A Motorcycle Trip Around Japan’s Islands | Island Travel Ep. 1

A Motorcycle Trip Around Japan’s Islands | Island Travel Ep. 1

Tōtōbi: A Japanese word for the beauty of scattered islands on a calm sea. The Seto Inland Sea is home to hundreds of islands Its breathtaking seascape of scattered isles has captivated people for centuries This time, our journey takes us to Shodoshima, one of the islands in these waters Known as the island of olives, it has also become a hub for contemporary art The island can be reached by ferry. A leisurely voyage across the sea is one of the unique pleasures here. Now, let’s head to the port on the motorcycle Takamatsu City In the stillness of the morning, I make my way to the port… I met up with a friend I’m usually riding solo, but this time, it’s the three of us Doing something a little different can be a great way to reset “Are you with the person over there?” “Yes, that’s right” “Then please park next to him” “Understood. Thank you very much” “Is that a motorcycle?” “Yes, it is” “What’s the engine displacement?” “250cc” “Then, the boarding fee is 1,850 yen” “Here’s 2,000 yen” “Thanks” And so, the journey to Shodoshima begins “Left side!” “Oh, okay” The guidance here is clear, so boarding is easy Ferries depart from ports in Kagawa, Hyogo, and Okayama Prefectures.
The journey takes about one hour. Large ferries are available for cars and motorcycles. The island’s big, so it’s helpful to have a car or bike Let’s have breakfast on the ferry while we wait The island’s port is coming into view “That was quick” “Yeah, it felt like no time at all” “I’m heading out first” “Uh, shall we head to Mitohan” “Mitohan?” “Mito Peninsula” “I’m not wearing my gloves” “Did you put them inside there?” “Did I? I don’t remember” “I might’ve put them in my own bag” “Ah, here they are” “Thanks” First, we pass through the town of Tonosho After that, we head south along the coast The destination is 20 kilometers ahead—a small village at the tip of the Mito Peninsula Several artworks from the Setouchi Triennale are displayed there, so we’ll take some time to explore them “Where should we park?” “Hmm, what should we do…” “Let’s pass by the art university piece and keep going straight” “I think there was a parking lot up ahead” “There it is—that’s the parking lot” “Mmm, we’re here” During the art festival, electric scooters are available for rent here It looks like they’re all in use at the moment Let’s explore the artworks while walking through the village Konoura: A fishing village once thriving with industries such as fishing, salt production, and stone quarrying. As the population declined, a quiet stillness settled in. Today, traces of the past remain in its traditional houses and stone walls. As we walk through the alleys, the first artwork comes into view A 23-meter-long reclining figure made from dismantled houses, quarry tools, and old fishing and farming equipment once used in the area. This piece symbolizes the industries that once supported the village. Apparently, it’s okay to climb up Now, those once-thriving trades simply lie by the shore—it’s a quiet reminder of the passage of time Each layer of material reflects the work once done in Konoura, and the history embedded in this place It feels as if the memories of those who supported this land still live on within it As we head toward the mountains, another artwork comes into view A hermit crab, quietly resting in an abandoned house where people once lived, carrying the house on its back instead of a shell This piece was created in 2022, during the last art festival Some works remain on display even after the festival ends Up close, it really makes an impact The combination of the abandoned house and the hermit crab is a great motif It really evokes the connection between local life and the sea Here’s another abandoned house This one, you can actually go inside Between the wooden beams and earthen walls, you’ll find trees and nature-inspired carvings The entire building feels like a single, unified artwork When I went upstairs, I saw the very artist behind the carvings Things people have abandoned quietly return to nature It feels like we’re peeking behind the scenes of that process—a strangely fascinating sensation These were truly wonderful works of art Now, it’s about time to head out for lunch Let’s head back to Ikeda Town for a bit and look for a place to eat “You ready?” “Oh, that’s beautiful” A town with a ferry port, it serves as one of the gateways to the island.
With bus stops and restaurants nearby, it’s an ideal starting point for sightseeing. Let’s go into this ramen shop “The menu says, ‘First of all'” “Let’s try that” While gazing at the calm sea and experiencing the artwork, I was able to feel the story of this place This afternoon, we’re going to the mountain side of the island We’re going to visit the wide terraced rice fields spread across the mountains It’s surely a simple and beautiful landscape See you again in the next episode

The theme of this journey is “Islands.”
Riding my motorcycle through the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, I’ll explore their scenery, daily life, and culture.
Let’s enjoy the unique flow of island time together with the calm sea.

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⚫︎Timestamp
00:00 Opening
01:07 Main part begins
05:21 Arrival at Shodoshima
08:08 Touring artworks on the Mitsu Peninsula
15:59 Lunch in the town of Ikeda

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