Living and working in Tokyo is a fantastic experience, but to appreciate the real Japan you have got to leave the cities and take a deep breath of the countryside. That’s why to finish off our year and a half in the country, my fiance and I embarked on a tour of Japan by bicycle, to not only visit the famous sights, but soak up everything else in between. After 6 weeks on the road, I hope I can inspire some of you to get on your bike and pedal your heart out through the rice paddies of Japan.

1: See the real Japan

Away from the bright lights and stereotypical distractions of Tokyo and Osaka, the countryside offers an insight into real Japanese life and culture. Travelling by bikeHillary Clinton called for a "swift" response from Congress to counteract the recoupment effort. | Getty Clinton 'appalled' by effort to recoup veterans' bonuses

Hillary Clinton slammed the California National Guard and Pentagon on Monday for reportedly demanding soldiers who fought in wars in Iraq and Afghanistan a decade ago to return enlistment bonuses they received for their service.

"I am appalled that National Guard officials are attempting to recoup money from soldiers who accepted bonuses a decade ago," the Democratic nominee said in a statement released Monday night in response to the reports, which first appeared in the Los Angeles Times.


"These troops deserve our support and our deepest gratitude; they served admirably and upheld their part of the bargain," she said. "It is unacceptable to now subject them and