Luxury Japan Cycle 8D7N (The Noto Peninsula to Kyoto), Fully Guided

TWO BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 1, Approx. 14 km (9 miles), 1-2 hours biking, Elevation gain: 274 m (900 ft)
Level 2, Approx. 31 km (19 miles), 2-3 hours biking, Elevation gain: 671 m (2200 ft)

To begin this trip, meet your tour leaders at 6:30 am at the Haneda Excel Hotel Tokyu. You’ll have your tour leaders guide you to the All Nippon Airways (ANA) check-in counter and on the 1-hour flight to Wajima, Japan. Please, ensure to come along with your luggage and a daypack containing your biking gear, rain clothes, and anything else you may want for the day’s activities.

Hello, Japan! Following our meeting in Tokyo, we fly to Wajima, set on the northwestern coast of the stunning Noto Peninsula and encircled by the Sea of Japan. Wajima is a lively town flush with fishing boats and fishmongers and is famed for its lacquerware which is adored worldwide for its aesthetics and durability.

We shuttle to the 750-year-old Zen Buddhist temple, Soji-Ji, and go on a pleasant stroll through its parklike grounds. After eating a delightful lunch, your tour leaders fit your bike and educate you briefly on biking techniques and safety (don’t forget to ride on the left!). Set out on a scenic ride along the quiet road, watching out for women in rubber boots knee-deep in mud, using their hands to work on the rice fields. After a challenging climb, enjoy as you descend toward the western coast, where you behold stunning views of the ocean. You have shorter but steep climbs ahead of you as you navigate the coastline along narrow, lightly-trafficked roads to Wajima.

On getting to town, tour the streets of Wajima before biking or shuttling the short distance to our hotel. Our home for tonight is the tranquil Notonosho Ryokan, set on a hill overlooking the waves. Regardless of the building’s modern exterior, it's a different era once you are inside, as you are welcomed by tradition and tranquillity.

This ryokan houses simple and sophisticated Japanese-style rooms with tatami, futons, and rice paper shoji doors decorated with items made of the famed local lacquer. This accommodation is unique but is worlds apart from the comforts of the Western-style hotels. However, if you are prepared to embrace the habitat and its peculiarity, you will enjoy your stay here. This evening, we convene for a welcome reception before savouring a traditional kaiseki-style dinner.

NOTE: ANA often makes changes to the flight schedule. So, we will contact you by email approximately 30 days before the commencement of the trip to confirm our exact meeting time

THREE BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 1, Approx. 26 km (16 miles), 1-2 hours biking, Elevation gain: 244 m (800 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 51 km (32 miles), 3-5 hours biking, Elevation gain: 610 m (2000 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 69 km (43 miles), 4-6 hours biking, Elevation gain: 975 m (3200 ft)

Today, our adventure begins at Battleship Rock (named after its shape). However, among the locals, it is referred to as the Man and Woman Formation because of the proximity of a smaller rock next to the big one. Before you set out on your bike, you are welcome to ring the Love Bell in the name of love. From this spot, we may be able to see the snowcapped Japan Alps across the water to the west.

Start by pedaling down the coast along the undisturbed Inner Shore of the Noto Hanto. The road is usually secluded, and we encounter few cars. The first half of the ride is calm because the ground is almost levelled; however, the landscape gets hillier once we get to the other side of the peninsula. The demarcation between the road and the shores in most places is a retaining wall and is known by the locals as the Love Road because its Japanese name is a homonym of the Japanese word for “lover.” Follow this road as it spirals on and off the coastline. The scenery becomes rugged as you round the peninsula’s peak at Roko Cape, sometimes resembling California’s rocky coastline.

You’ll bike past a famous Japanese location; it is a sandy swimming beach where many soap operas are filmed. Along the way, we get to visit a salt farm. It is an ancient sea extraction operation established three centuries ago by a local lord to aid the improvement of the region’s economy.

Going further along the picturesque Outer Shore, past the popular Shiroyone Senmaida, a steep section of cliff with a mosaic of terraced rice paddies as an overlay. There are over 1,300 paddies on just 18 acres, reflecting the hard work put in by generations of families who have utilized even the tiniest pockets of the hillside. It is usually said here that the smallest paddy could fit under a farmer’s hat! Owing to the merging and reduction of farmland, there are few such places currently remaining in Japan, and Senmaida has been set aside as a living historical site.

We return to the hotel with some time to spare for relaxation before shuttling into town for a dinner of Japanese delights, including fresh, luscious seafood and tender wagyu beef. Following that, those interested in post-dinner entertainment can enjoy a taiko drumming performance. The regional style of this art is entirely different from what’s typically seen in movies or performed in the U.S. and is guaranteed to thrill.

THREE BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 1, Approx. 19 km (12 miles), 1-2 hours biking, Elevation gain: 213 m (700 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 43 km (27 miles), 3-5 hours biking, Elevation gain: 610 m (2000 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 64 km (40 miles), 4-6 hours biking, Elevation gain: 1006 m (3300 ft)

We start the day by taking a stroll through the neighborhood to Omicho Market, filled with loud auctioneers selling their goods. Allegedly existing since the early 1800s, this bustling spot showcases fruits and veggies, lacquerware, folk toys, and a mind-blowing assortment of freshly caught sea creatures.

Back at the hotel, we take a shuttle to Notojima (Noto Island), where we leave modern Japan to experience the classical countryside. Getting on your bike, say goodbye to the western coast and inland through forested hills and along quiet country roads. Set your sights on the peninsula's eastern side; crossing over a low pass, you are greeted with three miles of subtle climbing and a quick descent shaded by cedar trees.

Savour a delightful waterfront picnic lunch where the land meets the sea. After that, you can choose to join the shuttle or bike through the island terrain to the mainland and on to our next hotel.

Our accommodation for the next two nights is Matsuno Midori, part of the popular Kagaya Ryokan in the well-known town of Wakura. It has been considered one of the top ryokans in Japan. This stunning Matsuno Midori derived its name from the cedar trees it's built from and the blue sea it sits on. These elements are equally balanced, birthing its tranquil and electrifying setting. The lobby is home to an art museum, the ideal place for relaxing and discovering more of Noto's past and present.

This evening we gather for another wonderful Japanese meal together. Afterward, for the ultimate luxury, choose to indulge in the hot spring experience for which Wakura is famous.

TWO BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 31 km (19 miles), 2-3 hours biking, Elevation gain: 305 m (1000 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 72 km (45 miles), 4-6 hours biking, Elevation gain: 762 m (2500 ft)

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before setting out to enjoy another day of biking and exploring. Today, our route explores the surrounding terrains of Mount Sekidō. This region is popularized by its forested roads and stunning farmland. Pedal through the rural valleys encircling the holy mountain and choose some challenging climbs in the picturesque Himi Hills. Once the ride ends and we eat lunch, we head back to Matsuno Midori.

You can participate in a short tea ceremony (or chaji) in the neighboring tea house before dinner. This incredibly stylized ritual dates back to the Nara period (A. D. 719-794) when Buddhist monks did it to maintain alertness during meditation. The ceremony has evolved into a process of differing degrees of formality. The most simple tea ceremony lasts for many hours, and the staple principles of harmony, respect, tranquility, and purity are believed to lead to enlightenment. Our short demonstration still captures the essence of this ritual.

THREE BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 40 km (25 miles), 2-3 hours biking, Elevation gain: 396 m (1000 ft)
Level 3, Approx. 60 km (37 miles) 3-5 hours biking, Elevation gain: 457 m (1500 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 80 km (50 miles), 4-6 hours biking, Elevation gain: 610 m (2000 ft)

After eating breakfast at the hotel, we take a quick shuttle to begin our ride along Toyama Bay. As part of the Sea of Japan, the bay is famed for the electric-blue bioluminescent firefly squid that gathers there from March to June. Pedal along the gorgeous coastal route that provides breathtaking glimpses of the soaring Mount Tate in the distance. Follow the path to Matsudaeno-Nagahama, a seaside walkway along a beach of white sands and green pines.

At the magnificent Shinminato Bridge, an elevator takes you to the structure’s lower deck, where a quiet pedestrian path awaits you. As you cross the bridge, experience the breathtaking panorama of Toyama and its bay. Getting back on terra firma, take a lunch break at a cafe.

After eating lunch, join the shuttle or enjoy a refreshing spin along the Jinzū River to River Retreat Garaku, your home for the night. This boutique hotel has a sophisticated historic character that is a beautiful place to relax set along the serene Jinzu River. Settling down in your spacious room, take a tour of the property- a work of art and an authentic museum of top-tier sculptures and paintings. If we have time to spare, go for a dip in one of the open-air hot springs or a massage (not included in the trip price) before eating dinner at the hotel.

Level 2, Approx. 35 km (22 miles), 2-3 hours biking, Elevation gain: 457 m (1500 ft)

Start the day with a delectable Japanese breakfast, after which you bike a short distance before our travel day to Kyoto. Pedal to Yatsuo, one of the best-preserved historical villages in Japan, going up a street that showcases charming traditional architecture. You could choose a more laid-back way to start your day by staying back at the hotel to enjoy the spa facilities. There’s time for the cyclists to refresh themselves before we reconvene for our afternoon travel.

In the afternoon, we leave the coast in the past as we shuttle south to Kyoto and our majestic home for the next two nights, the Four Seasons Kyoto. Located in the Higashiyama district, soak in the tranquility by taking a lovely stroll amongst its peaceful and well-manicured gardens. Refresh with a dip in the indoor swimming pool complete with 2 whirlpools, sauna, steam rooms and seven spa treatment rooms. Or, simply take in the serenity by its cozy lounge spaces overlooking lush green vistas. In the evening, you’ll be opportune to enjoy dinner by yourself in the city or enjoy a relaxing evening and dinner at the hotel.

TWO BIKING OPTIONS:
Level 2, Approx. 35 km (22 miles), 2-3 hours biking, Elevation gain: 305 m (1000 ft)
Level 4, Approx. 68 km (42 miles), 4-6 hours biking, Elevation gain: 792 m (2600 ft)

Get the energy you need for our morning’s adventure with a hearty breakfast, after which we go for a ride through the northern reaches of Kyoto and beyond. Biking amid the rustic landscape decorated with farms, vistas of orderly rice terraces and expansive Lake Biwa appear before you. Biwa, one of the world’s oldest lakes, is the largest freshwater lake in Japan and has served as an essential source of freshwater for humans and animals for at least four million years.

On getting to the lake, make your way around its shore, as you pass by small towns, stretches of forests, and famed beaches. As you ride, notice reeds that add peculiarity to Lake Biwa’s scenery aid in purifying the water and provide a vital habitat for birds and fish. Take a break to enjoy a waterfront sushi lunch, and a refreshing swim (dependent on the weather).

Continue pedaling or hop in the shuttle for a lift back to the Four Seasons this afternoon. You can choose to continue riding on your own, or join the shuttle for a lift back to the hotel. Spend some time unwinding in your room, relishing a spa treatment, or if you haven’t already, enjoying the hotel’s ikeniwa (pond garden).

At night, we gather at the hotel’s restaurant to toast (kampai!) our amazing adventure in Japan followed by a farewell dinner of luscious regional specialties.

We start the morning by taking a quick shuttle to the famous Fushimi Inari-Taisha. Inari is the name of the towering Kyoto hill that is home to this important Taisha or shrine, whose origins go back to A.D. 711. A famous destination for both visitors and locals, we enter Inari from a less-frequented gate and ascend its peak through a series of stone steps leading through a quiet forest.

The pathway to the peak passes below dozens of torii. Literally meaning “bird abodes,” the torii are traditional Japanese bright orange-colored gates of differing heights found at the entrance to Shinto shrines. They are said to function as a separation of the profane and sacred. The Shinto kami (spirit or god) of Inari is traditionally a symbol of fertility, industry, and general prosperity. So, over the years, many Japanese businesses have donated these torii in gratitude for their successes.

From the peak, take in clear views of the bordering hills and Kyoto below before going down the torii-lined steps to the park’s main gate. Notice the tens of thousands of heaps created as spots for individual prayer. Arriving at the base, we visit the main shrine, which has a mirror as the primary object of worship.

We head back to the Four Seasons to freshen up before shuttling to Kyoto’s train station where we bid farewell and the trip ends.