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
Not included:
This Tohoku sakura bike tour is rated moderate, which means that a good level of fitness is required to participate in this adventure. 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.
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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.
Rentals 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 $200 for the whole tour. All rental bikes have hydraulic disc brakes. The bike rental fee also includes a helmet.
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 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 both medical and travel protection. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, simply choose Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner!
Redpoint tailors their 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.
Once your booking is confirmed and your trip is paid in full, you will be offered to purchase Redpoint’s protection. If you need any help or require more information, let us know and we will be happy to help!