| Destination | Tochigi to Aomori via Fukushima, Yamagata, Akita |
|---|---|
| Duration | 12 days / 11 nights |
| Dates | 2024 Tours (1) September 1 - 12, 2024 [Available] On request (Ask PRIVATE / CUSTOM Tour for 6 or more people) |
| Price | 748,000-JPY /person (Twin room share basis) |
| Single Supplement | 70,000JPY (Note, may not be available in all locations) |
| Bike Rental | 40,000JPY for whole tour (road bikes / e-hybrid bikes) |
OVERVIEW
The Tohoku region, comprised of six prefectures located in the northernmost part of Japan’s main island ‘Honshu’, is known for its gorgeous natural environment, rich local history, and delicious agricultural produce.
Experience a more traditional side of Japan and follow in the footsteps of famous Japanese poet Matsuo Basho and his journey along “The Narrow Road to the Deep North”.
Your journey will begin in Nasu, Tochigi. It is a gateway to Tohoku and is a convenient access point from Tokyo. From Nasu, your destination is Aomori, the northern tip of Honshu. It will be an 900 km bike tour through the tranquil and picturesque landscape of Tohoku where you will meet few cars or other tourists. Rice is produced throughout Tohoku. Around the time of the tour is when rice fields turn gold. You will be seeing these beautiful rice fields along the way. Another major tour attraction is the food. With everything from unique and gorgeous Japanese cuisine to regional specialties such as fruits, you’ll love the dining experience including those at local restaurants.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Gorgeous Nature, including breathtaking views of the Ōu Mountains
- Relaxing and refreshing visits to some of Japan’s top hot springs (onsen)
- Gourmet traditional food made using fresh local ingredients
- Stays at spectacular traditional Japanese-style inns (ryokans)
- Rich local history that served as a base for modern Japan
- While they may seem shy at first, some of the friendliest people you will ever meet
- Carefully selected beautiful and less-traveled roads
RIDING LEVEL
CHALLENGING 70 – 110km / day
Total Distance: Around 900km in 10 cycling days
There will be van transfers along the route enabling participants to cut the miles and steep hills.
A choice of e-hybrid bikes will make the mileage and ascents easier.
ITINERARY
Day 1
Meet at a hotel in Nasu, Tochigi. Check-in for the tour and arrange bike rentals, then a briefing and ice breaking.
Nasu is Located at the northern edge of the Kanto area, on the border between Tohoku and Kanto. It is 180 km from Tokyo or 70 minutes by Shinkansen (bullet train) to Nasushiobara station.
Nasu lies at the foot of the expansive Nasu mountain range, is home to the Imperial villa (Nasu Goyotei), and is one of the most famous onsen (hot spring) and resort areas in Japan. The main peak, Mt. Chausu, is idiosyncratic to the townsfolk and opens below to milk sheds and Satoyama, the classic Japanese rural landscape.
(Overnight stay・No-meal provided)
Day 2 / -Stage 1- Nasu to Aizu Higashiyama Onsen [98km]
Travel the Nasu Highlands while enjoying stunning views of the Nasu mountain range and enter Fukushima Prefecture for the first hill climb of the tour. Bike beside a peaceful lake and take a journey on the beautiful forest road, traveling along the edge of Lake Inawashiro to Aizu Higashiyama Onsen.
Aizu Higashiyama Onsen is a hot spring resort in a valley just east of the downtown area of Aizu Wakamatsu. With lush nature and an old-fashioned town, this tourist destination has a nostalgic atmosphere. During the Edo period, it was popular with the Aizu samurai, and later developed as a retreat area.
(Overnight stay・Breakfast & Dinner provided)
Day 3 / -Stage 2- Aizu Higashiyama Onsen to Iizaka Onsen [100km]
After visiting Tsuruga Castle, the symbol of Aizu, cycle past the base of Mt. Bandai. Journey up hill and take in the breathtaking panoramic views of Bandaiazuma Skyline. After a long downhill ride pass through a group of fruit orchards and arrive at Iizaka Onsen.
Iizaka Onsen, a traditional hot spring town with a long and rich history, is also home to one of Japan’s oldest community bathhouses, Sabakoyu, which still carries its age-old look from eras past, and today serves as the proud symbol of the historic hot spring town.
(Overnight stay・Breakfast & Dinner provided)
Day 4 / -Stage 3- Iizaka Onsen to Kaminoyama Onsen [75km]
Travel from Iizaka Onsen along the winding mountain roads and climb the panoramic pass heading for Yamagata Prefecture. Ride through rich soba fields and stop by a traditional local food supplier before arriving at a nostalgic onsen and castle town, Kaminoyama Onsen.
(Overnight stay・Breakfast provided)
Day 5 / -Stage 4- Kaminoyama Onsen to Hijiori Onsen [95km]
Cycling along the edge between mountains and farm fields in the center of Yamagata, you can enjoy the typical landscape of Japanese country side. Climb the deep mountain road towards Hijiori Onsen, a small hot spring town nestled in a caldera at the foot of Mt. Gassan. This place is known for “Toji”, a long term onsen stay to cure the body. Early the next morning, you can walk around a narrow main street and enjoy the morning market by local farmers.
(Overnight stay・Breakfast & Dinner provided)
Day 6 / -Stage 5- Hijiori Onsen to Chokai Onsen [100km]
Enjoy a downhill ride from Hijiori Onsen along the Mogami River towards the Sea of Japan where a lovely view of Mt. Chokai awaits. On the way, stop by a mossy mysterious waterfall and shrine, a true “hidden gem” of Tohoku. Cycle on the comfortable farm roads towards the Sea of Japan and arrive at Chokai Onsen, a seaside onsen town with view of Mt. Chokai.
(Overnight stay・Breakfast & Dinner provided)
Day 7 / -Stage 6- Chokai Onsen to Kakunodate [110km]
The most “FLAT” day in this tour. Cycle north alongside the Sea of Japan to Akita Prefecture. After leaving the coast line, enter a belt of land known for rice cultivation and enjoy the peaceful scenery full of rice paddies while riding along a flat course to Kakunodate, a former castle town famous for well-preserved samurai houses and its district. Kakunodate has a refined (“miyabi”) and elegant (“iki”) atmosphere and is called the Little Kyoto of Michinoku.
(Overnight stay・Breakfast provided)
Day 8 / -Stage 7- Kakunodate to Nyuto Onsen [40km]
REST HALF DAY until lunch time. You can freely stroll through the samurai town of Kakunodate and visit samurai houses. If you like, you can also experience a workshop of traditional cherry bark art. Start cycling in the afternoon heading to Lake Tazawa. Stay at one of Japan’s top hidden hot springs, Nyuto Onsen.
Nyuto Onsen-kyo Hot Springs Village is the collective name for seven hot spring inns scattered around the western foothills of Mt. Nyuto in Towada Hachimantai National Park, which is known for its beautiful Japanese scenery. Each of these seven hidden hot spring inns has its own spring sources. They are secluded from one another and have open-air baths. Located deep in the mountains, it feels as though you are far removed from the rest of the world.
(Overnight stay・Breakfast & Dinner provided)
Day 9 / -Stage 8- Nyuto Onsen to Yuze Onsen [78km]
After heading downhill from Nyuto Onsen, cross the big mountain pass alongside the beautiful scenery of a large dam lake filled with blue water. Then down again towards a cozy river side onsen town, Yuze Onsen.
(Overnight stay・Breakfast & Dinner provided)
Day 10 / -Stage 9- Yuze Onsen to Oirase Gorge [75km]
After crossing a small countryside town, make the climb to Lake Towada. Travel the lakeside to Aomori Prefecture and along the picturesque Oirase Gorge, ending the day`s ride in Oirase.
Oirase Gorge is a well-known picturesque mountain stream that runs 14km between Nenokuchi on the shore of Towada-ko (Lake Towada) and Yakeyama at the foot of Mt. Hakkoda. The crystal-clear Oirase River flows mostly parallel to the road through beautiful virgin forest rich in variety, containing white cedar, Japanese beech, and maple trees. Icy rapids and a number of plunging waterfalls add to the beauty of the place.
(Overnight stay・Breakfast & Dinner provided)
Day 11 / -Stage 10- Oirase Gorge to Aomori [65km]
Feel the mysterious atmosphere under the green canopy of giant beech trees during the last climb to Hakkoda Mountain. A spectacular panoramic view of Mt. Iwaki and Aomori City is also waiting for you. Enjoy a pleasant long downhill stretch and travel north, reaching Aomori City, the northernmost big city of Japan’s main island. And finally, you reach the goal!
(Overnight stay・Breakfast & Dinner provided)
Day 12
Tour breakup at the hotel in Aomori City.
(Breakfast provided)
ACCOMMODATION
11 accommodations between Nasu and Aomori have been carefully selected, including spectacular traditional Japanese style inns (ryokans), truly hidden historical onsen inns and modern gorgeous resort hotels which the Tohoku region has to offer.
Almost every accommodation (except Kakunodate and Aomori) has its own hot springs (onsen). Enjoy a relaxing time in some of Japan’s top hot springs and refresh yourself for the next day’s ride.
FOOD
Bikers of past tours all loved the level and varieties of food. A great dining experience is the feature that we most proudly present in this tour.
In this tour, you will be visiting Fukushima, Yamagata, Akita, and Aomori while traveling through the Tohoku region. Each prefecture has its unique environment, climate, culture, and specialties. You will have opportunities to stop along the way to try a wide variety of local foods and meals made with regional specialties. Japanese style dinners offered at a ryokan feature many colorful and entertaining dishes for your visual and culinary delight.
For lunches during the ride, we have hand-picked locally popular restaurants offering soba, ramen, teishoku (pre-fixed meals), and so on where you can experience typical everyday Japanese meals.
In September, when this tour takes place, you can also enjoy fresh specialty fruits such as peaches and Japanese pears from Fukushima, European pears (La France pears) from Yamagata, and apples from Aomori.
Also, Tohoku is a rice production region. Not only the rice tastes wonderful but also there are many Japanese sake breweries. The tour offers another great attraction of trying locally produced and only locally served Japanese sake in places you visit on the way to Aomori.
EQUIPMENT
A support vehicles will be available throughout the entire tour. No need to carry your bags on your bike during the challenge – they will travel in a support vehicle between hotels. You will also be provided with maps and a GPS tracking smartphone application for checking each rider’s real time position. High-performance carbon disk road bikes (Cannondale Synapse Carbon Disk), Comfortable adventure bikes (Cannondale SLATE) and High quality e-hybrid bikes (TREK, MIYATA) are available for rental at a rate of 40,000JPY for whole tour.
Your bike bags can be stored at our office in Nasu, or be shipped to the final hotel by courier at your own expense.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- 11 nights’ accommodation on twin share basis
- 11 breakfasts and 8 dinners (Lunch is not included)
- First one beverage for a toast (“Kanpai”) in the dinners (Further more beverages are not included)
- Tour guide(s)
- Van support
- Mechanical support
- Luggage transfer by van
- Snacks, fruits and water during ride
- Entrance and experience fees
- Accident insurance (limited)
- Ride Experience high-performance cycling jersey
