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I stayed in a Japanese hotel in Kudoyama-cho and cycled up to Mt. Koya-san. By chance, the Bon Festival was going on, and I could see farewell bonfires at Sanadaan in Kudoyama.

Kongohbuji temple is on Mt. Koya-san. It rises 750m from the foot of the mountain. This temple is the head temple of Shingon Buddhism. Its burial ground is packed with the daimyo's graves from the Edo era. When the property usage donation is not paid every year, the grave is destroyed, and the right to use it is sold to a different person. This stable business model is lasting 400 years.

100.03Km

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1300 years ago, the capital of Japan was Nara. I cycled on the east hill of the Nara Basin today. This route is called "Yamanobeno michi". There are many circular mounds, which exceed 250 meters in length. These mounds are surrounded by fields now.

The old forms of Shinto shrines remain. There is neither a sanctuary building nor an altar at Hibara Shrine. Christians interpret this as primitive culture but I think it is the spiritual essence of Japan.

Omiwa Shrine, Ichinomiya of Yamato country.

Because the way is narrow and there are many slopes and stone pavements, it is intended for mountain bikes.

79.25Km

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I wanted to cycle along a mountain course when I watched the Tour de France. Because the Alps are 10,000 km distant, I cycled through Tanzawa in Kanagawa.

Yabitsu Pass was 761 meters above sea level. I cycled up 660m over 12km from Hadano at the foot of the mountain.

When I went over the mountain pass, I enjoyed a long downhill ride to the Miyagase dam. This way was suitable for cycling because there were few cars. Hanbara Pass was 490 meters above sea level. I cycled up 300m over 4.5km. 126.14Km accumulation elevations 1750m

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I pedaled in Setagaya, which was a residential area of Tokyo. Shoin Shrine was a Shinto shrine to honor Shoin Yoshida. After the Meiji Restoration, pupils of Yoshida constructed this shrine. Here were graves of Shoin Yoshida and Mikisaburo Rai, who died from penalty by the Mass Execution of Ansei. The Mass Execution of Ansei was political oppression by chief ministry Naosuke Ii of the Edo Shogunate.

Graves of the Ii's family were in the west, across the Setagaya ward office from Shoin Shrine. Here was a grave of Naosuke Ii. He was killed in the Sakurada-mongai assassination. These events happened 150 years ago.

32.12Km

Jun 12 Coolangatta - Paradise Point /64km Jun 13 Mount Tamborine, Brisbane /48km Jun 14 Brisbane Mount Coot-tha /39km Jun 15 Brisbane (train) Casino - Ballina /67km Jun 16 Ballina - Byron Bay - Murwillumbah /93km Jun 17 walk up Mount Warning /34km Jun 18 around Mount Warning /70km Jun 19 Murwillumbah - Coolangatta /55km Jun 20 Coolangatta - Tweed Heads /12km

Total 482Km

I stayed for three days in this town .

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It is cool and fine today. The temperature this morning will be 10 deg C.

I pedaled 17Km to the starting point for the climb, and walked up to the Mount Warning which was 1156m above sea level.

Because the mountaintop was sacred to the Aborigines, there were four lookouts around the summit. I saw a double outer rim of a dead volcano.

I was able to saw down to Murwillumbah where I stayed.

When I came back to the town and did shopping, somebody called out to me. It was Cipollini whom I had ridden together with in Japan! We were going to meet at a hotel, but stumbled across each other. I went to Chip and Lisa's house and I was served spaghetti with Italian cheese. Chip lived in Surfers Paradise, but, for the education of his children, moved to a country town last year. 33.73Km, 2h38m, 12.7Km/h , 4h for climb