Japan Biking Holidays

Introducing Japan (Continued...)

, only 18 per cent of Japan is suitable for settlement, so its 128 million citizens are commonly housed in densely populated cities; Tokyo, with more than 36 million inhabitants, is the world’s most populated area. This means the remaining 82 per cent of the country is relatively untouched and perfect for finding adventures.

In Japan fire and water meet. There’s a history of tsunamis crashing in from the surrounding oceans and long-standing seismic activity has been changing the face of the country since it rose from the sea. With snow-capped slopes and steaming volcanic peaks, Japan’s tallest mountain Mount Fuji, stands at a towering 3776 metres. Daisetsuzan national park on Hokkaido Island has two huge volcanoes underneath it, fuelling the area with life and creating dramatic contrasts between the seasons. Covered in extremely thick vegetation, most of Daisetsuzan (meaning ‘big snow mountain’) is impenetrable, and so stays perfectly preserved from human influence.

The weather in Japan varies widely and the country fully experiences all four seasons. Honshu and Hokkaido (the more northern islands) have relatively cold winters, and these are favoured regions for winter sports. The southern islands enjoy a pleasantly mild winter. They have hot and humid summers, with a rainy season throughout June, and a very hot period during July and August. Japan blossoms in springtime and autumn is cool and crisp. There is a stunning cherry blossom towards the end of spring, covering mountains and fields with a spectacular sea of pink, just in time for summer.

Cultural

Considering Japan’s unique cultural heritage, cultural tours are a ‘must-do’ when visiting this country. From the futuristic Tokyo City, with its bustling population, bright neon lights and skyscrapers, to the iconic Mount Fuji in Honshu, with its snow capped peak and surrounding lakes, there is a world of contrasts to be explored. The ancient capital of Kyoto boasts a magnitude of temples and shrines, which were luckily left untouched by the bombings of World War II. Particularly noteworthy is the Fushimi-inari Shrine, with its 4km stretch of orange-red gates, called torii – featured in the film ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’. This shrine is dedicated to the spirit of growing rice and grain, Inari. The Heian-jingu shrine’s gardens, also in Kyoto, are impressive at 355,000 sq ft. and reveal Japan’s spring cherry blossom. Geishas and their apprentices (maikos) are another culturally specific gem of Japan, so head to a famous geisha district to catch a glimpse of one - Gion in Kyoto is a great place to start. If you find you have exhausted Japan’s huge number of temples, shrines and gardens, try out the International Manga Museum (also found in Kyoto), which has some great traditional and contemporary Japanese cartoons to check out.

Cycling

Cycle along coastal paths, where you will find so many sites to distract you. There’s rice paddies, brilliant coastline scenery, mountains, rock formations, temples and shrines, and much more to catch the eye. When you get tired and fancy a break from the cycling, navigate your way down to one of Japan’s many beaches and watch the ocean waves roll against a shimmering orange sunset. If you are looking for thrills, point your bike down one of Japan’s many mountains.

Multi-Activity

Climb Mount Fuji for incredible views from its summit. There are several routes which can be taken, with an alternate one being the old pilgrim route Fuji Yashida, where you can meet modern day pilgrims. Instead of walking back down, why not mountainbike down, before white-water rafting Fuji River? A great way to get your adrenaline fix for the day! Then follow this with a trek through areas of amazing natural scenery, as previous lava eruptions from Mount Fuji have left a rugged landscape, fit for the adventure holiday, with plenty of rock-climbing, mountain biking, rafting and kayaking opportunities.

Skiing

Considering Japan’s plethora of mountains, it’s not surprising that skiing is such a popular adventure sport. With an abundance of snow in the northern islands over the winter months and beautiful scenery, Japan should be more of an international ski destination. After a day of carving down the slopes, relax in one of the many hot springs; relaxing this way is fast becoming the popular ‘Après Ski’ activity.

Two Japanese resorts have been the home to the Olympic Winter Games over the past 40 years: Sapporo (in Hokkaido) in 1972 and Nagano (in Honshu) in 1998, giving credentials to the area’s facilities. There are hundreds of other resorts to choose from and many different types of terrain for beginners and pro’s alike. The season starts in December and lasts until April, similar to the European ski season, with peak snow conditions in January and February; there is plenty of snow, and temperatures rarely drop below -10ºC. Snowboarding is also an option but beware: you will find yourself outnumbered by skiers.

Surfing

As long as you are along the Japanese coast, you will find it hard to avoid surfers keen to get their first wave of the day. Being made of four main islands and thousands of others, Japan has plenty of coastlines, each with a decent swell. If you are looking for big surf, you have found the right place; from July through October, the typhoons which regularly hit Japan create some huge swells. There is also a variety of surf, from glassy (smooth) waves found in the Sea of Japan, to reef breaks found off the southern islands. To top it off, you can find many beautiful beaches to lounge on after a good morning’s surf, such as Okinawa Beach in Japan’s most southern city.

Classic Itineraries

From its temperamental seas and serene lakes to bustling cosmopolitan cities, this country is full of adventure. Comprising four main islands, Japan’s easy to travel around, especially when using the world famous ‘Shinkansen’ or ‘bullet trains’. Start on the main island Honshu, go to Osaka, where you can start your adventure holiday by having a look around Osaka Castle, an incredible experience due to its architecture and golden history. From here, head north to Kyoto, where you can get your fix of traditional Japanese culture in the country’s ancient capital – from temples, shrines and geishas to cartoons! Next on the list is Tokyo, only a two-hour bullet train ride away. Go there for a few days and check out this futuristic capital city, bustling with life. Head a little further north to Nikko, a world heritage site, which can boast the mausoleum of Tokugawa Leyasu ‘Toshogu’ – it’s Japan’s most decorated shrine. The Nikko national park also offers plenty of scenery with mountainous landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, and hiking trails where you can see wild monkeys and find hot springs. Get on another bullet train to the northern island, Hokkaido. Here visit the famous Mount Fuji, a must-do on an itinerary of any traveller of Japan. Walk around the surrounding gardens and lakes, then ascend the mountain, and take in its stunning views, before you take on the descent for your adrenaline fix. Also on Hokkaido, you can find Daisetsuzan National Park, which Japanese backpackers silently navigate due to its abundance of wildlife, such as deer, birds, hares and bears.

Other Activities

Try scuba diving. There is so much to experience, with new coral reefs still being found today off Japan’s thousands of islands; there is a lot to explore! Another water-based activity to try is sea kayaking, which can again be done by people of all abilities. Alternatively, try island-hopping between Japan’s islands on a chartered yacht.

There are so many sports to try in the mountains of Japan, such as rock climbing, or alternatively have a go at ice-climbing in the northern Japanese Alps. With the sport of rock climbing so popular in indoor gyms, many outdoor routes remain untried. As well as mountains, Japan is home to fast-flowing rivers, so there’s always white-water rafting opportunities.

If you fancy something totally different, then look to Japan’s martial arts. It’s perhaps the best country to learn about the ways of the Samurai, the technicalities of judo, or the power of sumo wrestling.