Bicycle Journey through Shima City

Written by Cheeserland (http://cheeserland.com/)

The endless allure of Shima City is enough to keep the most enthusiastic travel buffs busy for days — from luxury hotel and exotic Mediterranean-themed resort to outdoor activities such as kayaking and even sky diving. Even the scenic train ride into Shima City on “Shimakaze,” a sightseeing limited express with a cafe car, itself is a charming attraction.

Although I often marvel at the speed of fast trains and the madness of Tokyo’s subway labyrinth, I can’t help but agree that one way to fully enjoy the authentic local scenery of Shima City is to explore it on two wheels. You can either join a cycling tour, or just rent a bicycle to slowly take in the city’s beauty at your own pace. Being someone who unfortunately lacks solid calf muscles and bottomless stamina, I was thrilled to find out that the cross bikes at Bicycle Journey are top-notch electric bikes. They also offer junior bikes for younger travelers as well as motorized kickboard and so on.

Once you have picked your trusty companion, you are ready to explore the city. There are a few courses on the cycling map you will be given to choose from, but really, I say just follow your heart and go with the flow, wherever it brings you.

That was how I discovered PONCHI’S PIZZA, an adorable, colorful restaurant that looks like it be-longs to a tropical beach, which indeed is what Ago Town in Shima City feels like.

The interior is definitely a five-star on the Instagenic scale. Without any reservation, the very friendly restaurant owners warmly welcomed us and gave us the freedom to take photographs in the premis-es, despite the restaurant being really popular with young locals.

I ordered a smoked cheese pizza with Kurobuta pork pancetta and garlic, and a caprese salad that has the usual tomato replaced with persimmon, totally enjoying in its chill-out beach vibe.

After indulging in this unplanned delight, I pedaled on to enjoy the exhilarating cool breeze along swaying paddy fields, and decided to head towards the beach.

Arriving at Kou Shirahama Beach, I was surprised to see a bunch of surfers riding the waves. Then it all made sense to me why there are so many beach-themed cafes and stores dotting the coastline. There are a several surfing points in Ago Town, and apparently it is one of the hottest year-round surfing meccas for people living in the Kansai region, given its proximity and accessibility.
On the other side of the white sandy beach is the 45-hole Shima Park Golf Club stretching along the coast, where avid golfers can enjoy both their favorite sport and Shima’s pleasant sea breeze all at once.

More random discoveries include Ko-jinja Shrine, which has a spiritual, calming ambience that per-meates the sacred ground. Interestingly, there’s also another shrine not far away named Anori-jinja Shrine, the Japanese characters of which literally mean “safe ride,” perfectly befitting a stopover for bikers who are looking to offer a prayer for a smooth journey ahead. For hardcore cycling fans, you can even purchase an omamori (amulet) for road safety, with an illustration of a biker on it!

While on the Ago Town cycling route, don’t miss Yokoyama Observatory, one of the most famous lookouts in the region, where you will stand in awe at the grandeur of the panoramic vista of Ago Bay and its many little islands. The view is particularly spectacular during sunset.

One final spot I recommend visiting is Bindama Road, a walking path lined with bindama — glass buoys used for fishing which are gorgeously illuminated after sunset.

If you are going for a romantic stroll with a special person, remember to find the decorative bindama engraved on the wall, as it is said that whoever touches it will have their wishes come true.

My wish was to be back to Mie Prefecture again and again, to be endlessly captivated by its many surprises always awaiting.