Himeji to Osaka via Kobe(F-3)⭐⭐ ‘23.22nd,Jan
This route F-3 is in Area-F. See Area-F map/ See Japan map
Sight & Entertainment ⭐⭐⭐
Foods & Drinks ⭐⭐⭐ *Up to planning
Easiness ⭐⭐⭐
Road condition ⭐⭐ *Too many trappings of signals.
Safety ⭐⭐
I woke up at AM6:00. I felt a little fatigue by yesterday cycling(ref. G-6) and it was very cold. The temperature was -3C. But I had to go. I bade farewell to Himeji castle at the South-East corner of the castle park and headed toward East on R-2.
I expected it would warmer when I saw the sunrise(pic.2 AM7:10) but it didn’t surpass 0 degree C until AM8:30, so I felt pain on my fingers of both hands and feet. Though the road was wide and cycling itself was relatively easy, the sight was boring until I saw the Akashi strait bridge ahead(pic.3) at AM9:00.
Here Akashi city is famous for octopus, “Akashi-dako(octupus)" and Akashi-yaki dumpling with flour, egg and octopus in it. I wanted to try some but the time was too early(AM9:20) when I reached the city, Maiko park(pic.4). So I put up with eating something until reaching Kobe city and eating Kobe beef.
After Akashi city, the road became wider(pic.5). This section was the best in this day’s cycling but I became too hungry to enjoy the cycling, so I went just for the Kobe beef restaurant “Miyabi" which opened at AM10:30 and just arrived there on time.
I ordered a premium red meat 80g set menu in which rice, miso soup, salad were also included (pic.5,6) @5500-. The meat was enough soft and delicious though the chef told me the meat I ordered was a lower grade and better ones which might be over \10,000- higher price than mine were much more soft.
Now I could take a brief rest at the restaurant, then I rode on my bicycle again in a still very cold weather. Though I felt accumulated fatigue but I tried hill climbing to see the Kobe city view. So I headed toward Venus terrace. But the slope was too steep to endure for my tired legs, so I got off my bike and pushed it twice, honestly speaking, at the steepest corners.
The view from the terrace was nice(pic.7). Maybe it might be nicer at night. There are some other observatories at upper mountains. So I hear many local cyclists often do training for hill climbing in this area, which is not my way.
The down hill was scaring. Even after reaching the start point of hill climb, still the road tilted toward the sea. Kobe city is built on the slope in a narrow space.
As you know, Kobe port opened to foreign countries soon after Japan terminated its national isolation in latter 19C AD, so there are many western ancient buildings in the cities like Yokohama city. But in this time I dropped in just Japanese traditional Ikuta shrine which originated in 3C AD.
Though there are many nice spots there in Kobe, I hurried up toward Shin-Osaka station to catch my Shinkansen to Tokyo. So I exerted my last strength for last 30km to Osaka. But as I came close to Osaka, many signals trapped me many times, which was in a same situation when I cycled from Yokohama to Tokyo. And there were many street parking which made me felt dangerous. As I often realize, the big city is not suitable for cycling.
Anyway with this cycling, I connected Shimonoseki city and Osaka city with my trajectory. I want to enjoy Kobe city again not by cycling but by train.
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