Cherry blossom season in Japan is a spectacle, and we’re riding straight through its most breathtaking landscapes. This tour takes us deep into Tohoku, where ancient sakura trees paint the countryside pink, samurai-era castles stand proud, and winding coastal roads offer views that belong in a Studio Ghibli film. Between rides, we’ll soak in onsens, feast on local ramen, and rest in charming ryokan inns. Every pedal stroke brings a new discovery—historic villages, legendary cherry trees, and meals that fuel both body and soul. This is a cycling epic Kurosawa would frame in black and white—if only cherry blossoms weren’t so pink.
You’ll meet your guides at an onsen hotel in Nasu, Tochigi. There’s a check-in for the tour and the arrangement of rental bikes, then a short briefing. Nasu lies at the foot of the expansive Nasu mountain range, it’s home to the Imperial villa (Nasu Goyotei), and it’s one of the most famous onsen (hot spring) and resort areas in Japan.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Nasu
We’ll cycle down along the forest of Nasu Imperial Villa and enter some peaceful countryside landscapes colored by many cherry blossoms. We’ll stop at a few scenic places famous for sakura (cherry blossom), temples, samurai houses, and Japanese gardens. The highlight will be learning how to grow beautiful sakura trees from a sakura tree master in Ishikawa. Later on, we’ll stay at a gorgeous Onsen Hotel with a large rocky outdoor onsen bath in Ishikawa.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Cycling: 70 km (43.5 mi)
Elevation gain: 700 m (2,300 ft)
Accommodation: Hotel in Ishikawa
Today, we’ll ride across the rolling hills of Abukuma Highland, enjoying beautiful rural sceneries and experiencing cherry trees in bloom. We’ll have a go at strawberry picking and taste a few types of delicious Japanese strawberries. Afterwards, we’ll 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 see and unlike any other cherry blossoms in Japan. We’ll stay at a charming small onsen ryokan in Miharu village.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Cycling: 50 km (31 mi)
Elevation gain: 900 m (2,952 ft)
Accommodation: Ryokan (inn) in Miharu
On Day 4, we’ll ride through peaceful villages, conquer steep climbs, enjoy a panoramic view of Azuma mountain range, and visit a picturesque sakura tree decorated by a Jizo Buddha statue and yellow flowers. The highlight of 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. At the end of the day, we will enjoy an exhilarating smooth ride on a riverside cycling road. We’ll stay at another comfortable onsen hotel with delicious kaiseki-style dinner in Iizaka.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Cycling: 70 km (43.5 mi)
Elevation gain: 900 m (2,952 ft)
Accommodation: Hotel in Iizaka
We’ll cycle between cherry blossoms and peach blossoms, and then challenge a super-steep sacred hill, climbing to a mountain shrine with many red Torii gates. After visiting a huge dam lake, we’ll ride beyond a mountain heading to Mt. Zao, and finish at a hidden onsen ryokan with a 100-year-old wooden building. We’ll stay at a 230-year-old traditional Japanese style Onsen Ryokan in Kamasaki.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Cycling: 60 km (37.2 mi)
Elevation gain: 1,100 m (3,608 ft)
Accommodation: Ryokan (inn) in Kamasaki
Today will be the most relaxed day with some easy scenic morning cycling and an afternoon rest at a cozy cafe. After visiting a beautiful castle in an old samurai town, we will ride into a super scenic riverside path lined by thousands of fully-bloomed sakura trees. Later on, we’ll stay at another bike-friendly Onsen Ryokan in Akiu.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Cycling: 60 km (37.2 mi)
Elevation gain: 600 m (1,968 ft)
Accommodation: Ryokan (inn) in Akiu
On Day 7, we’ll ride along beautiful seaside cycling roads, taste amazing local food, and visit a tsunami ruin. After enjoying a fresh sushi lunch and a scenic ferry cruise, we’ll visit an old zen temple and immerse ourselves in the beauty of Japan. Later on, we’ll stay at a superb bay-view onsen hotel in Matsushima.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Cycling: 50 km (31 mi)
Elevation gain: 400 m (1,312 ft)
Accommodation: Hotel in Matsushima
Day 8 marks the end of this amazing cherry blossom cycling adventure. After breakfast, we’ll say our goodbyes at the hotel in Matsushima. Those who want can take a shuttle bus from the hotel to the train station. Sayonara!
Meals: Breakfast
Included:
Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):
Not included:
To join this Tohoku sakura bike tour, a good level of fitness is required. Expect to cycle 50-70 km (31-43 mi) per day, while gaining up to 1,100 m (3,608 ft) in elevation.
You can find detailed day-by-day cycling distances and elevation gains in the itinerary. E-bike rental is available at checkout, which will make the mileage and ascents easier!
Discover more cycling adventures in Japan here!
Here’s a list of the equipment you need to bring:
Dress comfortably and for the weather in clothes you can move in. We suggest bringing clothing appropriate for the season. Layers are best and don’t wear jeans.
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If you’d like to, you can bring your own bikes, but don’t sweat if it’s too much hassle bringing it—your guides provide bike rentals at an additional cost (pricing shown at checkout). Choose between:
Once you’re on tour, a support vehicle will be available. No need to carry your bags on your bike, they will safely be transported to your accommodation. You will also be provided with GPS devices, maps, and a GPS tracking smartphone app for checking each rider’s real-time position.
In case you bring your own road bike, your large bike bag for the airplane can be stored at your guides’ office in Nasu or be shipped to the final hotel by a courier (at your own expense).
Group sizes and pricing
A Tohoku sakura bike tour can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
The price for this Kumano Kodo adventure is based on twin-share rooms, but a single occupancy room can be arranged at an additional fee. You can add it to your booking at checkout. Please note that a single occupancy room may not be available in all locations, but your guides will do their best.
Solo travelers are welcome to join, but securing a single occupancy room for themselves is mandatory.
The starting point of your Tohoku sakura bike tour is Nasu, Tochigi. To get there, most people fly into Narita Airport (NRT) or Haneda Airport (HND). From there, you can take the bullet train from Tokyo Station to Nasushiobara station.
Once you’re there, you will meet your guide at a predetermined time in the hotel in Nasu. Your guide will provide more details before the adventure begins.
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. 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.