Richard Breedon

The cycle routes and site visits were well chosen. The hotels were excellent and all had onsen baths, which provided welcome respite at the end of each day of cycling.
The visits to the various craft centers were fascinating and enjoyable. It was a unique experience to guided by the master craftspeople themselves. We learned about weaving with bamboo grass, indigo dyeing, and made our own postcards with traditional Japanese paper (washi). In Mashiko, the grandson of the famous ceramic artist Hamada Shoji showed us around his workshop and fascinating museum, and demonstrated making pots with a kick-wheel. We were shown around a brewery that makes organic sake by the owner. In Mashiko, the charismatic owner of another sake brewery gave a tour, then hosted an impressive and delightful tasting of excellent sakes. That provided a wonderful celebratory end to our four days of cycling in Tochigi Prefecture.
All Ride Experience staffs did a fantastic job. In particular I appreciated their help in getting my bike into the sag wagon when I ran out of energy and did not want to hold up the group. Cycling with a gravel bike on gravel roads was a new and interesting experience for me. The routes went through beautiful, early autumn countryside. In particular I enjoyed riding alongside the rivers.