A 7-day guided cycling journey across Honshu's most scenic and least-visited corridor—from the rugged Sea of Japan coastline through Edo-era artisan towns and along a historic railway-turned-cycling-path, all the way into the Japanese Alps. Nights in comfortable hotels with natural hot spring baths, one unforgettable stay in a 200-year-old UNESCO-listed farmhouse, and meals that follow the landscape from fresh coastal seafood to hearty mountain fare.
Arrive in Kanazawa—a city shaped by centuries of samurai culture and one of Japan’s best-preserved historic districts. Meet your fellow riders and the guides at the hotel before heading out to dinner together. The old town’s huddle of houses, Higashi Chaya teahouses, and the famous Kenroku-en garden are all worth a wander if you arrive early.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Dormy Inn Kanazawa
We roll out of Kanazawa after breakfast and follow a dedicated cycling path to the Sea of Japan, tracing the rugged coastline through small fishing villages. A stop in Kaga—known for Kutani ware ceramics and kaga habutae silk—makes for a lovely midday break with lunch and a stroll through town. Recharged, we continue north toward the Kyukamura resort, our finish for the day. Don’t miss sunset at the Oshima pedestrian bridge, its red-painted timber leading out to a small island dotted with shrines and sea-carved rock formations.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Kyukamura Echizen Mikuni
Cycling: 72 km (44.7 mi)
Elevation: +480 m (+1,575 ft), -457 m (-1,499 ft)
We ride south along the dramatic Echizen-Kaigan coastline, where waterfalls tumble directly into the sea and natural stone arches frame the shore. En route, we stop at an Edo-era village built between the 17th and 19th centuries and visit a ship museum tracing the region’s deep maritime heritage. Lunch is the local specialty—famed Echizen soba noodles—before we turn inland toward Echizen, a city long celebrated for its master craftspeople: blademakers, washi paper artisans, and textile weavers. Feudal-era fortresses and ruins still dot the surrounding hills.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Route Inn Echizen
Cycling: 71 km (44.1 mi)
Elevation: +881 m (+2,890 ft), -885 m (-2,904 ft)
The day starts at the Takefu knife factory, where the ancient art of Japanese blade-making is very much alive and very much worth watching up close. After that, we set off on a scenic ride back to the coast along a former railway line—once the Hokuriku Railroad, which grew out of 19th-century horse-car lines—now converted into a wonderful cycling route through tunnels and forested stretches. It delivers us to Tsuruga, a historic port city and the Sea of Japan coastal point closest to the Pacific Ocean, where we’ll base ourselves for two nights.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Hotel Route Inn Tsuruga Ekimae Annex
Cycling: 42 km (26.1 mi)
Elevation: +465 m (+1,526 ft), -490 m (-1,608 ft)
Today the landscape shifts entirely. We board the shinkansen—Japan’s iconic bullet train—for a swift transfer from Tsuruga to Takaoka, then get back in the saddle for a ride along the Oyabe River toward the mountains. A stop at Inami Betsuin Zuisen-ji Temple, one of Japan’s largest remaining wooden structures, is a highlight before the climbing begins in earnest. By evening, we arrive in Shirakawago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its gassho-zukuri thatched farmhouses—some over 200 years old, built to withstand heavy mountain snow. We spend the night in one of them, sharing a traditional dinner with other guests. An onsen dip afterward comes highly recommended.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Shirakawago Gassho Zukuri (traditional farmhouse)
Cycling: 82 km (51 mi)
Elevation: +1,943 m (+6,375 ft), -1,468 m (-4,816 ft)
Our final day in the saddle is the most dramatic of the trip. We climb out of Shirakawago—starting at roughly 500 m (1,640 ft) above sea level—and spend the first 45 km (28 mi) working our way up 1,100 m (3,609 ft), rewarded the whole way with views of Miboro Lake and forested valley villages. The hardest work is done by midday, after which gentler rolling slopes and two long descents carry us down into Takayama—often called Little Kyoto for its beautifully preserved architecture, shrines, and pagodas. Hundreds of years of mountain isolation shaped a culture all its own here, and it shows. Tonight, we celebrate with a special group dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Accommodation: Takayama Dormy Ouan
Cycling: 77 km (47.8 mi)
Elevation: +1,256 m (+4,121 ft), -1,173 m (-3,848 ft)
Time to head home—or onward. Takayama is well-connected by train to other Japanese cities and airports, so wherever you’re going next, it’s easy to get there.
Meals: Breakfast
Included:
Add-ons (pricing shown at checkout):
Not included:
This is an active, challenging trip, and great fitness is required. Over 6 cycling days, we cover 344 km (214 mi) with an average of 1,005 m (3,297 ft) of climbing per day.
The coastal days are rolling and manageable; Days 5 and 6 in the mountains are a different story, with Day 5 featuring nearly 1,943 m (6,375 ft) of elevation gain. Solid climbing experience is strongly recommended.
Your guides’ detailed knowledge of the route means you’ll always know what’s coming in terms of distance and gradient—which makes a big difference. The support vehicle is never far away, with water, snacks, and a spare seat if needed.
Riders should also be comfortable cycling on some narrower roads shared with traffic.
Want to explore more of Japan by bike? Discover more Japan cycling tours here!
Most routes are on smooth tarmac, with some sections on hard-packed gravel paths. Your guides have chosen bicycle-friendly roads, though some sections are shared with other cyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles—good bike handling helps. Riding happens rain or shine, though your guides can adjust the route based on conditions or group comfort. That’s all part of the adventure.
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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Hybrid bike and helmet rental are included in the tour price. You’re welcome to bring your own saddle and/or pedals—your guides will fit them to the rental bike before the tour begins.
E-bike rental is available for an additional cost, you can add it to your booking at checkout. An e-bike will make this tour significantly easier, though it will still be a real challenge.
Basic spares and tools are carried by the guides and on the support vehicle, though your guides cannot guarantee parts for every possible issue. Bringing a basic toolkit, a spare tube, and a pump is recommended. Wearing a helmet is required on all rides—non-negotiable.
Group sizes and pricing
Honshu bike tours can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
The price for this Honshu bike tour 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.
Solo travelers are welcome—they can either share a room with another same-gender solo traveler at no extra cost, or guarantee a private room by paying a single occupancy fee.
The tour starts in Kanazawa. The most convenient flight option is into Komatsu Airport (KMQ), which is served by domestic flights from major Japanese hubs—Kanazawa is roughly 40 minutes away. Kanazawa is also easily reachable by shinkansen from Tokyo, Osaka, and other major cities.
You’ll meet your guides at the hotel on Day 1. We highly recommend arriving at least a day early to allow for any travel delays and to give yourself time to explore Kanazawa before the ride 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.