Japan By Bike

Japan is one of Asia's most idyllic cycling destinations; stunning coastlines, rolling mountain scenery, World Heritage National Parks and a rich cultural heritage that would fascinate the most discerning traveller. Team this with an exquisite cuisine, hot springs and onsens to soothe and soak in after a stunning days ride and you soon see why Japan is fast becoming one of the great cycling Mecca's of Asia.

Our odyssey begins in Tokyo exploring hidden riverside bike paths and back streets that will make it hard to believe we are in one of the largest and most modern cities in the world. From here we head into the countryside to circumnavigate the nation's symbol, Mount Fuji, then into the northern Japanese Alps for breathtaking views of a string of dramatic 3000m snow capped peaks. The Noto Peninsula coastline offers a different perspective; from the farmlands famous for bountiful rice harvests to flowing rivers, beaches and unusual volcanic rock formations. We continue to Sado island - famous for its Taiko drumming festival as well as being a former isolated penal colony for banished revolutionaries, then onto Nikko to immerse ourselves in its World Heritage listed buildings, temple gardens and traditional Shinto and Buddhist arts and architecture.

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Itinerary / Highlights

DAY 1 Arrive in Tokyo
On arrival at Tokyo's Narita International Airport make your way through immigration and customs. Transfer arrangements to your central Tokyo hotel will be advised closer to the departure date. First impressions of the industrial outer suburbs of Tokyo - a seemingly endless display of concrete and elevated highways - give little clue about the natural pleasures you are going to see from the saddle in coming days. There will be a group meeting at 6pm followed by an optional visit to a good restaurant in the area for our first true Japanese meal. Please note that your room may not be available until check in time at 2pm, however if you arrive early the hotel will keep your luggage secure if you want to do some exploration. If you are arriving at the hotel later at night, please check
yourselves in and note instructions about tomorrow's meeting.
Meals: NIL

DAY 2 Cycling in Tokyo
In the event of late arrivals we will have a full briefing about our trip this morning. We enjoy a day acclimatizing to the city and Tokyo traffic by touring on some hidden riverside bike paths and using some downtown backstreets that will make it hard to believe you are in one of the largest and most modern cities in the world. Today we stop off at Tsukiji fish market for an optional lunch of the freshest seafood in the country. The sushi and sashimi has to be great here it is where the experts work and eat. We will try some specifically Tokyo snacks (a maybe a nip of stomach warming sake) as we cruise casually alongside some ancient water ways, some secret backstreets, stop for some classic city views as we start to learn the history of the different unique areas that have made Tokyo
a household name today around the world. Tokyo is a hive of activity, with a mind-boggling range of shops, restaurants and businesses that make it one of the world's most energetic cities. We will also visit districts 'beneath the buzz', exploring the street scape where ultra-stylish stores are slotted between houses, small restaurants and mid-city shrines.
Cycle: 60 km moderate cycle
Meals: B

DAY 3 Cycling in Tokyo
Centering on the old castle and port areas that were the most active parts of the town in the 16th century area, we circumnavigate this amazing city with a great 70 kilometer course different to yesterday that has you along rivers, beside moats, over sea bridges, next to Shogunate gardens, lunching by the sea, past centuries old temples, and right through the center of this great and interesting capital city, as well as cruising at good pace along some bike only paths. Our highlight today is no doubt the optional activity to see the inside of a Sumo stable or beya where we can get up close and personal with the training of these amazing and underrated athletes. The unusual side of this neon city does not go unexplored either. Before dinner at the restaurant that inspired Kill Bill's 'house of the blue leaves' we will walk through some of the areas that remind you this is a very diverse metropolis like the 'love hotel hill' area of Shibuya and the youth cultural center of Harajuku nearby, as we traipse amongst the back streets connect the two areas that are home to galleries and 'live houses' where contemporary life springs from the ancient ways we have been seeing.
Cycle: 70 km moderate cycling
Meals: B

DAY 4 Fuji loop ride
Today we leave the city behind and head out to the Lake Kawaguchi area of the Fuji Hakone Izu National Park (120 km transfer) to start our ride around the famous mountain. Today is a classic road ride course but we have thrown in some lake side rides and quiet old roads to mix the day up, all the time looking to give many vantage points of Fuji, who will hopefully be our visible friend for most of
the day. After a great day we can sample the local brew and experience some different views as we drive up into the stunning Japanese Alps (200 km transfer)
Cycle:100 km moderate ride
Meals: B

DAY 5 Northern Alps skyline
Today we head out of town in the support vehicle to the roof of Japan as we ride one of the country's highest roads in one of its most beautiful areas, the Northern Alps. Heading back into town we wind through the mountain roads and rural life this 'other' side of country Japan offers the visit the chance to see and experience. Friendly faces are everywhere in the hills here and we will see
many farming families amongst their rice crops as they have been for many generations. We cruise back into Takayama with enough time to enjoy some of the famous wood crafts and lacquer mountain town is famous for. The plentiful cypress and oak trees we ride through have inspired the local craftsmen for centuries and what was original for necessities like accommodation and tools as
sprung into amazing art and crafts only available in this area from these artists. The pristine water we see along the ride today is why the areas sake is also famous and a few breweries still operate in the heart of town that allow us a chance to learn more about this national drink.
Cycle: 60km moderate ride
Meals: B

DAY 6 Takayama to Kanazawa
After a great start on the bikes to the trip we have a free day to do some things on foot and out of the saddle. In Takayama we will have time may optional activities such as discovering the local wares at the 600 year old morning market before an afternoon to enjoy the old Geisha and Samurai quarters of this historically significant center as well as the castle area and the stunning Kenroku en,
nationally known as one of the best three gardens in the whole country. Alternatively there is the option for an extra Alpine or town ride for those interested and also for those who want to experience a mountain pass and lovely coastal ride on the famous Japanese trains.
Meals: B

DAY 7 Noto Hanto
Today we have a great day planned as we start our Noto Peninsula Coastal Ride. This whole peninsula is a lovely National Park of contrasting coastline and we have a stunning start as we work our way around to Wajima. The views are stunning on this ride and we will have the opportunity to stop and 'smell the roses' on this course at the different scenes & 2,000 year old shrine, 12th
century temples, Zen hermitages, sandy beaches, rocky cliffs - and famous crafts of the area & pottery and lacquer ware & as we learn more about the different religions and arts in Japan as well as getting some of those prized holiday photos.
Cycle: 80km moderate ride
Meals: B

DAY 8 Noto Nanto
Our second day along the coast is as lovely as the first as we head towards Notomachi and another great local ryokan. Todays ride will experience many quaint rural fishing villages as well as the famous dandan batake or terraced ricefields. This part of the coastline also has some nice short hikes to great view spots, as well as some rock formations & including Godzilla rock & worth a look along the coast. Tonight we have the option to learn maybe the most famous of the arts exported from Japan & origami. Maybe many have had a chance to do this in their own country as kids of trying origami in Japan with a local instructor is something else.
Cycle: 80km moderate ride
Meals: B

DAY 9 Noto Hanto
Today we have our last seaside ride in this beautiful area before transferring (200 km) to our ferry port near Sado Island. We will have time in the morning for those keen hikers amongst the cyclist to do a quick but lovely hike to Tsukumo Bay coastline. We cruise along the lovely Koiji beach (a dip anyone?) before having the chance to cross over the Noto Island bridge with the views of our old
friends, the snow capped Northern Alps in the background. Before our final ride into Nanao where we will have to say goodbye to the Noto Peninsula . Today however, we will have the option to try some onsen's or natural spring bathing in Wakura Onsen, one of the country's more famous onsen towns. Bathing in this style started 1,200 years ago here and all the bath houses are fed from the
Yumoto no Hiroba spring, which marks the center of town. The secret minerals the spring brings up are said to be great for aches and pains and time in a bathhouse gives us another insight into this great communal bathing pastime that is a daily ritual for many in the area.
Cycle: 65km moderate ride
Meals: B

DAY 10 Sado Island
We join the support van and all the bikes and gear on our 2 hour ferry trip out to Sado for the fun and interesting island ride part of the trip. Japan is made up of over 3,000 islands and it is an important side to this first world country to see this rural fishing side of small island life. Sado is a great and culturally significant place to do our 2 days islands riding. Friendly faces are almost as common as the fish markets we pass along the way in this small villages that have for centuries have carved a living here in this tough environment. Sado is a famous for many festivals and gatherings as the community spirit is high here. Many famous artists and religious revolutionaries were exiled on Sado so the temples and stages these outcasts created are still remaining today, often built with amongst lovely rice fields, scenery and offering coastline and sea viewpoints which we can also enjoy for a break from the saddle and to help learn more about the history and culture of our island home. One of our off the bike highlights today will be the option to try our hand at a taraibune which is a boat made of a barrel and traditional rowed by the female fisherfolkÖ..it could
be a wet start to the day for some of those keen to have a go. Fresh seafood is the specialty of the islands accommodation as it has been for centuries and we enjoy a great variety of all the surrounding waters have to offer, including some crustaceans that have yet to be given English names straight from the local markets which we will also take the time to explore. The life expectancy on Sado is amongst the worlds longest for any area of the world, and life and diet are main factors so we will learn more about the cooking styles and seaweed harvests here. Cycle: 60km moderate ride
Meals: B

DAY 11 Sado Island
Another memorable ride of time warn coastline awaits us today before we join the support van and all the bikes and gear back by ferry to the mainland and our next stop & Nikko (220 kms). We find ourselves in a small rural village with a lovely Japanese family running a great local inn where we base ourselves for two days.
Cycle: 70km moderate ride
Meals: B

DAY 12 Nikko National Park
We wake in the lovely Nikko, north of Tokyo. Established as a monastic retreat in the 8th century, Nikko became more famous in the early 17th century when it was chosen as the resting spot of the first Tokugawa shogun. He unified Japan after decades of civil war and no expense was spared in construction of Toshogu, the shrine dedicated to him. It is picturesquely surrounded by a forest of
350 year old cedar trees and we have the chance to explore it as well as other temples and shrines in the area by. Today's ride is treat for anyone but especially those who want more nature as we head up to the amazing Lake Chuzenji area of the park for a morning ride where you can see wild monkeys, deer, boar and birdlife amongst volcano peaks, spring-fed lakes and wildflower-filled ash fields. We have the option in the afternoon to explore the temples and shrine complex on foot.
Cycle: 50km moderate ride
Meals: B

DAY 13 In Tokyo
Today we are up early and riding back to Tokyo along an series of bike paths that connect the many river systems in this area north of Tokyo. We start at around 500 meters above sea level and cruise south all the way back into central Tokyo. The support vehicle is available for those who want to try the biggest day on the tour but just run out of legs. Tonight we finish with the option of cooking our
own meal on a famous old Yugatabune boat that will give us great views of the city at night while we make our own Japanese style food & Monja yaki & and enjoy a drink or two. After the cruise and meal, the night is ours in this great city to enjoy some night walks or, of course, a visit to a karaoke box for a number or two.
Cycle: 120km moderate ride
Meals: B

DAY 14 Trip concludes in Tokyo
The trip concludes after breakfast. For those traveling to airports or traveling on in Japan, the tour leader will give recommendations and advice.
Meals: B