Cycling Japan’s Historical Nakasendo Trail

Things to know

• What’s included?

  Included:

  • • An experienced cycling guide with extensive local knowledge of the area
    • 8-day Nakasendo bike tour (6 days of biking)
    • Rental bikes (mainly titanium or carbon gravel road, e-bikes available as well)
    • Accommodation for 7 nights (best value and available option—mainly traditional Japanese minshuku, ryokans or a modern resort hotel)
    • Luggage transfer
    • Support van (possible to transfer people without bike)
    • Most museum/shrine entry fees
    • Onsen fees
    • Sales tax
    • Hospitality tax
    • Breakfasts, lunches, and dinners during the tour
    • Special jersey

  Add-ons (possible to arrange at an additional fee, leave us a note at checkout):

  • • Airport transfers
    • Non-Riding Partners — if you have someone joining who would like to skip the cycling part of the tour, it’s possible to arrange at an additional fee

  Not included:

  • • Flights to Japan
    • Domestic transport (train tickets, buses, airplanes)
    • Support & gear on demand (while there is van support, the group is not followed and there is no support with incidentals)
    • Alcoholic beverages
    • Personal snacks
    • Any additional stops or visits that aren’t explicitly mention in the “Included” section
    • Helmet
    • Guide gratuities — optional
    • Insurance — mandatory, available to add at checkout
• How fit do I need to be?

  Participants should be comfortable sustaining 4-6 hours of moderate physical activity per day. While e-assist bikes are available and significantly reduce the effort required on climbs, they don’t replace the need for basic riding skills and day-to-day endurance. Tbe average riding pace is around 15 km/h.

  Please let us know in advance about any medical conditions or limitations that could affect your participation. We’ve welcomed riders of all ages—from 12 to 80 years old—and from many different backgrounds and fitness levels. While this is a challenging experience and not suited to everyone, your guides work hard to make each day as comfortable, supportive, and achievable as possible for every participant.

• What do I need to bring?

  Here’s what you’ll need:

  • • Comfortable riding or athletic clothing, preferably moisture wicking or synthetic material
    • Leisure clothing for the afternoons/evenings
    • Sneakers or sport shoes
    • Breathable outside layer or jacket
    • GPS — your guides can assist setting up your Garmin or other GPS
    • Helmets
    • Sunglasses
    • Plenty of water, water bottle or hydration bladder
    • Daypack with snacks
    • Biking gloves are optional but recommended
    • Toiletries (sunscreen, hand sanitizer, bug spray, toilet paper, etc.)

  Touring in Japan covers mountains, plains, and coastal areas, where rain is not uncommon. Weather in the winter can also get quite cold in the winter. Make sure to bring clothing appropriate for the season. Generally, pack light and use layers. Due to high humidity, a waterproof hardshell is great and effective as any membrane shell. High-quality Merino fabric base layers as well as high-quality bib or riding shorts are strongly recommended. You’ll be able to do laundry in most lodgings so you might not need as much clothing as you think.

  All attendees should have their own smartphone device with local data provisioning (e-Sim or similar).

  If you’re bringing your own bicycle or equipment, you will be 100% responsible for any spare parts, repairs, damages or losses. Your en-route guide is equipped for most mechanical issues, but they do not carry spares for bikes other than their own. Read more about this in the next question.

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• What about the rental bikes / can I bring my own bike?

  Rental bikes

  High-end conventional bikes or e-bikes typically featuring 1×11 or 2×11 wide range components are included in the price of the tour. You also get a repair kit (pump, tool, patches, etc.), safety lights, and “rinko” bags for the train. Helmet, rental clothing or shoes are not provided. If you bring your own saddle and/or pedals, they will be installed for you. Please do not bring racks, panniers, or other components without consulting first. Rental bikes are suitable for bikepacking type saddle bags, frame bags, or front, and not old-school expedition racks and panniers.

  Your own bike

  While we encourage participants to use our bikes for convenience, you’re more than welcome to bring your own. Mechanics on the tour will service all bikes and carry out repairs where possible to keep everything running smoothly throughout the trip. There’s no additional charge or discount for bringing your own bike—everyone receives the same level of support.

  Please note that transporting large luggage and bikes in Japan can sometimes be challenging, especially to and from airports. Using your guides’ bikes is often the easiest way to avoid this extra hassle altogether.

• Group sizes and age requirements

  Group sizes and prices:

  • • It takes a minimum of 4 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 10 participants with 1 guide.
    • If there’s more than 4 people on tour, the price goes down. Let us know if you have a larger group prior to booking.
    • It’s possible to arrange additional dates if you have at least 4 participants—contact us for details, we’ll help you find a date that suits both you and the guide.

  It may be possible to arrange Nakasendo bike tours for bigger groups, but the sooner you book, the better. Your guides wish to avoid high impact in small villages, and stays in Japanese ryokans are often severely limited. Contact us prior to booking if your group has more than 8 people.

  Min. age requirements:

  • • If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
    • Children as young as 10 are able to go on trips with a legal guardian. That said, if you have a young rider strong enough to handle sustained climbs (either riding or walking their bike) of hundreds of feet, and rough terrain, then they may be able to participate on a case-by-case basis.

  If your group has riders under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.

• Getting there and meeting location

  To get to GS Astuto base, the starting point of your tour, most people fly into Tokyo and one of its two airports, Narita International Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND). From there, you can take a train or a bus, it will take you 1.5-3 hours.

• Safety measures and insurance

  Covering all your bases with insurance is mandatory for this tour. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.

  Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.

• Deposits and cancellation policy

  Deposits

  Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.

  Cancellations

  Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.

  Basic

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 60 or more days before departure, a 70% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 59 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

  Flexible

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 60 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled 30-59 days before departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 29 days of departure, no refund will be issued.

  Super Flexible

  • • If cancelled within 48 hours of booking, a full refund will be issued.
    • If cancelled 30 or more days before departure, a full refund of the total trip price will be issued.
    • If cancelled within 29 days of departure, a 50% refund of the total trip price will be issued.

  Early Bird booking

  Want to be the first one to know when we publish new dates or secure your spot well in advance? Select a future month that suits you best and lock in your Early Bird spot in time with just a 10% deposit.

  As soon as our guides publish new tour dates, you’ll be the first one to know. We’ll hold your spot for 2 weeks until you choose the date that suits you best.

  More about how Early Bird bookings work below:

  • Only a 10% non-refundable deposit must be paid upon booking, but this deposit can be transferred to any other 57hours adventure in case the dates don’t end up working for you.
  • Once our guides publish new tour dates, we’ll reach out to you so you’ll be the first one to choose from newly released dates.
  • When you pick your date, you’ll confirm your booking by paying another 20% of the total trip amount (amounting to the standard 30% deposit).
  • Once the trip has been confirmed, the regular cancellation policy (found above) applies.
  • The remaining balance is due 90 days before the trip.