| Destination | Nasu to Matsushima |
|---|---|
| Duration | 8 days / 7 nights |
| Dates | 2025 Tour April 6 - April 13, 2025 [Available] |
| Price | 616,000JPY / person (Twin room share basis) |
| Single Supplement | 50,000JPY (Required for all Single travelers) *Note, may not be available in all locations. |
| Bike Rental | 30,000JPY for whole tour (road bikes / e-bikes) |
OVERVIEW
Ride through Splendid Cherry Blossom Corridors and visit Japan’s largest SAKURA tree in Tohoku, deep northern rural area of Japan!!
Cherry blossoms in Japan usually start blooming in the south of the country and gradually move northward. Especially in the northern region of Japan called Tohoku, Cherry Blossom (Sakura) has much higher value and has been carefully protected by local people for hundreds of years because it is a typical vibrant sign of the spring after long long cold winter. That is the reason why you can find many large and old Sakura trees here and there in the countryside of Tohoku region.
In this tour, you will cycle off the beaten tracks heading to the Deep Northern Japan and enjoy a lot of colorful SAKURA flowers on the way.
Every night after cycling, you can relax at ONSEN (natural hot springs).
Discover a “Hidden Side” of Japanese culture and history in Tohoku, and immerse yourself into joy of spring with locals!!
HIGHLIGHTS
- Ride through Splendid Cherry Blossom Corridors by bike
- Visit an enormous 1,000 years old cherry tree called “Miharu Takizakura”
- Meet a Sakura tree master and learn how to grow beautiful Sakura trees
- Visit several Cultural places such as beautiful castle, solemn shrines and Japanese garden
- Taste traditional FOOD made from fresh local ingredients
- Stay at spectacular Japanese-style inns (ryokans) with Onsen
RIDING LEVEL
MODERATE, Cycling 50 – 70km / day
A choice of e-hybrid bike will make the mileage and ascents easier.
ITINERARY
Day 1 / Meet day
Meet at an onsen hotel in Nasu, Tochigi. Check-in for the tour and arrange rental bikes, 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. (You can take a free shuttle bus from the statin to the hotel)
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・Dinner provided)
Day 2 / Nasu to Ishikawa [Cycle 70km, 700m UP]
Cycle down along the forest of Nasu Imperial Villa and enter into peaceful countryside landscapes colored by many cherry blossoms everywhere. Stop at some scenic places famous for Sakura (Cherry blossom) combined with temples, Samurai houses and Japanese gardens etc.
The highlight will be learning how to grow beautiful Sakura trees from a Sakura tree master in Ishikawa!!
Stay at a gorgeous Onsen Hotel with large rocky outdoor onsen bath in Ishikawa.
(Overnight stay・Breakfast & Dinner provided)
Day 3 / Ishikawa to Miharu [Cycle 50km, 900m UP]
Ride across quiet rolling hills of Abukuma Highland, enjoy beautiful rural sceneries and you can find many big Cherry trees in bloom beside farmer’s house here and there.
Experience strawberry picking and taste some kinds of Japanese delicious strawberries.
Visit an enormous 1,000 years old cherry tree called “Miharu Takizakura”, literally meaning “waterfall cherry blossoms” in Miharu. Takizakura is a cherry tree that blooms into gorgeous cascades of delicate pink petals that are absolutely stunning to behold and unlike any other cherry blossoms you will see in Japan.
Stay at a charming small onsen ryokan in Miharu village.
(Overnight stay・Breakfast & Dinner provided)
Day 4 / Miharu to Iizaka [Cycle 70km, 900m UP]
Ride through peaceful villages, conquer steep climbs, enjoy panoramic view of Azuma mountain range and visit a picturesque Sakura tree decorated by a Jizo Buddha stature and yellow flowers. The highlight of the day 4 will be a short walk around Hanamiyama, a hill covered by fully blooming Sakura and many kinds of seasonal flowers maintained by local people. In the end of the day, you will enjoy exhilarating smooth ride on a riverside cycling road.
Stay at another comfortable onsen hotel with delicious Kaiseki style dinner in Iizaka Onsen.
(Overnight stay・Breakfast & Dinner provided)
Day 5 / Iizaka to Kamasaki [Cycle 60km, 1,100m UP]
Cycle between cherry blossoms and peach blossoms (peach farms!) and challenge a super steep sacred hill-climbing to a mountain shrine with many red Torii Gates!! After visiting a huge dam lake, ride beyond a mountain heading to Mt. Zao and finish at a hidden onsen ryokan with hundreds old wooden building!!
Stay at a 230 years old traditional Japanese style Onsen Ryokan in Kamasaki Onsen.
(Overnight stay・Breakfast & Dinner provided)
Day 6 / Kamasaki to Akiu [Cycle 60km, 600m UP]
It will be the most relaxed day with easy scenic morning cycling and afternoon rest at a cozy cafe. After visiting a beautiful castle in old Samurai town, you will ride into a super scenic riverside path lined by thousands of fully bloomed (hopefully) Sakura trees!! Immerse yourself into a spring utopia surrounded by pink, yellow, white and green colors of the nature.
Stay at another bike friendly Onsen Ryokan in Akiu Onsen.
(Overnight stay・Breakfast & Dinner provided)
Day 7 / Akiu to Matsushima [Cycle 50km, 400m UP]
Ride along beautiful seaside cycling roads, taste local foods and visit a Tsunami ruin. After enjoying fresh sushi lunch and scenic ferry cruise, visit an old zen temple and immerse yourself in the beauty of Japan.
Stay at superb bay view onsen hotel in Matsuhima.
(Overnight stay・Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner provided)
Day 8 / Break-up day [No cycling]
Tour breakup at the hotel in Matsushima.
You can take a shuttle bus from the hotel to train station.
(Breakfast provided)
ACCOMMODATION
7 accommodations between Nasu and Matsushima have been carefully selected, including historical traditional Japanese style inns (ryokans), family owned charming small onsen ryokan and modern gorgeous resort hotels which the Tohoku region has to offer.
Every accommodation in this tour has its own ONSEN (natural hot springs). Enjoy a relaxing time in some of Japan’s top hot springs and refresh yourself for the next day’s ride.
FOOD
We proudly offer an amazing range of traditional Japanese food, kaiseki-ryori (a traditional multi-course Japanese dinner), local specialties like sashimi, grilled ayu or iwana (freshwater trout), seasonal mountain vegetables and casual cuisines like ramen or katsu-don etc. If you love to drink, many brands of Japanese Sake produced in Tohoku will be another great highlight of this tour for you.
EQUIPMENT
A support vehicle (large van) will be available throughout the entire tour. No need to carry your luggage on your bike during the ride – they will travel in a support vehicle between hotels.
Rental of High-performance Carbon Road Bikes (Cannondale Synapse Carbon 3L) and High-power e-hybrid bikes (TREK, MIYATA, BESV) are available at a rate of 30,000JPY for whole tour.
In case that you bring your own road bike, your large bike bag for airplane can be stored at our office in Nasu, or be shipped to the final hotel by courier at your own expense.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- 7 nights’ accommodation on twin room share basis
- 7 breakfasts, 1 sushi lunch and 7 dinners
- Tour guide(s)
- Support vehicle
- Mechanical support
- Luggage transfer by vehicle
- Snacks and water during cycling
- Entrance and experience fees in the itinerary
- Ferry ticket in the itinerary (Day7)
- Accident insurance (limited)
