Cycle Japan Tours

The extraordinary contrasts of modern Japan are to be found throughout this archipelago but most particularly in Hokkaido. My introduction to Japan 30 years ago was this very island and those early years exploring Hokkaido have left an indelible impression of this wild northern island.Hokkaido is a place where the power of an ancient and pervasive culture lays like a patch work quilt over an almost sub arctic wild land.

The result is a superb mix of culture and wilderness. Here you will find architecture and structure that reflects the history and refinement of ancient Japan. Where inner spaces comply with the Japanese aesthetic of art and beauty. And of course, delicious and healthy food that can be found anywhere in Japan is abundant in the mountains and valleys of Hokkaido.

Liberally spaced throughout this wild island you will also find some of Japan's most famous artisans and photographers, who have escaped north to build a life on the edge of the wilderness.

On this self guided tour, using our comprehensive guiding notes, you can visit many of these artisans, including 'Takushinkan' the gallery of Japan's most famous landscape photographer Shinzo Maeda. As well as Maeda San's gallery you can visit other lesser known photo galleries, painters, wood workers, potters and glass blowers. There is also the chance to visit the Ainu textile museum in Asahikawa.And the backdrop throughout is the superb alpine scenery of central Hokkaido, where mountains and volcanoes tower over the valleys.

Here we mix big city sightseeing with quiet coastal backroads, hot spring baths, delicious local food and ancient farming and fishing practices.

The Noto Peninsula has long attracted me after having traveled extensively throughout Japan for many years. It seemed like a perfect place to add the third arm of our trilogy of unique guided cycle tours, giving us the very best of Japan cycling.

What I discovered here was a superb blend of smooth, mostly low traffic cycling amidst a smorgasbord of cultur and history. From the famous city of “kanazawa,” we jump right into the very best of Japanese history and culture, from famous castles and classic gardens, to streetscapes left mostly unchanged for over 400 years, to morning markets and rural landscapes that evoke the ancient samurai warriors of days gone by.

Throughout we have a choice of accommodation from traditional style inns, to luxury “Ryokans” to western style hotels. Streetscapes going back centuries, from the “Kyoto” style backstreets of Takayama to the Unesco heritage town of Wajima, there are delightful eateries tucked away to be discovered of a night time.

The existence of this landscape though is not enough to ensure a great cycling and cultural holiday. Going over the riding routes and checking the actual riding I found some superb coastal scenery and seemingly endless small fishing villages where modern lifestyles reflect the heritage of the area and in some aspects, have not changed in centuries.

Many of these coastal back roads carry little traffic making for some great cycling, and in some sections, we will use the support vehicle to ensure we miss the one or two areas of heavy traffic.

Highlights

• Cycle from 60 km (37 m) to 95 km (60 m) per day and explore from the historic city of Kanzawa, the classic scenery of the Noto Peninsula Coast and the foothills of the Japan Alps.
• Soak up culture and history as you cycle through some of japan's most famous cultural and historical sites including castles, temples, grass thatched hut villages and ancient streetscapes and a thousand year old morning markets.
• Cycle along Japan's beautiful coast line, through villages and towns that are redolent of history with classic old style construction.
• Experience first hand the ancient fishing style of "Ukai" or cormorant fishing (Note: May and October only).
• Visit UNESCO world heritage areas including Shirakawago and the town of Wajima.

The roads are mostly smooth and narrow. The bulk of the riding on roads with very little vehicle traffic.

Our Mt Fuji, Across Japan route from the high alps is rich in history and culture and sees us most days in the shadow of mighty Mt. Fuji, which dominates the skyline, like an ancient talisman urging us on, from the very high alps to the rugged and dramatic sea coast of the Izu Peninsula.

One of the great historical pathways in central Honshu during the middle ages was the “Shio-no-Michi”, or the “Salt Way”, which was an ancient route that traders traversed to bring salt from the oceans to the central mountain villages. Out tour starts in the apex of two of these routes, and shadows the Pacific coast route known as the “Sanshu Kaido” for some of the ride. We experience local Japanese Inns or “Ryokans” on some nights, delicious and healthy Japanese cuisine, and in many places, muscle soothing hot spring baths.

From the beautiful ski villages of the Hakuba valley, high in the alps. We visit the famous “Black Crow” castle in the old city of Matsuyama, ride the highest road in Japan, discover tranquil alpine lakes, traverse and explore the beauty of the high alps and ride the beautifully named “Venus Line”, cycle the magnificent Fuji Five Lakes, explore national parks and the famous Hakone region, and finish on the rugged and spectacular Izu Coastline.

We have chosen a mostly unique route so as to make this journey accessible to a large range of adventurous cyclists. You don’t have to be a triathlete to join us on this adventure from the Alps to the sea, but like us, you do have to love riding. We look forward to you joining us for this ride in the shadow of mighty Mt. Fuji.

Highlights

• Ride in the shadow of mighty Mt. Fuji from the Japan Alps to the Pacific Ocean.
• Explore cultural highlights such as Matsumoto’s famous “Black Crow” castle.
• Climb some of the Japan Alps classic routes.
• Cycle the magnificent Fuji Five Lakes.
• Ride the spectacular and dramatic coastline of the Izu Peninsula.
• Stay in Japanese Inns (Ryokans) some nights and eat delicious Japanese food.
• Relax in inside and outside hot spring baths some nights.

Smooth wide roads curl over rolling hills amidst a rural tapestry of curated pastures. Here the vivid colours of the lavender fields are interspersed with vast fields of crops. Perfect black top beckons you on through this landscape as volcanoes, coastal villages, caldera lakes, world heritage wilderness and high peaks with the last of the winter snows (to August) provide a stunning backdrop. And throughout you stay in mixed accommodations, some traditional Japanese Inns, with great local food and of course, in most places, muscle relaxing natural hot spring baths.

Our 8 day “Playground of The Gods” 8 tour is a circumnavigation of Japan’s largest National Park. Its fittingly named after the Ainu name for this majestic highland with its stunning peaks, lakes, active volcanoes, hot springs and wilderness.

Highlights

• Stay in some Traditional Inns and eat delicious Japanese food.
• Cycle from 34km (21 m) to 101 km (63 m) per day.
• Cycle world heritage & national parks, past caldera lakes and climb Hokkaido's highest mt, Asahi Dake, 2290 m (7513 F).
• Smooth hot mix roads and low vehicle speeds.
• Pure journey by bike.
• Relax in inside and outside hot spring baths.

Smooth wide roads curl over rolling hills amidst a rural tapestry of curated pastures. Here the vivid colours of the lavender fields are interspersed with vast fields of crops. Perfect black top beckons you on through this landscape as volcanoes, coastal villages, caldera lakes, world heritage wilderness and high peaks with the last of the winter snows (to August) provide a stunning backdrop. And throughout you stay in mixed accommodations, some traditional Japanese Inns, with great local food and of course, in most places, muscle relaxing natural hot spring baths.

Our 11 day “Wild Hokkaido Explorer”, takes you from the World Heritage of the Shiretoko Peninsula in the east; through the Caldera lakes district, to the wilds and heights of Japan’s greatest national park, “Daisetsusan”.

Highlights

• Stay in some Traditional Inns and eat delicious Japanese food.
• Cycle from 34km (21 m) to 101 km (63 m) per day.
• Cycle world heritage & national parks, past caldera lakes and climb Hokkaido's highest mt, Asahi Dake, 2290 m (7513 F).
• Smooth hot mix roads and low vehicle speeds.
• Pure journey by bike.
• Relax in inside and outside hot spring baths.

Ride Buddhist pilgrim trails, past ancient temples, through mountains, along the wild pacific coast, past age old remote villages and pristine mountain streams.

Here away from the crowds, we cycle along ancient Samurai paths that wind over mountain passes and along crystal clear mountain streams.

Life appears to stand still in these remote valleys as we ride through historical villages on narrow roads built for horses, where gabled roof rural houses stand sentinel to the passing of time. The riding is smooth hot mix bitumen, mostly on secondary roads that see little traffic.

En route the sweet chanting of pilgrims, our fellow travellers on this island of Buddhist devotion, can be heard as we pass temples and pagodas. In Shikoku, those looking for enlightenment in the modern world walk the ancient paths once trodden by the great Buddhist saint, Kobo Daishi. Here the 'ohenro' or pilgrims smile and wave as they visit the 88 temples of "the Daishi" in their pursuit of spiritual awakening.

Our ride takes us from the spectacular Iya Gorge, the deepest gorge in Japan, with its thatch roof houses and old vine bridges, through the spectacular mountains around Mt. Ishizuchi, Shikoku and Western Japan's highest mountain.

We explore the Pacific coast with its beautiful beaches and relaxed coastal lifestyle before travelling along Japan's last great pure river, the Shimanto.

Some nights we stay in superb Japanese Inns where you can relax in a hot tub or on some nights, soothe your bones in a hot spring bath before enjoying your Japanese feast.

Highlights

• Shimanami Kaido, a dedicated cycle way across the islands and bridges of the inland sea.
• Cycle from 50 km (31 m) to 110 km (68 m) per day and explore from the high mountains to the sea at Cape Ashizuri.
• Cycle along Japan's last pure waterway, the magnificent Shimanto River.
• Soak up culture and history as you ride past ancient temples, buddhist pilgrims and old villages.
• Stay in some Japanese Inns and eat delicious Japanese food.

The roads are mostly smooth and narrow. The bulk of the riding on the old samurai roads see very little vehicle traffic.

Hokkaido is a place where the power of an ancient and pervasive culture lays like a patch work quilt over an almost sub arctic wild land.

The result is a superb mix of culture and wilderness. Here you will find architecture and structure that reflects the history and refinement of ancient Japan. Where inner spaces comply with the Japanese aesthetic of art and beauty. And of course, delicious and healthy food that can be found anywhere in Japan is abundant in the mountains and valleys of Hokkaido.

Liberally spaced throughout this wild island you will also find some of Japan’s most famous artisans and photographers, who have escaped north to build a life on the edge of the wilderness.

On this self guided tours, using our comprehensive guiding notes, you can visit many of these artisans, including “Takushinkan” the gallery of Japan’s most famous landscape photographer Shinzo Maeda. As well as Maeda San’s gallery you can visit other lesser known photo galleries, painters, wood workers, potters and glass blowers. There is also the chance to visit the Ainu textile museum in Asahikawa.

And the backdrop throughout is the superb alpine scenery of central Hokkaido, where mountains and volcanoes tower over the valleys.