서울도 삼키는 일본의 초대형 이세계 통로 | 🇯🇵일본일주_18

서울도 삼키는 일본의 초대형 이세계 통로 | 🇯🇵일본일주_18

What kind of travel do you enjoy? Gourmet adventures? Or maybe a bustling city tour? I personally love fully immersing myself in nature. I enjoy taking my motorcycle and diving into remote natural landscapes. Today, I’ll be showing you some of the unique sides of Japan I encountered on this journey. Starting with Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest freshwater lake that could swallow Seoul whole, To Shirakawa-go, a heavy snowfall area with unique traditional houses. Let’s dive into this refreshing adventure together! Lake Biwa, Shiga Prefecture, Japan A morning at Lake Biwa, with gentle sunlight, is nothing but serene and peaceful. Today, I’ll ride along the western edge of Lake Biwa, taking in the nature, and head to Shirakawa-go, a village with such unique architecture it was registered with UNESCO. Let me wash my face before we head off. Huh? You think I look pitiful? Or do I seem well-prepared? This place has a traditional squat toilet. There is a restroom with a sink in the larger parking lot, but I came to the wrong one. So now I’m stuck doing this sad little wash-up. Wow… what a huge lake. As soon as I started riding along Lake Biwa, its unique character began to stand out. Isn’t it interesting that you can change lanes even inside tunnels in Japan? In Korea, lane changes are not allowed in tunnels except for a few special cases. It’s always fun noticing differences like this. Don’t the houses look decades or even hundreds of years old? They repair and maintain the aging parts. Whoa, this isn’t the ocean? No way. Have you ever heard the term “lake beach”? I hadn’t until now. Apparently, there’s a lake beach here, so I’m heading there now. Since the lake is huge, it probably looks just like the sea. Whoa, this is my first time seeing a monkey crossing sign. Then again, I did see monkeys on the road last time. I guess they’re something you need to be careful of, like water deer or wild boars in Korea. Hello! Like this, right from the start of my trip around Lake Biwa, I’m gathering unique experiences. I’ve arrived at a lakeside beach called Omi Maiko Nakahama. This beach, almost as if it had been waiting for me, welcomed me with scenes of local life that felt warm and familiar. Since it’s a freshwater lake, people are fishing for freshwater fish. Let’s take a closer look. – Hello.
– Nice to meet you. – May I take a look at this?
– Huh? At what? – I’m Korean.
– Oh, Korean! – I don’t speak Japanese well. May I take a look?
– It’s called “Ayu.” – Ayu!
– Ayu. Are you…? Is “Ayu” the name of the fish? Or does it mean “to look”…? “Ayu” means sweetfish. – It’s a sweetfish from Lake Biwa.
– Sweetfish! Wow, amazing! The elderly lady fishing with such skill looked really cool from behind, didn’t she? Since it rained not long ago in this area, they use a fishing method that takes advantage of the water flow into the lake. Instead of using bait, it seems to be a method called “snagging.”
(*Snagging: a fishing method that catches fish using only a hook) Right. It’s snagging.
(*Snagging: a fishing method that catches fish using only a hook) – It’s fun.
– Yeah, it is fun. – Grandma, may I try it too?
– Of course! – You want to try fishing, right? This?
– Yes. Give it a shot. Thankfully, she gladly handed me the fishing rod. – Aim for the water current.
– The current? Looks like I need to aim for the fish moving with the current—can I really catch one? But at that moment! – Oh!
– You got one! Luckily, I managed to snag one clueless fish. I got one! – Fun, isn’t it?
– Yes, it’s really fun! They do say “beginner’s luck,” right? I didn’t catch a single one after that. Just one more, please! Thank you, ma’am. Thank you so much! Looks like I caught the last fish. That was fun. With happy memories from the entrance, I headed deeper into the lakeside beach. Wow, it really looks like a beach. This lakeside beach, resembling a sandy seashore, is full of the relaxed vibe of early summer lovers enjoying their time. It looks just like a beach but with some subtle differences. The sand grains are definitely too coarse to be from the sea. Anyway, the water color is just unreal. It’s crystal clear. If you don’t think of it as a lake, it really does look like the ocean. Don’t you think so? Other than the fact that it’s a “lakeside beach,” it looks just like a coastal beach. After a quick look around, I turned the handle northward. This Lake Biwa was named after the Japanese instrument “biwa.” Because its shape resembles a biwa, it was named “Biwa-ko.” So that’s why it’s called Biwa-ko. What struck me most was that, in terms of area, it could easily swallow up Seoul and still have space left over. That’s how big this lake is. Even though it’s big, it’s still small compared to the massive lakes of North America. Still, it’s a sight you can’t see in Korea. It was my first time seeing such scenery. Oh! What’s this? It’s so beautiful! I have to stop! You must stop for places like this! This place is a shrine called “Shirahige,” and it seems more popular than I expected. On weekends, it gets packed with tourists trying to take pictures of the shrine floating on the lake. You can tell right away—this is a total Instagram spot, right? And the torii gate floating on the lake is said to carry various meanings, Like passing through the gate means “entering another world” or “entering the realm of gods.” That’s why the line of torii gates starts from the upper part of the shrine and continues into the lake. It seems like it was built as a pathway connecting to the other world. It’s just a speculation based on some facts, but isn’t imagining stuff like this always fun? I kept riding along the endless lakeside and finally reached the northernmost point of Lake Biwa. That place in the distance is probably Kyoto. That’s where I started, you know? The straight-line distance from there to here is probably around 50 km. You can imagine how big this lake is, right? It’s truly massive. With the image of this vast lake in my heart, I twist the throttle toward Shirakawago. After seeing just half of Lake Biwa, I’m now heading to my accommodation. Originally, I planned to go to “Shirakawamura” today, but the accommodations are too expensive. And since it might rain in the early morning, camping seems difficult too. So I’ll head to Fukui City, which is about two hours away from Shirakawago. I haven’t washed up yesterday or today, so I’ll clean up there first, and then head out early tomorrow morning. I mentioned I hadn’t decided whether to go north or south, right? I’ve decided to go north from Shirakawago. I’ll tour the Noto Peninsula located up north and then come down. So if I stop by Shirakawamura and then go up to the Noto Peninsula, tomorrow will be another long drive. So I’m going to rest a bit early today. The road to Fukui unexpectedly led me along the coastal highway. Even as darkness fell, nature kept putting on its spectacular display. I’ve entered Fukui Prefecture, where my lodging is. I’m almost in the city, and I see something quite unusual. There are no high-rise buildings. I’m sure they exist, but I haven’t seen a single one so far. At most, the buildings are only three stories high. It’s really an interesting sight. Maybe it’s because this area is prone to earthquakes? I don’t know the reason, but it’s fascinating. (A tall building appears immediately) I’ve arrived. This accommodation I’m staying at is located right in front of the station. I was hoping to just leave my motorcycle alone, but stations always seem to attract sketchy people in every country. So I covered my motorcycle, and I’m only bringing my valuables with me upstairs. The room feels a little cramped. A desk and a single bed. And the bathroom looks like this, It gives off a bit of a retro vibe. Wow, and take a look at this. Doesn’t it look like a really old item? It says “RADIO BGM.” (“Romance” fills the air) Wow, it’s amazing that this thing still works. Oh, I guess you turn on the light using this. It’s my first time seeing a light turned on this way. And here’s another unique thing about this place. The Wi-Fi isn’t installed in the room—you have to borrow a device from the front desk, and this is what they give you. You plug this thing into the power outlet, and connect both ends of this LAN cable to use the internet. And so, morning has come in Fukui Prefecture, on the main island of Honshu. The most unusual thing I saw this morning after waking up was a bicycle parking tower right next to the station. Not for motorcycles or cars — but for bicycles. It seems students and office workers ride their bikes here to catch the train, then park them here before continuing on. Since Japan is a country that uses bicycles a lot, each bike has a registration number or tag, and they’re managed strictly. That shows how much bicycles are respected here. There must be hundreds of bicycles. Anyway, today I’m heading from Shirakawago to a place called Takaoka City. The reason I’m so focused on going to Shirakawamura is because it’s a village that preserves the look of traditional Japanese houses. I love peaceful atmospheres, gentle nature, and countryside villages. So I really wanted to visit. And although rain wasn’t in the forecast, as you can see, it’s starting to fall. Oversleeping is one variable, the rain is another — everything is unexpected today. Since it’s raining, I’ll drive more carefully and head to Shirakawago. Holding on tight? Let’s go! It’s so quiet and peaceful. Wow… look at this view! Even though it’s raining, it’s clearing my heart, you know? Thank you, really… Just look at this scene. Isn’t humidity amazing? Just the moisture in the air makes everything look more mysterious and dreamlike. Nature really is full of wonder. That dam is so cute. Wow, this road is absolutely stunning. Well, who cares if it’s raining? There’s a special charm to rainy days too. Don’t you think so, everyone? But looking at the rain, it doesn’t seem like it’ll stop anytime soon. It looks like it’s going to get heavier. And I have to go that way. It’s definitely going to get worse. I think I’d better put on my rain gear. Excuse me, I’ll quickly change under this roof. I’m already completely soaked. Originally, there was supposed to be only light rain early in the morning, and no rain during the day. But sometimes you get caught in unexpected downpours like this. Looking at the distance, it doesn’t look like it’ll stop at all. It’ll probably get even heavier. But looking on the bright side, Shirakawamura in the mist and rain might be even more beautiful. According to the forecast, it’ll keep raining for about two more hours. So when I arrive at Shirakawamura, I’ll get to see a village beautifully veiled in mist and rain. I’m really looking forward to it! All I can hear is the rain hitting my helmet and the sound of the engine exhaust. And then there’s this scenery ahead of me… pure romance. Wow, this is just stunning. After crossing countless mountains and valleys like this, I finally found myself at the doorstep of Shirakawago. I’ve come down the mountain and am now approaching the village. I’ve hit a somewhat larger road. I’ve been driving for about four hours now, and I haven’t seen a single convenience store. Dear god, this is so exhausting. Still, for some reason, I feel like I’ll find one here. Whoa! Yes, there it is — finally found it. Finally found it… thank you so much. I’m finally getting a break after four hours. After hours of riding through the rain, finding this convenience store felt like rain in a drought. My hands got wrinkled and marked deeply from holding the handlebar too long with wet gloves. I don’t have much time, so I need to eat quickly. Today I got chicken breast, a rice ball, and a piece of chicken for some high calories. It’s boneless chicken, and it tastes just like the ones sold at Korean convenience stores. Time to power up and keep going! Even though it’s summer, it’s quite chilly in this mountainous area. If I weren’t wearing a raincoat, I’d be freezing. The thermometer says it’s 13°C right now. So even though it’s mid-summer, I turned on the handle heater. My gloves are wet too, and my hands were cold. Finally, the rain has stopped. Now I can see the road clearly ahead. I’m getting close to the destination—Shirahawamura? I keep forgetting the name, but I’m starting to see traditional houses. My first impression of Shirakawago, the place I really wanted to visit, was the peaceful quiet I expected. And over that, the misty rain added a mysterious atmosphere. This village, Shirakawago, is in Gifu Prefecture and registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s famous for its unique architectural style, right? The reason for the roof shape is that this area gets a lot of snow in the winter. In 2006, it reportedly recorded about 3 meters of snowfall. So they built the houses this way to support the weight of the snow. The roofs are quite thick, probably made of straw. As time goes by, they get worn out and need repairs. And that’s not something one person can do alone. The whole village works together to repair them, following a traditional farming community system. Most of the houses in this village look similar. It gives the place a sense of unity. Even the fire alarms and detectors are made in matching designs. Japan is really good at that kind of detail. This village is so calm and quiet, it’s the perfect place to take a walk. Oh no, the rain just won’t leave me alone. I had taken off my rain gear, and now it’s pouring again. I wanted to spend more time walking, but it looks like I can’t. I’d better get moving. It’ll take about two more hours to get to the hotel in Takaoka. It’s a shame, but I have to leave. Looking back, the places I left feeling sad always became beautiful memories. And when you walk away from those moments with gratitude, nature always gives you the most beautiful gift from its basket. Breathing in this scenery one last time, I turn the handlebar toward Takaoka City, just beneath the Noto Peninsula. Seriously… the rain stopped right as I left, and I can even see the sun over the ridge. The sky is really messing with me today. Feels like it’s playing a prank on me on purpose. Or maybe it’s the sky telling me, “Hurry to your lodging before sunset.” On the way here, I passed through so many tunnels, the clouds must have dumped all their rain over the mountains, and this side stayed dry. Now the sky is clear. Not a single cloud. I wish I could watch this with someone on each side of me. Too beautiful to enjoy alone. Go, Kim Bakkat! The sky is beautiful, but the reflection of the sky in the rice fields is even more stunning. Until now, I always found driving at night scary — but not today. Not today. Green rice fields on both sides, the occasional countryside home, the scent of summer night all around… It’s such a beautiful night. After another long journey, I’ve reached my basecamp before heading to Noto Peninsula, the hotel in Takaoka City. After finishing all plans, I grabbed food at a convenience store and returned to the hotel—it’s almost 10 PM. At the end of each day, I find myself letting out a little chuckle. (Noticed something strange in the park) I think I just saw something weird… Hold on, I’ll tell you when I get upstairs. I was filming and walking past the park just now, and I saw a couple who looked like students. The girl had a very short skirt. The guy was sitting, and the girl was sitting the other way on top of his legs. It probably wasn’t what I think… right? They were holding each other tightly, and her legs were up on him. I know Japan is open-minded about intimacy, but… doing that in public? Is that even possible…?

일본의 최북단으로 향하는 여정속에서 만난 특색있는 일본의 자연,
비와호와 사라카와고를 지나는 이야기입니다.

함께 떠나보시죠!

#굴러서세계속으로 #일본일주 #혼슈여행
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