Awaji Island is the largest island in the Seto Inland Sea. From ancient times, Awaji has been known as "Japan's Foodstore," and local fish have, down the years, been presented to the Imperial Court.

By then, the novice cyclist in me was already planning a return trip next autumn. Fukuoka, a city on Japan's Kyushu island, uses cutting-edge technology such as satellites and AI to save water.

The site on uninhabited Kushima island in the Sea of Japan was apparently intended to serve as a base for Koryu-class midget submarines developed for special attacks to defend mainland Japan.