Outback Beds Tours

Australian Outback & International Tours

Cultural Heritage

Western Japan and Okinawa

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From the Japanese Alps to the Seto Inland Sea

Our three-week February journey through western Japan and Okinawa is designed for travellers who want to experience Japan beyond the classic tourist trail. It combines remarkable landscapes, regional cuisine, traditional culture and genuinely memorable encounters.

We begin in Nagano with two days of skiing in the Japanese Alps, complemented by the restorative pleasure of an onsen and a stay in a traditional ryokan. From the mountains, we travel west to the Seto Inland Sea, where the pace becomes slower and more immersive.

On Naoshima—Japan’s celebrated “art island”—we explore extraordinary contemporary art installations and architecture woven into the island landscape. We then continue to the Shimanami Kaido for one of Japan’s great active-travel experiences: cycling between the islands of the Seto Inland Sea across impressive bridges and along quiet coastal roads. Along the way, we pass fishing villages and stop to enjoy local food and scenery.

Hiroshima and Miyajima

Our journey continues through Hiroshima and across to Miyajima, balancing the profound history of these destinations with their living culture, beautiful landscapes and regional food traditions.

Rather than simply ticking off the major sights, our small-group approach gives us time to seek out local restaurants, neighbourhood experiences and lesser-visited places. There is a strong emphasis on seasonal Japanese cuisine and the customs that make each region distinctive.

We experience the contrast between Hiroshima’s vibrant contemporary city life and Miyajima’s forested mountains, shrine traditions and island atmosphere, while leaving space for the unexpected discoveries that are often a highlight of small-group travel.

Carefully selected accommodation—including traditional ryokans where appropriate—adds another dimension to the journey, providing opportunities to experience Japanese hospitality, tatami rooms, onsen culture and beautifully prepared regional meals.

The Okinawa Islands

The final stage of our journey takes us into the subtropical world of the Okinawa Islands, where the scenery shifts dramatically from snow-covered mountains to turquoise seas, coral reefs and distinctive Ryukyuan culture.

We explore Okinawa’s most rewarding experiences while avoiding a conventional resort itinerary. These include historic Ryukyu heritage, traditional villages, extraordinary coastal scenery and regional specialities such as goya, Okinawa soba and locally caught seafood.

Depending on conditions, there may also be opportunities for an island excursion, snorkelling or coastal exploration, alongside time to relax and enjoy Okinawa’s slower pace of life.

As a small, personal travel company, our aim is to create a journey that feels considered rather than packaged—combining Japan’s iconic experiences with excellent food, meaningful cultural encounters, beautiful accommodation and less-travelled places that provide stories you will remember long after returning home.

Journey highlights

  • Three-week journey through western Japan and Okinawa
  • Skiing in the Japanese Alps
  • Traditional ryokan stays and onsen experiences
  • Contemporary art and architecture on Naoshima
  • Cycling the Shimanami Kaido
  • Hiroshima and Miyajima
  • Seasonal Japanese and regional Okinawan cuisine
  • Ryukyuan history and culture
  • Island, snorkelling and coastal experiences, subject to conditions
  • Personal small-group touring beyond the conventional tourist trail

Japanese Temple, Mountain Forest and Food Tour

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Our Japan Cycling Tour offers a dynamic road trip through rural Japan, cycling from one town to another as part of a fully escorted small group. The tour runs for 7 days and 6 nights, plus travel to and from Japan, and can be arranged on request.

The tour has been carefully designed around experiencing Japanese culture as we ride, with a particular focus on great food, while also incorporating temples, nature, onsens, rural life and plenty of exercise.

We cycle through the less-travelled rural and mountain regions north of Tokyo, following quiet roads through spectacular scenery, traditional villages, high country and farmland. Along the way we’ll visit historic towns and stay in hand-picked hotels and ryokans — traditional Japanese inns — where a relaxing natural hot-spring onsen awaits at the end of the day’s ride.

Food is an important part of the journey. We’ll experience beautifully prepared Japanese meals featuring local produce, seasonal ingredients and regional specialties. These may include multi-course kaiseki dinners, shabu-shabu and sukiyaki featuring Nasu wagyu beef, fresh river fish, handmade soba noodles and tempura.

As we ride through the countryside, we’ll also have opportunities to taste locally produced cheeses and ice creams, visit sake-producing country, discover craft beer and perhaps even sample some of the region’s surprisingly good local wine. Much of what appears on our plates comes directly from the landscapes and communities we’re cycling through.

The riding itself takes us through some wonderful Japanese countryside, including mountain landscapes, rural farmland and villages where traditional ways of life remain very much part of the landscape. It’s an opportunity to experience a side of Japan that most visitors simply don’t see.

Bill will travel and ride with the group, accompanied by an English-speaking Japanese guide on cycling days. The riding is fully supported with luggage transfers, mechanical assistance and backup vehicles, allowing you to concentrate on enjoying the ride.

There is no need to bring your own bicycle. Bike hire is included, with a choice of road bike or e-hybrid bike, avoiding the difficulty of transporting bicycles on Japan’s busy public transport system.

This is much more than a cycling holiday. It’s a chance to discover the food, landscapes, hospitality and culture of rural Japan from the saddle, travelling slowly enough to experience the places and people along the way.

Note: There is no current itinerary available. In the meantime, you can download the 2025 tour itinerary below for reference.



Japanese Temple, Mountain Forest and Food Tour

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Our 2025 cycling tour to Japan offers a dynamic road trip cycling from one town to another in fully escorted, small group led by English speaking guide. Our tour is 7 days and 6 night plus travel to and from Japan. It is designed to allow a short break from Australia and takes the Easter and ANZAC Day public holidays.

The tour has been carefully planned and has been based on the idea of experiencing interesting aspects of Japanese culture while we ride. This tour has a particular focus on high quality meals but also incorporates temples, culture, nature, onsens, life in rural Japan and exercise. We will be biking through less travelled areas in the rural mountain region north of Tokyo. Our route takes us through wonderful scenery and enables us to experience traditional Japanese culture and food along the way. We will be visiting historic towns and will be staying at long established hotels and ryokans (traditional Japanese inns) with relaxing onsens. We are hoping that you will discover the heart of Japan on this epic ride.

Take in the spectacular scenery of mountains, high country and rural farmland and villages (some still using thatch on their roofs) as you ride through Japan’s beautiful central alps. Our food will focus on eating high quality Japanese foods, staying in hand picked Japanese ryokans (traditional inns) and relaxing after the days’ ride in hot natural spring onsens. Some of the food that we will be trying will include keiseki dinners which feature dozens of dishes incorporating local produce, seasonal ingredients and regional specialties. Some of the unique dishes will include shabu-shabu and sukiyaki using the finest Nasu wagyu beef. In the Nasu mountains we will eat fresh river fish which will be grilled, sautéed or prepared as sashimi. We will also be tasting locally produced cheeses, ice creams and home made soba noodles and tempura. We will be riding through many areas where these food are grown or made. North of Tokyo is called the Kanto region and is known as the rice bowl of Tokyo. Rice = sake = many famous brands to taste. We will also be serendipitously cycling past a craft brewery, and finally, we will have the opportunity to taste the surprising local wine.

Bill will be travelling and riding with you but it will also include an English speaking Japanese guide on the cycling days. Our riding will be fully supported with luggage transfers, mechanical support and backup vans. We do not recommend brining your own bike as they can be difficult to carry on Japan’s busy public transport system. The tour includes the cost of bike hire (road bikes or e-hybrid bikes).

A Taste of Veneto

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Discover a side of northern Italy that goes well beyond the usual tourist trail on this small-group journey through Veneto. From the foothills of the Dolomites and the rolling Prosecco hills to historic villages and the islands of the Venetian lagoon, this is a tour built around good food, beautiful landscapes and the people who call this remarkable region home.

We begin in the Pre-Alpine country of Valbelluna, Cansiglio and Feltre, where forests, mountain villages and local food traditions set the pace for the journey. Along the way there will be opportunities to walk through spectacular landscapes, meet local producers and discover some of the region’s cheeses, mushrooms and truffles – with plenty of time around the table as well.

From here we travel into the beautiful Asolo and Valdobbiadene hills, exploring historic towns, villas, vineyards and family producers. Food remains at the heart of the experience, with cooking, cheese and charcuterie, local restaurants and tastings of Prosecco Superiore among the highlights.

The final part of the journey takes us towards Venice and its lagoon, but not simply to see Venice in the conventional way. We’ll explore the Brenta Riviera, local markets and bacari, and venture onto some of the lagoon’s smaller islands, including Burano and Torcello.

As with all Outback Beds Tours, the emphasis is on travelling slowly and travelling well. Rather than rushing from one attraction to the next, we’ll spend time discovering the food, landscapes, traditions and communities that give Veneto its character.

Two weeks, a small group and a wonderful slice of northern Italy – experienced from the inside rather than through a tour-bus window.

Down The Darling Tour

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Starting in Dubbo, we travel to the World Heritage-listed Aboriginal Fish Traps at Brewarrina before overnighting at the award-winning Callubri Station. From Brewarrina, we follow the Darling River through Bourke, Louth, Wilcannia and Menindee, stopping at natural, cultural and historic points of interest along the way. At Menindee, we join an Aboriginal-guided walking tour along the banks of the Menindee Lakes.

Throughout the journey there are plenty of opportunities to experience Australian wildlife and observe the colourful native birdlife of the outback. We also take a side trip to the heritage-listed Silver City of Broken Hill before travelling on to World Heritage-listed Mungo National Park for another guided tour.

Farm stays are an important part of the journey, giving us the opportunity to meet fascinating local people, enjoy fabulous home-cooked meals and gain a genuine insight into life in the Australian outback.

Our journey concludes in Griffith, home to a strong Italian heritage and food culture. We finish with an Italian cooking experience followed by a farewell lunch at Piccolo Family Farm, helping to prepare the meal together and celebrating the end of our journey down the Darling.

Note: The updated itinerary is not yet available. In the meantime, you can download the 2026 itinerary below for reference.