Japanese Temple, Mountain Forest and Food Tour

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.