The Level Up English Podcast (Natural British English) #349 Cycling the Shimanami Kaido (Casual English Chat)
Nov 5, 2025
Join a captivating journey through the Shimanami Kaido cycling trail in Japan! Experience the highs and hilarious lows of travel, from finding a guest house with no shower to cultural bathhouse norms. Discover the joys of conversing in Japanese with locals and the challenges of navigating language barriers. Enjoy delicious meals from supermarkets and quirky curry chains. Reflect on emotional visits to Hiroshima and the beauty of quieter towns. Through it all, gain insights on building confidence in language learning and the art of travel.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Begin In Offbeat Towns
- Start trips in lesser-known towns to meet friendlier locals and avoid tourist fatigue.
- Random towns often offer more genuine cultural exchanges than famous tourist spots.
Pride And Disappointment After Conversations
- Every successful foreign interaction leaves him proud but also disappointed by forgotten speaking ability.
- He realises his reading outpaces speaking and wants to rebalance study toward spoken fluency.
Miyajima Moments And Local Cafe
- Michael visited Miyajima's famous torii gate and sat in a hidden cafe to practice Japanese.
- The cafe owner complimented his Japanese and sparked a friendly conversation about cats and the cafe.
