We are very glad to offer cycling elements for people who wish to see Japan from the vantage position of a bicycle seat. There surely are advantages to cycling -a slower pace, ease of moving about, and also getting a little exercise on the way to burn off all the great food you will be enjoying as well.
We have a few cycling options that we can offer your clients, and there is a range from cycling-focussed and personal-challenge adventure, to pottering about at your own pace and meandering about through villages and farmland.
SHIMANAMI-KAIDO: This is an epic journey that takes our clients from one region of Japan to the other over bridges, through islands, and over the sea. The route runs between Hiroshima and the Island region of Shikoku. Hiroshima is well-known historically and culturally, and Shikoku is less-known but widely celebrated in Japan as the island home to an 88 Buddhist Temple Pilgrimage. We can design your client’s adventure to go from Hiroshima to Shikoku, or the other way around. The journey itself can, with a hard push be done in a day. The route is 70 km long, so able cyclists finish the route in 4-5 hours. Flor slower-travelers, we recommend a nice overnight stop on one of the islands mid-way. There are several inns and bed-and-breakfast type places that we use. At a slower pace, the route can be managed with 3-4 hours each day and permit lots of time to stop for coffee, snacks, photography, and just enjoy time chatting on the way.
FOLDING BICYCLE POTTERING: These tours are very fun and we work in concert with a local company in Shikoku who provides these great adventures. The bicycles are special folding-types that can be easily carried. Guests meet with the cycling guides and get a quick crash-course on how to fold-down and pack up their ride. We get on our bikes, travel through little villages and through paths along rice fields, and stop at rural train stations. Breaking down the bikes, we carry them on the train and rumble through the hills and valleys to the next scenic spot. We pile out, set up the bikes and head off for the next scenic adventure. Stopping along the way for local hidden-gems with authentic Japanese cuisine, meeting locals, trying local snacks, and visiting places like waterfalls, shrines, temples, and incredible nature. This is the epitome of slow-cycling adventure.
CITY CYCLING: While cycling is typically enjoyed in more rural and natural areas, we also enlist cycle guides who will take you in more urban locations as well. We have cycling experiences to enjoy and explore in Osaka and Kyoto. These are also very nice as options to sitting on a bus, or waiting in taxis. Our guides help get your clients through the cities carefully and avoiding some of the tourist crowds. There is a distinct advantage to cycling in the city as you can choose your own pace. The only caveat is that Japan is very strict about drinking and cycling. There is a zero tolerance for drinking and driving/cycling, so if your clients wish to enjoy local sake and wine, cycling activities will not be available through our partners.
