Dear Readers,
Do you like walking?
I, hiikun, used to really hate walking.
Even when I went to a convenience store located within a 5-minute walk from my home,
I was almost certainly riding a bicycle.
But things are different now.
Unless it’s urgent,
I’ve started getting around the neighborhood on foot.
Also, on days off when I have some free time,
I have started walking as much as possible.
It’s true that I do this for health reasons and to save money.
However,
that is not what I want to say in this article.
Now that walking has become a habit,
I realized there were two benefits.
I’ll share them with you all.
I would also like to introduce the walking shoes that have really helped me make walking a habit.
This article is intended for the following people.
・People who want to find a way to make walking a habit
・People who want to find information to help them choose the right walking shoes
I hope that
you will learn about the benefits of walking by reading this article.
You will also be able to find information that can help you choose shoes that fit your feet properly.
Please read to the end.
We look forward to your continued support.
What I’ve Gained Since I Started Wearing Shoes That Fit Me Well
To get right to the point,
I, hiikun, would like to state here what I want to emphasize most.
As the title already suggests,
“What I’ve Gained Since I Started Wearing Shoes That Fit Me”
Since there are two points,
let’s look at them together.
Benefit #1: Walking Has Become More Enjoyable
This is what I want to say the most.
As I said at the beginning,
I, hiikun, used to really hate walking.
However, once I found a pair of shoes that fit my feet,
the situation has changed dramatically.
Compared to before,
I’ve started walking frequently and over long distances.
When I walk in shoes that fit my feet,
it puts me in a good mood.
Of course, it’s true that walking for a long time is tiring.
However, compared to when I used to wear shoes that didn’t fit my feet,
I feel like my fatigue has lessened.
Once fatigue is reduced
and walking becomes fun,
it makes me want to walk even more.
As I mentioned at the beginning, I try to walk as much as possible on my days off.
Let’s look at a few examples of exactly where and how far I walk.
- Walk along Midosuji from Umeda to Shinsaibashi.
- Walk from Taisho Station, the station closest to my home, to my house.
- Or, conversely, walk from my house to Taisho Station.
- Walk from Shinsaibashi Station toward Taisho for one stop to Nishi-Ohashi Station.
Also, last month, just to see the sunset,
I visited Yagura Ryokuchi Park in Nishiyodogawa Ward, Osaka City, for the first time.
It’s about a 40-minute walk from the nearest station.
It took me about 80 minutes to walk there and back.
Although I was a little tired,
I had a really great time.
I suppose seeing the scenery for the first time lifted my spirits.
Also, to make walking more enjoyable,
I think it’s important to have a purpose.
For example, when I visited Yagura Ryokuchi Park,
IIt was precisely because I had the goal of seeing a beautiful sunset at Yagura Ryokuchi Park
that I was able to walk for about 40 minutes from the nearest station.
These are just a few examples.
And whatever else strikes my fancy,
I’m walking around and exploring various places.
I think it’s all because I found a pair of shoes that fit me perfectly.
Benefit #2: I’ve started making new discoveries
By walking
I have discovered wonderful places
I might have overlooked while traveling by bike, car, or public transportation.
I’ve become able to carefully observe my surroundings while walking.
Let me give you an example.
This happened when I was walking around Kitahama, a business district in Osaka, some time ago.
I found a lovely shrine.
However, because it’s located in such an inconspicuous spot,
at first, I didn’t notice it was there and just walked right past it.
That place is the Sukunahikona Shrine.
In writing this article,
I visited the area around Sukunahikona Shrine for the first time in a while.
It is located between two buildings.
I visited this shrine around 5:30 p.m. on August 4.
The entrance was already closed.
The first time I visited this area,
I didn’t even notice it while I was walking.
And especially if I had been getting around by bike or car,
I definitely wouldn’t have noticed it and would have just walked right past it.
And perhaps I would never have known of the existence of Sukunahikona Shrine to this day.
Thanks to all that walking around, I was able to realize something.
*If you’re interested in learning more about my stroll through Kitahama, including a visit to Sukunahikona Shrine,
please refer to the article via the link below.
Reference: 【My recommendation for sightseeing in Osaka】Let’s take a stroll in the business district “Kitahama” and visit retro architectural structures!
To get to Sukunahikona Shrine,
I headed there from Yodoyabashi Station on the Osaka Metro Midosuji Line.
I found a wonderful place right away.
Located just a short walk from Yodoyabashi Station is,
This is the Shibakawa Building.
It was completed in 1927 (Shōwa 2).
It is designated as a National Registered Tangible Cultural Property.
It is used as a commercial facility housing multiple restaurants and other businesses.
Passing by the Sukunahikona Shrine…
I headed south along Sakaisuji.
The Osaka Metro Sakaisuji Line runs beneath this.
I walked south like this
and headed to Nagahoribashi Station.
I pass through Midosuji quite often, but,
I rarely walk along Sakaisuji street.
This is especially true for the section between Kitahama and Nagahoribashi.
Since it was a weekday evening in the business district,
it was bustling with people.
The level of congestion isn’t much different from that on Midosuji.
However, since it’s a place I rarely go,
it made me feel really refreshed.
As I approached Nagahoribashi Station, I saw a building like this on my left.
It’s a shopping center called Sakaisuji Club.
It was built in 1931 (Showa 6) as the Osaka Branch of the former Kawasaki Savings Bank.
There is a restaurant inside the building called ” Bread, Espresso, and Sakaisuji Club.”
I’ve been living in Osaka for many years.
But I’m ashamed to say I didn’t know this building existed.
Walking down Sakaisuji this time made me realize that,
I was able to find this building.
I didn’t stop by because I was short on time.
If I get the chance in the future, I’d like to try eating there.
I might post about my dining experience here on my blog sometime soon.
As I walked along, observing my surroundings,
before I knew it, I arrived at Nagahoribashi Station.
It was already past 6:00 p.m.
The sun was strong, and it was hot and humid.
Still, thanks to the shoes that fit my feet,
I was able to walk comfortably.
I discovered places which are interesting and new.
It was a really enjoyable walk.
In the next section, I, hiikun, will introduce my favorite walking routine.
Recommended Walking Shoes
The walking shoes that I, hiikun, love to wear are,
” ASICS WALKING.”
Ten years ago, in 2016, on a certain day in the summer,
I happened to come across an ASICS WALKING store in Osaka City and decided to stop by.
That was the turning point.
Until then, I had placed too much emphasis on design and low prices.
Because I kept wearing shoes that didn’t fit my feet,
I used to suffer from foot pain quite often.
When I was looking for shoes while struggling with such concerns,
I happened to stop by an ASICS WALKING store.
The atmosphere of the store, the wide selection of products, and the customer service were all quite good.
Also, when I told the sales associate about my foot problems,
they suggested using 3D foot scanning.
I had my feet analyzed using a machine.
After conducting the analysis, they proposed products based on the results.
Although there is an additional charge,
I had semi-custom insoles made to fit my feet.
Even when I combined the shoe itself with the semi-custom insoles,
it came in within the ¥30,000 budget.
As a result, I was able to find shoes that fit my feet perfectly.
The strain on my feet has decreased dramatically compared to before, and I can now walk comfortably.
Ever since then, I’ve been a loyal fan of ASICS WALKING shoes.
≪Caution!≫
Semi-custom insoles are not intended for medical use.
Please refer to the link below for more details.
Reference: 3D Foot Measurement “Did you know that understanding the shape of your feet is the first important step in choosing the right shoes?”
From the next section,
I would like to introduce the shoes I have long cherished,
as well as those I currently wear and love.
My Favorite Shoes
Now, let me introduce the shoes that I, hiikun, love to wear.
There are Nos. 1 through 5.
Let’s go through them one by one.
These are my very first pair of ASICS WALKING shoes—a real milestone for me.
I bought it in August 2016.
Until I purchased No. 5, which I’ll introduce later,
I kept wearing them the whole time.
Since I kept walking for 10 years,
As you can see, it’s in really bad shape.
However,
the main unit is of high quality to begin with.
Thanks to the semi-custom insoles designed specifically for me,
they were incredibly comfortable.
By switching to the latest model,
I’ve decided to let them retire this year.
These are the shoes that showed me what makes ASICS WALKING so great.
I am filled with gratitude.
This is Item No. 2.
I liked Item No. 1 so much that,
I bought it in January 2017 as a backup.
I also had custom-made semi-custom insoles installed.
These shoes have served me very well, too.
I wore these shoes as I traveled to various places.
To give one example,
in July 2024—two years ago—in order to ride every ferry in Osaka,
I visited eight ferry terminals around the city wearing these shoes.
Since it had been seven and a half years since I bought it,
the shoes themselves and the semi-custom insoles were quite worn out.
Even so, the comfort wasn’t significantly compromised, and,
it held up well during the long walks I took while touring the ferry routes.
Reference: 【Free Boarding】Osaka Ferry Tour｜Invitation to a one-day tour of all eight locations!
This is Item No. 3.
These are leather business shoes.
At ASICS WALKING,
leather dress shoes are also available.
Just like the two pairs of shoes I mentioned earlier,
these are also walking shoes.
It is one of the brands under ASICS WALKING called RUNWALK (leather shoes you can run in).
I rarely wear a suit for work.
I purchased it in April 2018 for use at weddings, funerals, and other formal occasions.
I’ve tried out a variety of business leather shoes over the years.
None of them were very comfortable to wear, and,
I came to hate wearing leather shoes.
However, these RUNWALK shoes fit my feet perfectly.
The leather feels nice to the touch and is very light.
And best of all, I do not get tired even if I wear them all day.
Of all the leather shoes I’ve tried so far,
this is the best for me.
Back when I had just bought it,
I liked how comfortable they were so much that,
even though it was a day off, I went out wearing a suit and my RUNWALK shoes.
Of course, I use semi-custom insoles.
The other day, while I was cleaning my room,
I came across something like this.
This is the result of the foot analysis conducted when I purchased Item No. 3 above.
The staff had a machine analyze the characteristics of my feet.
Based on those results, they recommended the best shoes for me.
They also made me a semi-custom insole based on those results.
Actually, at the end of the year when I bought RUNWALK,
I bought Item No. 4.
Unfortunately, those shoes are no longer available.
Because the shoelaces and the shoe itself were severely damaged,
unfortunately, I had to throw it away.
Even so, it lasted for six years after I bought it.
Unfortunately, I didn’t take any photos.
Of all the ones I’ve bought so far, this one had the best design.
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And this is the latest model I bought this past May.
This is the GEL-RIDEWALK GTX 2 (GORE-TEX 2) (¥22,000, tax included).
First of all, I liked the way it looked.
Isn’t that cool?
I placed an order for custom-made insoles.
However, due to the nature of the Gel-Ride Walk GORE-TEX 2 shoes,
I was unable to have the semi-custom insoles installed. (According to a staff member at the store where I made the purchase)
However,
even without semi-custom insoles,
they’re incredibly comfortable.
they go well with a variety of outfits, and
I really enjoy going out wearing these shoes.
By the way, when you purchase ASICS WALKING shoes,
“A user manual” has been thoughtfully included.
Right after I bought it,
these shoes are really coming in handy.
In late May, I took Japan’s longest bus route—the Yagi-Shingu Line—and traveled the length of the Kii Peninsula.
thanks to these shoes, I was able to walk around a lot, and
I was able to fully enjoy my trip.
Also, last month, I walked about 40 minutes from the nearest station,
I visited Yagura Ryokuchi Park in Nishiyodogawa Ward, Osaka City.
I was so happy to see such a beautiful sunset in the park.
The round trip took about 80 minutes on foot, but I wasn’t all that tired.
I was able to take a walk while enjoying the view of the Yodo River.
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Summary
In this post, I talked about the two benefits I gained from finding shoes that fit my feet.
I also introduced the walking shoes that I, hiikun, love to wear.
How was it?
Transportation has advanced, and we now live in a convenient world, but,
Why not take a leisurely stroll every once in a while?
It’s not just about health and saving money.
Depending on the shoes that fit you best,
Walking itself becomes fun.
This helps you clear your head.
You’ll also experience a sense of refreshment and accomplishment.
Also, by taking a leisurely walk,
You might just come across a wonderful place or object
that you didn’t notice when you were traveling by bike, car, or public transportation.
I, hiikun, am a big fan of ASICS WALKING.
However, various sports manufacturers sell a wide variety of walking shoes.
I hope you, my readers, will find a pair you love.
I want you to experience the joy of walking for yourself.
By taking another leisurely stroll around,
please discover some wonderful places you didn’t know about before.
Thank you very much for reading this article all the way through.
See you in the next article.
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![[商品価格に関しましては、リンクが作成された時点と現時点で情報が変更されている場合がございます。]](https://hbb.afl.rakuten.co.jp/hgb/568fff72.7e7b9479.568fff73.50f6a658/?me_id=1210059&item_id=10031421&pc=https%3A%2F%2Fthumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp%2F%400_mall%2Ffootcourt%2Fcabinet%2Fshohin46%2F1293a044-01-001.jpg%3F_ex%3D240x240&s=240x240&t=picttext "[商品価格に関しましては、リンクが作成された時点と現時点で情報が変更されている場合がございます。]")
![[商品価格に関しましては、リンクが作成された時点と現時点で情報が変更されている場合がございます。]](https://hbb.afl.rakuten.co.jp/hgb/3e4ececd.6adf4ede.3e4ecece.4d7b2e91/?me_id=1302793&item_id=10010837&pc=https%3A%2F%2Fthumbnail.image.rakuten.co.jp%2F%400_mall%2Fasics%2Fcabinet%2Fitem%2F815%2Fmd5815-01_1.jpg%3F_ex%3D240x240&s=240x240&t=picttext "[商品価格に関しましては、リンクが作成された時点と現時点で情報が変更されている場合がございます。]")
