More Japanese Cycle Culture

Although all my coolest cycle-chic photos from Japan have already been posted, I have a few more photos to share with you - I'm especially excited about the ones of an old Bridgestone Cycle rod-brake bike that I'd forgotten all about seeing.

This sign above the sidewalk in Tokyo explains that it's a multiuse path.

Tokyo, May 21st.

A delivery trailer outside a courier company - the same one that delivered our rented cell phone to our hotel.

You can rent bicycles for use on the grounds of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo,
so chances are pretty good that this white guy rented his sweet ride.
Rain during the last part of our trip dissuaded us from returning to try this out.

At the Asakusa Kannon Temple in Tokyo.

Notice all the bicycles parked to one side of the intersection!
A lot of the famous neon signs in Shinjuku were still turned off to save electricity at this point.

Parked inside a shop in Hida-Takayama (Gifu prefecture) in the early morning after a rainy day.

The narrow streets of the Edo-period Kami-Sannomachi district before opening time.
Once the shops open, these streets are crowded with pedestrians and bicyclists,
but at this early hour (about 8am) the delivery trucks can have access. May 24th.

By the time we returned, the pretty loop-frame had been moved outside the shop doors.

A narrow alley between houses in a residential district of Hida-Takayama.

I was taking a photo of the shrine, I swear.

This lovely old-timey rod-brake bike was squirrelled away in a storage area in one of the old houses at Hida No Sato, an outdoor architectural museum of mostly Edo-period farmhouses
on the edge of Hida-Takayama.

Bridgestone-stamped plastic (celluloid?) handles with brass caps. As you can see the bars themselves are pretty rusty.

I had to reach over the bike to get this shot of the chainguard. It was definitely not set up as a display.

Even the leather saddle is Bridgestone (Tokyo) branded. I wonder what the top tube is wrapped with?

Headbadge shot. The poor thing could use a good cleaning but I bet it's still in working condition.
Bridgestone Cycle Co Ltd was started in 1949, so it's no older than that.
This headbadge is one of the ones in this photo.
Given the crazy humidity and the fires kept inside each building,
it could be that rusty and dusty without being particularly old.

Cars, electric trolleys, pedestrians, and bicycles share a busy intersection on a rainy day in Hiroshima.
Notice the two ladies riding while holding umbrellas. May 27th.