Hello! I’m Eri, and I handle photography for the Circles web shop.
Golden Week has ended, and just when we thought we could take a break from events, the breeze of that big festival is starting to blow through Aichi Prefecture. Yes, it’s "Mori, Michi, Ichiba."
The entire Circles group—with Circles and Culture Club hosting shops, Pine Fields Market providing food and drink, and Early Birds Breakfast joining as SNEAKS—is currently preparing so that everyone attending Mori, Michi, Ichiba can have a great time.
Today, I’d like to introduce how we at Circles are involved with Mori, Michi, Ichiba beyond just selling products as a bike shop.
What is the Bike Cloak / Exclusive Bike Entrance?
The Bike Cloak is a bicycle parking area operated on a tip-based system.
For an event like Mori, Michi, Ichiba, many people probably head to the venue by car, but the nearby parking lots and coin parking facilities tend to get crowded. Prices often spike to event rates, and you frequently end up having to walk a long way from where you parked to the venue.
In that sense, the Mori, Michi, Ichiba Bike Cloak is located inside the venue, so you can start having fun as soon as you park your bike. You don’t have to ride all the way from home; you can take your bike on a train to the nearest station or park your car a bit further away and bike from there—as long as you ultimately arrive at the venue by bike, that’s all that matters.
Furthermore, there is a dedicated entrance for those arriving by bicycle, so you don't have to wait in the long lines that form at the regular entrance.
Why support arrival by bicycle?
A long time ago, I once rode my bike to the Fuji Rock Festival.
The year after Kiyoshiro Imawano passed away, my young friends and I got excited talking about, "Should we try riding our bikes to Fuji Rock as a memorial ride?" and we climbed long hills and were constantly passed by cars and buses, all while aiming for the venue.
The sense of achievement and exhilaration was at its peak. But when we finally arrived... there was nowhere to park our bikes. (It seems like there is now, though!)
For a festival that brings in so many different kinds of people, it felt strange that the access methods were so heavily skewed toward cars and buses. I remember feeling a bit uneasy about that at the time.
Maybe the Fuji Rock story is on too large a scale, but events like Mori, Michi, Ichiba are also places where diverse groups of people gather.
Precisely because it’s that kind of place, I want to properly support the option of using a bicycle.
If we can even slightly ease the congestion on the roads and public transit, that would be great, and above all, bicycles are nimble and allow for a smooth entry.
The reason we cheer on "arriving by bicycle" isn't just about the convenience of the means of transport; it’s because we want the journey to the event to be a fun experience in itself.
What happens at the Bike Cloak?
Now, let me introduce what kind of support we’ll have at this year's Bike Cloak.
Bicycle Parking
Since the arrival and departure of bikes are managed to some extent, you can leave your bike with peace of mind. However, we do not provide locks, so please make sure to bring your own! Any tips you choose to leave upon departure will be used to cover the operating costs for the next time and to support our volunteer activities.
Management of a Campsite for Cyclists
We also have a camping area reserved for those arriving by bicycle.
While camping tickets for Mori, Michi, Ichiba are notoriously competitive, it’s relatively easier for those arriving by bicycle to book, and the number of users is increasing year by year.
The bike-packing styles of those who lightly challenge themselves to a solo camp on their bikes are definitely a great reference for others.
Mobile Photo Studio
I, Eri Tanaka, the one writing this blog, am a photographer who shoots items for the Circles web shop, but every year during Mori, Michi, Ichiba, I set up a mobile photo studio in borrowed space at the Bike Cloak.
Take a photo with your family, friends, or partner to commemorate your bike arrival! We want you to feel relaxed about taking photos, so it’s a tip-based style that includes the downloaded data.
Please feel free to come by to commemorate your arrival with your friends and family, or with your bike packed with camping gear.
One-Coin Maintenance
If you arrived by bike but have a flat tire, have been putting off replacing worn-out brake pads and want to fix it now, or want help installing bike goods you just bought at the booths—we’ll do everything we can to help with your bicycle troubles right at the venue.
Our leader is Kamo-chan, the former manager of Culture Club and current CWD (Circles Wholesale Division) team member! So reliable!
Well, Mori, Michi, Ichiba is finally this weekend! To everyone coming by bicycle, please watch out for accidents and injuries, and pedal your way here with plenty of energy! We’ll be waiting for you at the venue.
