日本夏2026年 - Day 4 Yaizu to Ikeshiricho
I rolled over to a nearby FamilyMart for a Craft Boss latte. The sky was starting to cloud over, though rain wasn’t expected until early afternoon.
The coast was alive with fishing activity—operations of every size. At one point I passed a group of men inspecting a massive net spread out along the shore.
Traffic picked up as I followed the coastline. I watched a group of schoolchildren being shepherded across the street by a crossing guard, then soon after the route led me to a river and onto a bike path. I had rejoined the Pacific Coast Cycling Route. A light drizzle began—nothing serious—and the air was warm, almost tropical.
The path carried me along a seawall, waves from the Pacific crashing hard just below. At every river mouth, enormous storm surge gates stood ready to hold back the ocean—quiet reminders of how vulnerable these coastal towns are.
The rain intensified, and I pulled on my poncho, shedding it again whenever the showers eased.
Instead of circling the Omaezaki Peninsula, I cut across its interior. The hills were lined with endless rows of tea bushes, their patterns stretching across the slopes. Somewhere along that stretch, I spotted a tanuki—a Japanese raccoon dog—watching me briefly before disappearing into the greenery.
Back on the coast, I found myself riding atop more seawalls, though frequent construction closures forced a series of detours. The Pacific Cycling Route markers became sporadic, and I was eventually pushed onto busy Highway 150—tight lanes, fast traffic, and little shoulder. Not ideal.
When I finally rejoined the coast, my Wahoo map glitched—my route line remained, but the underlying roads disappeared. Navigation became guesswork. The rain returned, steady now. I was hungry, but options were scarce until I came upon Uoara, a slightly upscale spot where I settled in for a much-needed, satisfying lunch.
Continuing west onto the Atsumi Peninsula, Highway 42 narrowed to two lanes. The rain held steady, and I often retreated to the sidewalk to stay clear of traffic.
Surf culture was everywhere—shops, cafés, signage. This stretch of coast clearly lives and breathes the ocean; Pacific Long Beach even hosts international surf competitions.
By 5 p.m., I spotted a michi-no-eki ahead. Nothing there appealed for food, but nearby I found a gazebo—dry, sheltered, and perfectly positioned for a stealth camp, especially with rain expected through the night. I doubled back to a Lawson for supplies, then returned to the rest area to charge my devices and write this.
Rain on the roof tonight. According to the forecast, Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi (Typhoon No. 6) is expected to bring torrential downpours tomorrow. The Ise-Wan Ferry, which runs from Cape Irago to Toba, will almost certainly experience delays—or even a full suspension of service—due to rough sea conditions.
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