SM>As far as my own situation goes, I live in a small town (pop. 75k) in the
  >centre of the country.  Starting from Tokyo, follow the coast down about
  >180 km and look for a town called Shizuoka.  I'm about 30 km farther down
  >the coast in a city called Shimada on the Oi river.
Beautiful area.  I've traveled to Japan numerous time on business, but
I've since changed positions and will probably not be going back anytime
soon.  People thought I was crazy when I'd volunteer to go.  Japan is
very different than the US, just takes some getting used to the way they
do things.  I generally traveled to Fussa outside Tokyo (where Yakota
airbase is), and to Kyoto/Osaka area.  We had business in Shizuoka at
one time, but I helped move the equipment to Osaka about 4 years ago.  I
would have loved to do some cycling in that area.  Could be worse, you
could be trying to ride around the Tokyo area!
SM>- Roads do not have names for the most part.  The major roads and highways
This does make navigation somewhat of a problem, doesn't it.
SM>- Weather can be a problem.  I live next to a river and the wind in the
At least it doesn't get freezing cold!
  >continue until mid-July.  Then it gets hot.  No, make that *HOT*.  Temps
  >in August usually get up to 35-37C and stay like that compounded by strong
This is one thing about Japan I will never miss.  From your area south
in the summer is brutal.
SM>- Stuff is expensive.  This is Japan and that's true of everything.
Expensive is putting it mildly.
SM>- Stuff is smaller.  My bike shop had to special-order my '94 Trek cross
You like those almost one person wide escalators?
  >the other (50 km/h descent, though).  I got down the my absolute bottom
  >gears but I did it without walking and, for me, that is impressive.
Desire.
SM>... Steve, the cyclist from Shimada
You can netmail me at the address below if you want to chat a little..
klp
--- WILDMAIL!/WC v4.12 
---------------