A Cycling Trip around Japan Made by a Sophomore Student, Nobuhiro Aida

Mr. Nobuhiro Aida

Mr. Nobuhiro Aida, a second-year student of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, made a successful cycling trip around Japan by visiting all 47 prefectures during summer vacation.
Mr. Aida had a homestay in Canada when he was in high school, and this experience made him realize that he knew little about his own country. Just when he had wanted to see Japan for himself, he came across a book written by a person who completed a round-the-world trip on bicycle, which motivated him to decide to take on the challenge of making this journey.
He began his trip from Cape Soya in Hokkaido, the northernmost point of Japan, on August 4, 2008. He mainly visited the capitals of each prefecture, but his trip also included a visit to Cape Nosappu in Hokkaido, the easternmost point of Japan, Yonaguni in Okinawa, the westernmost island of Japan, Mt. Fuji climbing, and Mt. Miyanouradake climbing in Yakushima where he also went on 5-day fast. On October 7, he was at Hateruma-jima in Okinawa, the southenmost point of Japan and ended his journey on the following day.
Reflecting on his challenge, he said "It was a great experience for me to see big cities and the nature of Japan in local settinigs for myself and I was also able to meet a lot of people wherever I went. I would like to convey my own experience and message to as many people as possible at every opportunity."