_1559-680x510.jpgPassing through Furukawa (Osaki City)

IMG_1563-680x510.jpgEntering Iwate Prefecture

Morioka is the hardest part. The weather broke and a cold rain started to fall. As we passed Numamiyauchi (Iwate Town), the rain turned to snow, the kind of snow that comes in April. The highest point on Route 4, Jusambongi Pass (Nakayama Pass), was 4 degrees below zero. It was snowing in small patches. I was running to avoid falling down.
I downshifted down a gear through the snow puddles on the shoulder of the road to avoid being hooked up to a large truck.

We went down from one door to two doors, and when the snow stopped.
Oh, thank God!
I exclaimed.

IMG_1567-680x510.jpgRefueling at Shiwa-machi.

IMG_1568-680x510.jpgDinner at Sukiya in Morioka. We ate a beef bowl at Sukiya.

We crossed the Aoiwa Bridge and entered Aomori Prefecture. We were struck by intense sleepiness and here we drank a black can of coffee. We passed through Sannohe, Gonohe, and Shichinohe, and from Nobechi, we headed for Aomori. It's just a breath of fresh air.

IMG_1572-680x510.jpgDrinking canned coffee as we cross the AoIwa Bridge and enter Aomori Prefecture.

Finally, we arrived in Aomori. We stopped the Jixxer in front of Aomori station at midnight. The time was 1:30. It was 753km from Nihonbashi.
I crossed the Aomori Bay Bridge from Aomori Station to the Aomori Port Ferry Pier, where I boarded the Blue Mermaid, a ferry that departed at 2:40 a.m. on the Tsugaru Strait. As soon as we entered the cabin, we fell asleep. The scorpion's "second sleep". I lie down and fall asleep in "one, two, three".

IMG_1576-680x510.jpgWe arrived in front of Aomori Station at midnight. 753km from Nihonbashi.

The Tsugaru Kaikyo ferry Blue Mermaid arrived in Hakodate harbor at 6:20 a.m. She landed in Hokkaido 24 hours after departing from Nihonbashi. Let's start our "Round Hokkaido" tour!

IMG_1579-680x510.jpgTake the ferry from Aomori Port to Hakodate by Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry.

[Webick, choosing a bike]
View new and used cars of the Jixxer 150

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