JAPAN CYCLING TOUR
The Shogun Ride

Our Shogun Ride from Nasu–Nikko is a fully supported journey by bike through the cultural heart of old-world Japan, where every turn of the pedals traces the path of Japan’s legendary Shoguns. Think cedar-lined mountain roads, landscapes shaped by centuries of tradition, steaming onsen hot springs to soothe tired legs, sacred shrines, immaculate countryside and a rhythm of life that feels beautifully removed from the rush of modernity. This is where Samurai history meets volcanic landscapes and where every ride includes something unexpected…perhaps matcha in a centuries-old garden, handmade chocolate in a mountain village, or cheesecake at altitude.

This immersive experience blends cultural discovery with the quiet power of the open road and is designed for riders who seek meaning as much as movement

This is more than a ride – it is a passage through centuries of history, culture, landscapes and beauty, curated the Après Vélo way.

Non-riding partners are part of the journey and encouraged to attend this bucket list experience.

TOUR OVERVIEW

Japan doesn’t reveal itself all at once. It unfolds — quietly, gracefully — as you ride.

This fully supported road cycling tour is beautifully balanced 70–85km per day with meaningful elevation — challenging enough to feel earned yet designed so you return each afternoon with time to soak, wander, and absorb Japan at a slower rhythm.

We stay in traditional onsen ryokans and carefully selected boutique properties. We ride quiet countryside roads, forest passes, sacred mountain climbs, balanced with serene descents and soul-filling scenery. We experience culture not as tourists — but as welcomed guests.

Off the bike, the immersion deepens. Kaiseki dining. Guided hikes. Pottery making. Local sake tasting. Tatami rooms. UNESCO-listed shrines. Impeccable hospitality and cultural immersion that lingers long after the final pedal stroke.

This is Japan through the lens of Après Vélo — considered, immersive, beautifully paced.

ITINERARY

 DAY 1: WELCOME TO NASU  

Nasu is a refined mountain retreat — known for its volcanic landscapes, imperial villas, forested slopes and restorative hot springs.

Our team will welcome you at approximately 2:30pm at JR Nasushiobara Station, just 70 minutes from Tokyo via the Tohoku Shinkansen (bullet train). If you’re unable to meet at this time, simply let us know and we will arrange a seamless alternative.

Rental bikes (for those who have arranged them) will be professionally fitted and tested at our tour partner’s office before we transfer to our traditional onsen ryokan in Nasu. Tatami floors, mountain air, and a hot-spring soak await — the perfect antidote to travel fatigue.

That evening, over our welcome dinner, you’ll meet your fellow riders and the Après Vélo team. A first toast. A tour briefing. A sense of anticipation building.
Your Japanese adventure has officially begun.

Dinner – Welcome dinner shouted by Après Vélo
Accommodation – Itamuro Onsen Daikokuya

 DAY 2: NASU FARMLAND LOOP  

Distance – 72km
Elevation – 950m

A gentle immersion into rural Japan.

We roll through peaceful rice fields and quiet farmland roads, discovering hidden bamboo forests and tunnels of shifting green and gold leaves. A hands-on visit to a bamboo craft artisan offers insight into traditional Japanese craftsmanship — elegant, precise, timeless.

This is countryside riding at its most serene. Rhythm. Flow. Stillness.

Return to Nasu for dinner and another restorative onsen soak.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner – provided by Après Vélo
Accommodation – Itamuro Onsen Daikokuya

 DAY 3: MT. NASU GOURMET LOOP  

Distance – 75km
Elevation – 1,250m

Today blends climbing, culture and indulgence — very Après Vélo.

We ascend toward Mt. Nasu’s panoramic viewpoints, passing the historic Onsen Shrine before an exhilarating, sweeping descent that will have you grinning all the way down.

And then… the rewards.

Cheesecake café. Rich, creamy ice-cream. Handmade chocolate crafted in the mountains. 

Our ride continues with scenic forest roads and challenging climbs framed by volcanic peaks and more.

This is a gourmet ride in every sense — cooked legs (excuse the pun), senses awakened.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner – provided by Après Vélo
Accommodation - Itamuro Onsen Daikokuya

 DAY 4: NASU TO NIKKO  

Distance – 87km
Elevation – 1,600m

A transition day of epic proportions.

We follow a beautiful gorge before walking briefly along a mountain stream to a hidden waterfall. A giant cedar tree guards an ancient shrine. The road tilts upward toward sacred mountain terrain, before delivering a long, winding descent into Nikko – A spiritual mountain town where UNESCO-listed shrines, cedar forests and alpine lakes converge in a setting that feels both sacred and cinematic.

The landscapes feel bigger here. Wilder. Spiritual.

We overnight in Nikko, gateway to some of Japan’s most revered heritage.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner – provided by Après Vélo
Accommodation - Nikko Hoshi-no-Yado

 DAY 5: OKU-NIKKO LAKE & WATERFALL LOOP  

Distance – 70km
Elevation – 1,300m

We begin with the iconic Iroha-zaka climb — a masterfully engineered mountain road of sweeping, rhythmic switchbacks that gain elevation steadily, each bend revealing broader views of Nikko’s vast mountain amphitheatre. It’s a climb that feels purposeful, almost meditative.

At the summit, we ride alongside the brilliant blue waters of Lake Chuzenji, shimmering beneath volcanic peaks and crisp alpine skies. The road here rolls gently, offering moments to breathe in the scale and stillness of the landscape.
From there, we turn onto a quiet, car-free forest road leading toward a tranquil marshland before continuing deeper into the mountains to visit two dramatic waterfalls cascading through moss-covered rock faces — powerful, cinematic and beautifully remote.

Today is scenic theatre on two wheels.

Optional Challenge:
For those wanting a little more, a 6.5km climb rises from the waterfall toward Konsei Pass — Japan’s highest tunnel pass at 1,840m. Once used by ascetic mountain monks, this climb gains 400m at an average of 6.5% — steady, rewarding, and steeped in history.

Evening at leisure in Nikko - explore and dine as you please.
Breakfast and Lunch – provided by Après Vélo
Accommodation - Nikko Hoshi-no-Yado

 DAY 6: REST DAY (NIKKO)  

A cultural deep dive day to slow the cadence and immerse yourself in Japan’s spiritual heart.

This morning we explore Nikko’s UNESCO World Heritage temples and shrines on a guided walk, including the extraordinary Rinnoji Temple where we witness the Goma fire ritual — a sacred ceremony of purification in esoteric Buddhism, both powerful and deeply atmospheric.

The afternoon and evening are yours to enjoy at leisure — wander the town, explore hidden cafés, or simply rest.

Added Optional Experience:
Join a visit to a local sake brewery to learn the intricate art of sake-making, followed by a tasting that reveals the delicate nuances of Japan’s most revered drink.

Enjoy lunch and dinner at your own pace in town.

Breakfast – provided by Après Vélo
Accommodation - Nikko Hoshi-no-Yado

 DAY 7: NIKKO TO BATO  

Distance – 82km
Elevation – 600m

We ride the legendary Nikko Cedar Avenue — an ancient Samurai pilgrimage flanked by towering 400-year-old cedar trees. The road is straight, solemn and majestic, carrying a quiet sense of reverence beneath its canopy.

Beyond the avenue, the riding becomes fluid and scenic — gentle rollers through open farmland, winding rural roads bordered by rivers and forested hills. It’s a day of rhythm and flow, where the legs spin easily and the countryside unfolds at a generous pace.

A visit to a traditional Washi (Japanese paper) museum adds cultural depth before we continue riding toward Bato – A tranquil rural enclave surrounded by rolling hills and traditional farmland, offering an authentic glimpse into slow-paced countryside Japan.

Non-riders have the opportunity to visit a Washi artisan and create their own handmade postcards using traditional techniques.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner – provided by Après Vélo
Accommodation – Iizuka-tei

 DAY 8: TEA FIELD & WATERFALL LOOP  

Distance – 70km
Elevation – 1,000m

Rolling hills carry us to majestic Fukuroda Falls — one of Japan’s most celebrated cascades.

We visit a café and art gallery set in a traditional thatched-roof farmhouse before riding through a landscape of vibrant tea plantations.

A day of texture, colour and layered beauty.

Breakfast and Lunch – provided by Après Vélo
Dinner – Free to do as you please
Accommodation - Iizuka-tei

 DAY 9: BATO TO ASHINO  

Distance – 60km
Elevation – 1,000m

Secluded terraced rice fields unfold through quiet valleys as we trace peaceful rural roads framed by forest and farmland. The terrain gently rises and falls, with steady climbs that reward patience rather than brute force.

We visit a local pottery workshop before riding an 11km stretch of beautifully quiet rolling forest road — smooth, shaded and deeply immersive.

Deep in the Yamizo mountains lies Unganji — a serene Zen temple over 800 years old, nestled among towering trees.

This is reflective riding. Quiet. Grounded. Meaningful.

Non-riders have the opportunity to craft their own pottery piece under expert guidance, shaping local clay on a traditional wheel.

Our home for the next 2 nights is Ashino – A peaceful heritage village nestled near the Yamizo mountains, where forest roads, Zen temples and timeless landscapes create a deeply reflective atmosphere.

Time and energy dependent, partake in a round of golf on the expansive 27-hole course at our Nasu Yoko Hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner – provided by Après Vélo
Accommodation - Nasu Yoko Hotel

 DAY 10: SHIRAKAWA CUTURAL LOOP  

Distance – 70km
Elevation – 800m

A final cultural crescendo.

We spin along tranquil riverside paths, visit a Japanese garden for matcha tasting, explore a traditional castle, and stop at a beloved local cake shop.

An ancient shrine and giant tree provide a fitting final moment of stillness.

Tonight, we celebrate the journey — the miles, the meals, the moments.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner – provided by Après Vélo
Accommodation - Nasu Yoko Hotel

 DAY 11: SAYŌNARA NIHON/ FAREWELL JAPAN  

'Tis time to bid farewell to Japan. After breakfast and hotel check-out, the tour concludes.

A shuttle transfer returns you to Nasushiobara Station for the 70-minute Shinkansen ride back to Tokyo — or onward to your next Japanese adventure.

Breakfast – provided by Après Vélo

Optional Tokyo Après Vélo Extension
Once the final kilometres are ridden and the Shogun journey draws to a close, a number of us will continue on to Tokyo for two nights of relaxed, celebratory downtime.

Think neon lights and hidden cocktail bars. Sushi counters and side-street ramen. Culture, contrast and a little controlled chaos — the perfect counterpoint to the stillness of the mountains.

This informal extension is not an official part of the tour; however, we are delighted to arrange accommodation and restaurant reservations for any guests who wish to join us.

Because every great ride deserves a proper finish.

The Après Vélo itinerary may be subject to route and hotel changes, and other modifications subject to circumstances prevailing at the time.

PRICE

$200 OFF Your First Tour!

Simply request our digital brochure and get $200 off!

*Offer excludes Hobart Half Day tours.

FIND OUT HOW

INCLUSIONS

NOT INCLUDED

• Airfare.
• Train travel.
• Travel and personal insurance.
• Additional hotel expenses i.e. in-room hotel charges, incidentals.
• Rental bikes (Talk to us when booking).
• Laundry. Facilities are available at your hotels for your convenience.
• Tipping.

NON-RIDING PARTNERS

Non-Riding Partners Are Part of the Journey.

Our Japan Tour is designed to be shared — and non-riding partners are warmly welcomed.
While the riders take to the road, you’ll travel comfortably with our local team in the support vehicle, enjoying front-row access to Japan’s countryside, culture and hidden gems. Think artisan workshops, guided walks, temple visits, scenic cafés and immersive cultural moments woven thoughtfully into each day.

Select experiences are curated exclusively for non-riders — including hands-on Washi paper making and traditional pottery sessions — ensuring your days are enriching, relaxed and uniquely your own.

Each afternoon and evening, riders and non-riders reunite to share stories over beautiful meals and cultural experiences, making this a truly inclusive journey — on the bike and beyond it.

APRÈS VÉLO ENCOURAGES AND WELCOMES NON-RIDING PARTNERS TO ATTEND OUR JAPAN CYCLING TOUR.

NEED A BIKE?

The below high-performance bikes are available for rent for the tour at an additional cost. If interested, please select YES on booking request, and an Après Vélo representative will provide further details.

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

See our FAQs page for answers to common questions or contact us via email.

NEED MORE INFO?

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