Tokyo Bay Drive

Betsan and I left at around 9:30 from her lodge and headed up the coast towards Tokyo.
I’ve been avoiding toll roads so far, which meant the quickest route from where we were to Izu was right around the edge of Tokyo Bay – a pretty crazy drive, and my first time driving in Tokyo. It rained most of the way, making the outskirts of the city feel even greyer than usual, with massive blocks of flats and office buildings stretching out to the horizon. No surprise it’s the largest metropolitan area on the planet.
Just as we both agreed we were getting hungry, we happened to drive right past a Hama Sushi, which I immediately pulled into. Hama was a staple throughout the ski season – it became an almost mandatory stop on the way back from any day trip or ski tour (usually paired with a McDonald’s milkshake to really get the calories back on board).
We ordered a fair amount, but nothing close to my previous record of 17 plates set with Alex, Matti, Jonah and Mick back in March. After lunch, we headed to a 2nd Street Outdoor – a second-hand shop specialising in camping gear and outdoor clothing. I picked up a camping hammock with a built-in mosquito net to use in Okinawa – it was a good brand and only about £25.
After another hour or so, I dropped Betsan off at the station we’d planned and said goodbye. Could be the last time we see each other for a while, as she’s off to Australia for another season after Japan.
I carried on around the coast as a typhoon-like storm rolled in, hammering down some of the heaviest rain I’ve seen – the kind where, even with the wipers on full tilt, you can barely see ahead. I eventually made it to Atami and headed up into the mountains to find a spot for the night with a good view.

Meeting up with Seb and Iman again tomorrow to travel around Izu together for the next few days!