Cycling Japan – days 61 & 62 – Lake Kutcharo to Okoppe

Day 61 – Lake Kutcharo to Okoppe
Distance: 104km
Ascent / descent: 513m / 519m
Weather: cold, wet and windy
Accommodation: Slept in the free train carriage at Michi-no-eki Okoppe

Today was rainy for most of the day, so I had my wet-weather gear on, and the camera was tucked away. There’s not much else to say about today other than there were a few michi-no-eki’s to stop at and escape the rain, and there was this free train carriage waiting for me in Okoppe next to the michi-no-eki 🙂 There was one other person in the carriage when I arrived, a young Japanese guy also touring around Japan by bicycle. I took advantage of the free washing machine in the carriage and my clothes are now hanging up, but I’d be surprised if they dried in this cool wet air!

The train carriage accommodation at Michi-no-Eki Okoppe

Jb61 – elevation profile from Garmin connect

Jb61 – google map from Garmin Connect

Day 62 – Rest day in Okoppe
Weather: rainy all day
Accommodation: Minshuku Miraikan, Okoppe

It was still raining when I woke up, but it was quite cold in the carriage and I needed to vacate it by 10am anyway for the cleaners so I decided to look for accommodation nearby. I found a minshuku directly opposite and they very kindly let me check-in at 10am. It’s also a bakery and they’d just pulled cinnamon rolls out of the oven and placed them on a tray in the reception… I couldn’t resist, so I bought one and they gave me a cup of tea to have with it. It was heaven on this cold and wet morning. My washing hadn’t dried in the train carriage so I hung it up in my new room which is considerably warmer.

I’ve just had a day of relaxing, happy to be inside a warm room while the rain has continued all day long. Dinner tonight was a lovely surprise. The owner made me fish and chips and it was delicious. It was a huge meal but I certainly felt welcome 🙂