HANNAH BARNES
CANYON S RAM
L ast year we didn't get a holiday thanks to me and my crutches so this year’s holiday was going to be twice as special. My boyfriend Tao had spent some time in Japan last year while he was stagiairing for Team Sky and couldn’t resist making me jealous every time he spoke about it, so that’s where we would go.
We started our twelve-day exploration of Japan in the capital, Tokyo. We only had four days in the city which is barely enough time to scratch the surface but we did our best. We would leave the apartment before breakfast and get back after dinner, trying to fit in as much into the day as possible. On our second day we met up with an old family friend of Tao’s, Mie, who surprised us with the most colourful bento box filled with delicious food. That was definitely my favourite meal of the trip.
After a jam-packed four days in the city, we travelled to the mountainous region of Hakone. The train took us into the town of Hakone Yumoto. After a big bowl of noodles we jumped on a bus that took us up the most beautiful mountain pass before dropping us down into the quaint village of Motohakone, where we would have our first experience of a Ryokan (traditional Japanese guesthouse) We arrived in the evening so didn't see the breathtaking views of Lake Ashi and Mount Fuji until we woke the next morning. After a very relaxing couple of days in the mountains we carried on south to the city of Kyoto. The first evening we arrived we met up with some friends from Rapha who took us to the amazing FushimiInari shrine. Following the thousands of vermilion torii gates up Mount Inari we had worked up an appetite so they took us to their favourite restaurant in town. I realised why: the food was incredible.
Our final destination, Osaka, was a city we hadn't planned to visit before we left home but when you are given the opportunity to spend the evening with Rapha and the Cycle Club then you can’t say no. We had a brilliant evening and it made me appreciate that I have some amazing sponsors and, more importantly, amazing friends all over the world.
I would highly recommend visiting Japan to anyone that wants to see breathtaking scenery, eat incredible food and meet some of the most kindhearted people in the whole world.
it made me appreciate that I have some amazing sponsors and, more importantly, amazing friends all over the world