In my research for an eco-friendly vehicle that is not only sustainable for the environment but a healthy way to stay in shape, I found Matthew Galat of JaYoe Nation. What peaked my interest was the fact he toured Japan via a recumbent reverse-tricycle from Hokkaido to Okinawa. While he has his own website, I have selected some of the videos for my own entertainment below. I’ve tried to keep them in chronological order.

I really like the configuration of his trike: https://jayoe.com/recumbent-trike/ . However, for my needs, I want something that can manage the snow too. So, I will probably select a Ti Fly X with 26" wheels all around.

JaYoe Nation (through Japan) 🔗

http://www.jayoe.com/japan
https://jayoe.com/product-category/tour-life-kit/

“JaYoe” apparently means 頑張る (“do your best”) in Japanese.

JaYoe Japan Q&A LiveStream 🔗

I have finished cycling from Hokkaido to Okinawa over the last few months. Ask me questions about my trip and my impressions of Japan throughout my journey! This live stream will last as long as it takes… so ask away as I chew away at the service on my phone.

All my Japan Videos can be seen on this handy dandy page I set up: http://www.jayoe.com/japan

JAPAN TRIP STATS:

  • 99 videos (4 more in the pipe + this one and leaving Okinawa)
  • 4500km (2800 miles)
  • Elevation: 31,538m or 19.5 miles (3.5 x Mount Everest(s) from sea level to summit)
  • Max Speed: 67.2 km/h (38mph)
  • Strokes: 949,349
  • Time in Japan: 125 Days about 4 months (62 days back in China and USA)
  • Ferry Rides: 8
  • Calories Burned: 150,206

Traveled all the major land masses:

  • Hokkaido
  • Honshu
  • Shikoku
  • Kyushu
  • Okinawa
  • 21 prefectures

Video (3:23:29) 🔗

CYCLING JAPAN | ARRIVED IN OSAKA | FIRST IMPRESSIONS 🔗

Arriving to Osaka on the ferry, its time to start writing the next chapter. First impressions, comfortable riding, brake repair, slipper customs.

Video (14:13 minutes) 🔗

QUICK TRIP TO DOTONBORI, OSAKA 🔗

A quick video as I go to Dotonbori in Namba, Osaka. Just a little trip on the complicated subway.

Video (5:45 minutes) 🔗

CYCLING JAPAN | MAIZURU | AMAZING STRANGERS 🔗

In todays VLOG, The day started slightly wet, with a beautiful 30 km ride to Maizuru, Ride, Ridden, Rode?, ferry tickets to Maizuru, difference between old and young in Japan, have to kill 8 hours, Japanese aircraft carrier, sim card top off, free wifi in 7-11, serendipitous coffee shop encounter I will never forget, ferry routes from Maizuru, Maizuru to Busan???, Brick Park, resisting flying over the navy ships, editing at the Ramen restaurant.

Video (12:54 minutes) 🔗

FERRY FROM MAIZURU to OTARU, HOKKAIDO 🔗

In todays VLOG, the ferry leaves for Otaru, Hokkaido, a long 21 hour boat ride to the north of Japan, the ship is a lot bigger than the last ones I have been taking, been lucky with the weather, arriving to Hokkaido!, cycling friend sees me off at the hostel, and goes off on his own adventure.

Video (9:06 minutes) 🔗

CYCLING JAPAN | OTARU to SAPPORO | CYCLIST FRIENDs and SAPPORO BEER 🔗

In today’s VLOG, leaving Otaru to Sapporo, Downtown Otaru, music boxes, holiday spirit, Big Boy Restaurant, gifting while on tour, Sapporo beer.

Video (12:34 minutes) 🔗

CYCLING JAPAN | SAPPORO FESTIVAL, GEARING UP, GEARING LIGHT, TESTING RAIN GEAR 🔗

In today’s VLOG, A short episode starting with a peek at Sapporo festival celebrations, getting better camping gear to replace some of the larger and heavier gear, and getting a Sapporo Burger at… Sapporo Burger.

Video (10:16 minutes) 🔗

CYCLING JAPAN | SAPPORO TO YUBARI | TOUR BUDDIES AND CAMPING 🔗

In today’s VLOG, I have some traveling partners and I have a chance to compare my ride habits to theirs, beautiful forested rides, great weather, quick look at some junior school sumo training, keeping up with my new friends, trying to find a place to set up camp, u sing the drone to look for a spot, using my new camping gear, no service to contact Anny… (sorry ☹), eating a camp meal…. Dealing with me talking to myself on camera.

Video (13:02 minutes) 🔗

CYCLING JAPAN | ASAHIKAWA VLOGGING CATCH UP 🔗

In today’s VLOG, woke up in Asahikawa, said goodbye to my traveling partners and played a long day of vlogging catchup.

Video (6:43 minutes) 🔗

CYCLING JAPAN | ASAHIKAWA to SHUMARINAI 🔗

In today’s VLOG, headed north, broke my funk, nice ride thru the country, lots of eagles, into the wind, bear signs, stock up detour, bottles of piss, roadside charity, an oasis of rest at the lake.

Video (11:44 minutes) 🔗

CYCLING JAPAN | SHUMARINAI to HABORO, HOKKAIDO 🔗

In today’s VLOG, Leaving the lakehouse, head into potential rain west towards the west coast. Some nature, interesting birds, deer, and skat on the side of the road. Talk about bike sounds (brakes, rhollof, clicking), and ride an awesome downhill, kept the rain at bay mostly. ran into an AMAZING bike hotel on the coast.

Video (12:39 minutes) 🔗

CYCLING JAPAN | HABORO to TESHIO 🔗

In today’s VLOG, leaving the motorcycle hotel, coastal road, strange wind fences, rain giving way wind, first time in a true rider house.

Video (12:35 minutes) 🔗

CYCLING JAPAN | TESHIO to WAKKANAI 🔗

In today’s VLOG, leaving the biker room, siecomart meals, long coastal ride, clearing weather but oncoming wind, wind mills, windy microphones, catchers mitts, Little shop of horrers plants, Phillip Phillips HOME, roadside Coke charity, Arrived Wakkanai, great biker hostel and an awesome sunset!

Video (14:02 minutes) 🔗

TRAVEL JAPAN | WAKKANAI AQUARIUM and the FERRY to RISHIRI 🔗

In today’s VLOG, vlog work, Wakkanai Aquarium and Museum, strange fish, chilly penguins, old Spongebob fish and captive creatures, my friend Anthony and his Oscars, adapting plans for the next few week and my trip back to China and USA, building model boats, pulleys, and taking the ferry to rishiri. The smell of diesel fuel, and camping for free.

Video (13:35 minutes) 🔗

TRAVEL JAPAN | HIKING MOUNT RISHIRI-FUJI 🔗

In today’s VLOG, woke up early to head up Mount Rishiri Fuji, a crow stole my breakfast, mountain springs, long hikes, some concussions… (I think… honestly I cannot remember), natural beauty, a sea of clouds at the peak, one foot in front of the other, the impressive power of nature, meet kutz.

Video (14:26 minutes) 🔗

CYCLE JAPAN | RIDING AROUND RISHIRI ISLAND 🔗

In today’s VLOG, finished the climb, and now on to circumventing the island, no bear worries, nuisance crows, riding under the clouds, new perspectives, island architecture, looking at my map, bad weather coming, Matsuri festival, good people, great end of the day view, stayed at a great island guesthouse.

Matsuri Festival Information: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_festivals#Local_festivals_.28matsuri.29
Rishiri Green Hill Inn : http://rishiri-greenhill.net/

Video (12:47 minutes) 🔗

CYCLE TRAVEL JAPAN | RISHIRI BACK TO WAKKANAI 🔗

In today’s VLOG, almost lost the drone this morning but it recovered in mid air, another ferry ride back to wakkanai, some meeting of old friends, and finding a place to stay.

Video (9:25 minutes) 🔗

CYCLING JAPAN | CAPE SOYA 🔗

Leaving Wakkanai. Forgot my rain gear in China. Mailed some extras back, but ran into some frustrating issues. Arrived to Cape Soya, took a dip. A quick review of some new additions to the ride. Japan to ride plan. Thinking about life on a alternative form of transportation. Setting up the new tent.

Video (22:22 minutes) 🔗

CYCLING JAPAN | ROAD SHELTERS, SPIDERS and HITCHHIKERS 🔗

First morning in the new tent. Long ride in the heat and sun. Cow country. New equipment disappointments. Hokkaido Road shelters. Spiders and hitchhikers. Ja Youth. Indigestion, boring ride, Seicomart and trying to eat healthy. Fully booked hotel, so camp in the rain.

Video (6:57 minutes) 🔗

CYCLING JAPAN | GIANT SCALLOPS, FOREST RIDES and ACCIDENTS 🔗

Hating mosquitoes, planning the next few days ride, forest, hills and lots of bugs. Big ass scallops, Scallop Mountains, car accidents, Lake Abashiri bike path, lots of bugs, Hokkaido lifestyle, trying to get a good dinner…

Video (12:05 minutes) 🔗

Brown Bear Burgers, Veal Cows and Cycle in Hokkaido Japan 🔗

Leaving the Rider House after some serious editing. Ride along the water, veal farm?, headed to the base of a mountain pass over the Shiretoko Penisula. Noone wants Matt’s Reef Tank Tank… ☹ Waterfalls, small towns, Brown bear burgers, Game of thrones, deer, Jack Daniels and Coke.

Video (11:33 minutes) 🔗

Cycle over the Shiretoko Peninsula, Typhoon Prep and Drone Flying 🔗

Leaving Shiretoko City, headed somewhat slowly over the Shiretoko Peninsula. Trying to get ahead of the typhoon. Lots of great DJI MAVIC drone footage along the way. Cicadas along for the ride. How the boats are preparing for the incoming typhoon. The disputed Russian Kuril Islands. A surprise visit from a member of the JaYoe Nation! Throwing up after an amazing dinner…. Setting up camp in Shibetsu after a remarkable sunset while fighting off embolden foxes.

Video (17:50 minutes) 🔗

WHY I’M NOT EATING JAPANESE FOOD… 🔗

Great camp last night, free power woo hoo! Leaving the coast for a while and heading inland for a really long ride of 114km. Today is all about pacing. More roadside generosity, getting more urban as I head south, witches brooms, crazy commenters and eating Japanese food… if I can afford it.

Video (14:57 minutes) 🔗

ARMORED JAPANESE APOCALYPSE VAN 🔗

Leaving Kushiro to Otofuke, 130km ride. Tires have been under deflated, so I fixed that problem. Found a wallet in the road. Zombie proof protest armored vehicles. Getting philosophical about the idea of persistence using a flowing weed as an example. Looking for Otofuke pork, got soup instead.

Video (15:24 minutes) 🔗

Authentic Japanese Ramen in Otofuke, Hokkaido 🔗

Left a nice but expensive hostel in Otofuke, contacting the JNTO (Japanese National Tourism Organization) had an authentic Japanese ramen experience (with a lot of translation trouble), I have a travel channel opportunity, Osaka friend meet, taxi driver charity, Flying the drone over the Japanese Hokkaido countryside, having trouble finding a route over the mountain range, getting to the campsite late.

Video (22:28 minutes) 🔗

Hokkaido Mountain River Bath 🔗

Waking up at camp after arriving in the dark the day before. Taxi driver from yesterday sent me a message. Flying the drone and driving thru the mountain range bisecting Hokkaido. Ups and Downs. Another road dead ends on me, but the dead end was a nice campground. SO it worked out. Bathing in a Hokkaido Mu Kawa river.

Video (11:40 minutes) 🔗

Beautiful Mountainous Hokkaido, Drone flights, Tunnels and Emu 🔗

Beautiful drone and ride out of the campsite road, on the way out of the Hokkaido Mountain pass. Lots of tunnels and downhills, downpours and delays. My Garmin 1000 edge odometer glitch. Japan Police pull over. Stopping for a curious family, complete with emu.

Video (11:08 minutes) 🔗

Cycling in the Rain Review 🔗

Rainy ride, giving me a chance to test my rain protection. Along the way I use my gopro in the rain during the ride, and talk about what a wet ride feels like. Draining the swamp. Arriving at Lake Toya.

Video (25:12 minutes) 🔗

The day the missile went over my head 🔗

Woke up with a Missile alert from North Korea. Supposed to ride out but instead made it a news day. Found a good campsite (cheaper) and set up camp. Camping can be a value compared to the prices of hotels in Japan. My last interview gets cancelled. News today and its effect on us as a fear tactic, when in reality we are living in a fairly peaceful time. More ramen! Cool ramen shop owner gave me a bean rice ball for the road.

Video (18:26 minutes) 🔗

Cycling thru tons of tunnels in Hokkaido 🔗

Leaving Lake Toya late, a ride taking me thru a ton of tunnels! Bono glasses, Misu shiro, and some great roadside eats, more roadside kindness, Campout at night.

Video (12:16 minutes) 🔗

Ice Creme, Roadside Nudie Mags, and Friendliness in Hokkaido 🔗

Leaving the cool RV campsite, losing my hat, meeting some old cycling friends, street littler porn, cleaning bed city?, crap smelling area, roadside corn and ice crème, Windy arrival in Hakodate.

Video (12:00 minutes) 🔗

JAPAN TRAVEL: HOKKAIDO to AOMORI 🔗

Leaving Hokkaido on a ferry to Aomori, meeting with an excited JaYoe fan before I go. Great burgers at a Hokkaido burger chain Lucky Pierrot. Maybe I can eat and review amazing burgers from around the world. Uneventful ferry trip. Am I on the mainland now? Lost my chinese debit card.

Video (14:59 minutes) 🔗

Japan sunrise, BUSH ART, tsunami signs, and Generosity 🔗

Amazing Sunrise, flat tire in the morning, up and down thru the hills causing me to go slower than normal, strange bush art, tsunami levees and rebuilt communities. Forgot my dinner, but no worries… it came to me, in the form of generosity.

Video (15:17 minutes) 🔗

Tanohata to Yamada, pitstops, hills and ride philosophy 🔗

Morning tsunami warning, tourist center wifi pitstops, tsunami reminders everywhere, feeling a bit blah and interested in the beauty around me, new communities, ride motivation, downhill riding on a trike, ups and downs of cycling the hills, big break walls, sacrificing views for safety, riding in the dark, stealth camping?

Video (17:59 minutes) 🔗

Cycling Yamada to Kesennuma, ups and downs, break walls and late nights 🔗

Woke up to lots of dew, a day of break walls and big ups and downs. I’m being hunted by a boy in a green suit… loosing my way around break wall construction.

Video (13:33 minutes) 🔗

Cycling Kesennuma to Onagawa, pushing thru, reflecting on the tsunami 🔗

Leaving the hotel in Kesennuma, pushing thru and over the hills. Sticking on the sidewalk, Utatsu tsunami damage, coming to terms with the past and the tragedy of what happened in the tsunami. Putting things into perspective. More roadside charity. Minimisanriku.

Video (19:40 minutes) 🔗

Cycling up to Hakone, Japan 🔗

Up towards Hakone lake, we get caught up in the frustrations, pitfalls and joys of travel. Some loss… a few stops, some beautiful autumn scenery but overall a good day.

Video (11:13 minutes) 🔗

Cycling around an Erupting Mount Fuji 🔗

Forbidden Lobby camping. Lobby for loosers.com. Great ride around a rare active Mount Fuji. Yellow submarines. Lake motosuke and the 1000 Yen view. A 35 km downhill. Trying to get my trike on a train.

Video (19:02 minutes) 🔗

Riding to Himeji 🔗

Riding thru cities on my way from Osaka to Himeji. Traveling thru cities is a balance between patience and creativity. Interesting Motorbikes. Stealing a glance. Arriving at Himeji.

Video (17:00 minutes) 🔗