Red Tori gates of Fushimi Inari

Kansai 7 nights/ 6 cycling days

7 nights/6 days cycling tours, arrive Thursday and begin riding on Friday morning after orientation. Orientation is hosted on the first floor of the OMO Kansai Airport Hotel. Click on each day below to learn more details about this tour. Find out about the daily distance, main sites along the way and see some pictures – a sneak peak of what you might see.

Day 1 -Kansai Airport > Wakayama

Leaving the hotel outside of the Kansai Airport your day begins after a buffet breakfast at the hotel. Be sure to enjoy the wide variety of Japanese and western breakfast delights to fuel you for an exciting first day. The first day will take you along the coastline of Japan with views of the ocean, palm trees mixed in with traditional Japanese sites.

Cycling Info

  • Distance: 57kms
  • Elevation: 465m
  • Duration: 4-6 hours

Sites and Delights

  • Ocean and beach views
  • Traditional Japanese Gardens
  • Awashima-jinja (doll shrine)
  • Watch the sunset from roof top patio while relaxing in your Yukata (Japanese cotton Kimono for men and women)
  • Traditional Japanese formal dinner and breakfast
  • Two bikes, blue and orange parked at the start of a large cabled bridge in Osaka.
    Let the journey begin
  • Two cyclist cycling away from the camera along a pathway along the ocean with green trees lining the right side of the pathway.
    Seaside cycling
  • Layers of many Japanese dolls with white faces, black hair and traditional kimonos are lined up behind a red barrier in front of a shrine.
    Awashima Shrine
  • Japanese Ryokan hotel with tatami floors low table with two chairs, window with view of the ocean in the background.
    Traditional Ryokan with an ocean view
  • Sunset views
  • A small wooden boat serving fresh seafood including orange shrimp, seashells, tuna, lemon wedges, cucumbers.
    Dinner delights

Day 2 -Wakayama > Hashimoto

Cycle from the ocean north into the interior, where there is a rich history including stories of Samurai and Ninja’s. Hashimoto is a quiet town with plenty of delicious places for dinner but the exciting experiences will be found along your journey including the Kudoyama museum and Jison-in temple.

Cycling Info

  • Distance: 60.9kms
  • Elevation: 385m
  • Duration: 4-6 hours

Sites and Delights

  • Wakayama castle with volunteer Ninjas. Try Matcha tea and a sweet at Ninshinomaru garden.
  • Enjoy lunch at Hagime cafe
  • Kudoyama Samurai museum, view traditional Samurai suits
  • Jison-in temple
  • Mitsu Izakaya bar near the hotel has an impressive sake collection.
  • Japanese dinner served at a Ryokan including small dishes of sashimi, fish on a grill, tofu and mushrooms in a hot put and more.
    Japanese breakfast
  • Ocean view with rocks covered in lush greenery near Wakayama.
    Ocean view
  • Two mend in dark clothing, one with a sword pose in front of a white castle.
    Ninja vs samurai at Wakayama castle
  • Kokawadera Temple
  • Small staircase going to a temple entrance. A top of a red temple is showing through the entrance. A multi-colored material hangs above the entrance.
    Jison-in temple
  • Samurai museum
  • Bottle of large sake in background with a cup in a square dish serving the sake.
    Sake – Japanese rice wine

Day 3 -Hashimoto > Nara

Cruise through the Japanese country side and into the tourist town of Nara. With a rich history as one of the country’s original capitals, the temples, castles and unique history provide an abundance of options. Be sure to visit Nara park conveniently located across from the hotel and meet the deer who bow in exchange for Senbei (Japanese rice crackers). The pace gets busier and the streets have more traffic. Be prepared for a busy day with many things to see, experience, eat and drink.

Cycling Info

  • Distance: 70.1km
  • Elevation: 400m
  • Duration: 5-6.5 hours

Sites and Delights

  • Try Japan’s best Taiyaki, a Japanese pastry shaped like a fish.
  • Kashihara jingu Shrine
  • Imai town
  • Kingyo street and muesum
  • Yakushiji temple, UNESCO world heritage site.
  • Horyuji oldest wooden structure in the world.
  •  Yamatokoriyama – the goldfish town and fields.
  • Lush green grass and trees line a curved pathway that is lined blue lines on either side indicating it is a bike pathway.
    Rural bike path
  • A man stands behind a bicycle with his hands outstretched as two people on either side are in the air. There is a large Tori gate in the background.
    Kashihara Jingu
  • Cyclist riding through old Japanese neighborhood called Imaicho. White buildings with dark wood storefronts.
    Riding through Imaicho
  • Five story pagoda, Kohfukuji temple in Nara with metal fencing around it as maintenance work takes place on the first level.
    Pagoda in Nara
  • Red and black tori gate marking the entrance to a Shinto shrine in Japan on a blue sky day.
    Red Tori Gate
  • Garden and yard statues of tanuki, Japanese racoons, at a outdoor shop in rural Japan.
    Tanuki Statue
  • Evening in Nara

Day 4 – Nara > Otsu

Leaving the beauty of Nara and exploring the country side on your way to Biwako (Biwa lake). Along the journey stop to visit one of the oldest Sake producers. Otsu is located near Biwa lake, the largest lake on the main island of Japan. This is a popular location for Japanese cyclists.

Cycling Info

  • Distance: 54kms
  • Elevation: 510m
  • Duration: 5-6 hours

Sites and Delights

  • Todaiji and the giant Buddha and feed the deer in Nara park
  •  Visit Uji and enjoy lunch and everything Green Tea.
  • Byodoin temple pictured on the 10yen coin.
  • Before making the final climb you may want to stop at Daigoji Temple
  • Two cyclists pose in front of temple entrance with deer walking in background.
    Todaiji gate in Nara Japan
  • Daibutsukan
  • Feeding the Deer
  • Crispy tempura with green matcha salt
    Tempura with matcha salt
  • View of two chairs looking onto a Japanese garden with red umbrella. Enman-inn Otsu.
    Garden at Enman-Inn Otsu
  • Biwa Lake

Day 5 – Otsu > Kyoto

This is a short cycling day to allow plenty of time to indulge in the traditional activities and sites of Japan. Dress in a traditional Kimono and learn how to be a Samurai. If you prefer more biking the pathway around Biwako offers close to 200km of dedicated bike paths around the lake.

Cycling Info

  • Distance: 22kms
  • Elevation: 240m
  • Duration: 1-2 hours

Sites and Delights

  • Enjoy the view of Biwa lake before heading to Kyoto
  • Stop at Nanzenji temple, garden and aqueducts
  • Visit Kiyomizu-dera temple while wearing traditional Japanese Kimono
  • Visit Nishiki market and try some street food
  • Samurai and Ninja experience and experience
  • Morning Buddhist prayers
  • Nanzenji Aqueduct
  • Hyuga Grand shrine
  • Kiyomizudera
  • Samuri and Ninja Museum and experience
  • Japanese bath - Onsen with view of exterior garden.
    Relax at the hotel bath
  • Hotel with three beds and pajamas on the bed with bright colored wall paper on the wall.
    Guest Yukata provided for your stay

Day 6 – Kyoto > Osaka

Last day, best day! You will cycle in the  city where you will see many amazing sites along the way.

Cycling Info

  • Distance: 60kms
  • Elevation: 368m
  • Duration: 5-6 hours

Sites and Delights

  • Fushimi Inari the shrine of 10,000 tori gates
  • Gekkeikan Sake museum
  • Otokoyama Observatory and community center a central location for cyclists
  • Panasonic Museum
  • Osaka Castle
  • Cyclist walking through bike gates along a cycling path with grey sky in Osaka.
    Bike gates
  • City underpass
  • Panasonic Museum
  • Last site Osaka castle
  • Returning the bikes Road Bike Rental Japan

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