Japan - Shikoku Biking
This tour is a fun filled, action packed journey which certainly has it all. We include an amazing blend of urban, coastal and countryside rides through rice fields and tea plantations. Coupled with this you will enjoy fantastic locally run inns (ryokans), friendly people, mouth watering food and relaxing onsens to soothe the legs at the end of the day. Your adventure will show you the Japan that the Japanese love.
In ancient Kyoto we learn more about the enigmatic life of geisha as well a getting in touch with our inner Zen after cycling to Ryoanji rock garden. Nearby, Shikoku Island is home to some of Japan's most stunning scenery and Koya San's temple lodging gives us a window into the ancient world of a Buddhist monk's training.
Shikoku is the least populated of the main Japanese islands and we ride through some of the stunning forests of this quiet and slow paced backwater of Japan. Taking our time to savour the local hospitality, great mountain cuisine, and sake made from the clear waters we ride toward our beautiful lodging and end the day with a muscle relaxing soak in their stunning outdoor onsen.
This fun, comprehensive and a little-bit-different itinerary will help show you all that the Kyoto, Koya san and Shikoku areas have to offer. It is an astonishing fusion of both ancient and modern worlds….and on a bike is the best way to see it all!
| 9 Day Itinerary | ||
| Departure: | 16th November 2010 | (Saturday to Sunday) |
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| Price: | AUD$2995 | |
| Plus Local Payment: | JPY$22500 | (What is this?) |
(Currently YEN$22500 = AUD$300) See combination the 'Asian Grand Cycling Tour - 19 days/17 nights' tour discount at the bottom of this page. |
Day 1 - Kyoto Today is arrival day and we meet in central Kyoto at 6 pm. After our group meeting at our ryokan we will enjoy a great night out with dinner in the famous Gion quarter. An evening stroll with Maiko (trainee Geisha) and Geisha spotting whilst pub crawling where the ‘old town’ meets the ‘new hip’. Day 2 - Kyoto (55kms) A gentle start to our cycling tour today with a short pedal in the nearby Kyoto area. We loop past the hobby farms of Katsura River, famous temples, villas and bamboo forests of Arashiyama, and then stop for lunch at Ryoanji Zen Temple. We ride beneath the breathtaking Nanzenji Temple Gate and along the Kamo River through the heart of town. A stop for sake tasting at a few of remaining breweries in the Fushimi area.
Late afternoon we may spend exploring the many famous temples, shrines and gardens or checking out the some of the modern areas like the fashionable Shijo dori. There are also the old style Japanese pubs (Izakaya) in Pontocho overlooking the Kamo River. Day 3 - Horyuji (100 kms) A more challenging ride today heading south along the lovely Katsura River and across to the Uji river bike paths that show us all Japan is not all urban jungle. We see bamboo forests, rice fields, tea plantations and a quiet rural river life. We hope to make good time and enjoy lunch somewhere along the river. Two amazing sites await us; Nara Giant Buddha and its temple and Todaiji, the world’s largest wooden structure, both originating in the 7th century. Nearby our accommodation is Horyuji which was completed in the 6th century making it the world’s oldest still standing wooden structure. Day 4 - Koya san (85 kms) A classic ride today. A tough but amazing day through 3rd century burial fields, old samurai roads, rural towns, quiet forests and finally a climb up to the isolated religious centre for the Shingon Sect of Japanese Buddhism. This is one of Japan’s largest sects and is based at Koya san. Tonight we stay in a Monastery eating the Monk’s tofu based vegetarian fare. Day 5 - Tokushima (100kms) Today we start with some morning prays at the Monk’s 6am service where we can assume the kneeling positions called zazen and see first hand the Monk’s studying. Our ride is mostly downhill and coastal through rural towns in a lovely National Park area from Koya san to Wakayama city.
We take a 2 hour sea ferry across the inland sea to our accommodation in Tokushima city on Shikoku. Day 6 - Iya Valley (130 kms) Today is the toughest day on the bike with the biggest hill of the trip – Tsurugi san. Naturally it is the most rewarding. This area is known as Japan’s ‘Tibet’. Terrace farming, ancient roads, quiet villages, stunning gorges and friendly locals. A 10 course country fare meal awaits us at the locally run ryokan (guesthouse), along with plenty of sake (good for your aches and pains). Day 7 - Kannonji (120 kms) A fantastic day today with a lovely gorge ride to start as we head north along the old road out of the isolated valley. We then have a flat ride with a mix of rural roads, city riding and stunning coastline. Sunset is not to be missed from the hills of Kannonji, a famous pilgrims spot Day 8 - Kyoto (90 kms) We have a morning transfer in the van of 1 hour to where we start our Inland Sea Bridge ride from Imabari to Onomochi. We cross 90 kms of isolated islands and on bike paths and bridges from Shikoku back to the mainland, Honshu Island.
Returning to Kyoto for a final night dinner and drink we catch the famous bullet train that reaches speeds of over 330kmph and takes us back to where we began our journey.
We are ready for our final night of fun, food and fantastic local beers and sakes. Day 9 - Depart Kyoto Today is departure day for your tour. |
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Trip Options
| Single Travellers: | (Click here to inquire) | Details |
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| Extra Accommodation: | (Click here to inquire) Single | Details |
| (Click here to inquire) Double |
off the total price if you combine the
Bhutan - The Road to Shangri La
and
Japan - Shikoku Biking
adventures.
Total price for the combination
"Asian Grand Cycling Tour - 19 days/17 nights"
is
AUD$6590 (local payments still apply)
(AUD$400 discount if you do both tours)