What to know about Cycling in Japan?

We ask all customers to pay the required deposit when they book, which confirms their reservation. The balance is due 90 days before departure. If you book less than 90 days before departure, we will ask you to pay the full price upfront.

Cancellations may occur. However, the boutique nature of our tour keeps our groups small, so this is unlikely. If we do have to cancel the tour due to insufficient participants, Covid-19 or for some other unforeseen circumstances, we will naturally provide you with prior notice and refund monies paid to date.

It is a requirement that insurance is taken out for your tour of Japan at the time of booking, as this should then cover you immediately, should anything occur between the time you book and departure/return.

For Australian customers, we have a partnership with CoverMore and can organise you up a 10%-20% discount. Please contact us to arrange your insurance.

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.

Yes — non-riding partners are welcome to ride on selected days, provided they meet a few important requirements to ensure their safety and the enjoyment of the group.

To participate, they must:

• Be confident handling a bike on all road surfaces, including long descents
• Be comfortable riding safely in a group environment
• Hire an E-bike for the full duration of the tour
• Have the fitness to comfortably complete the scheduled distances
  
  Non-riding partners may join the loop ride days on Days 2, 3, 5, 8 and 10. These routes begin and finish in the same location, allowing flexibility while keeping logistics seamless for the wider group.
  
  This approach ensures everyone feels safe, supported and riding within their capabilities — while still sharing in the magic of cycling Japan.

100%. We cherish the opportunity of designing bespoke tours for groups of friends, corporate clients, teams and families.

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Road bikes are a necessity for this tour. For those bringing their own bikes, we recommend as a minimum, 28mm tubeless tyres to minimise punctures throughout your journey.

Absolutely! Road bikes and E-Hybrid bikes are available for rent for the tour at an additional cost. If interested, please select YES on our booking form or shoot us an email, and an Après Vélo representative will provide further details in this regard.

We will have riders on standard and compact crank set ups. It is not essential that riders change the crank set up on their current bikes for this tour. For the rear cassette we recommend at least a 34.

Day 4 from Nasu to Nikko is our longest ride - circa 87km with 1600m of elevation
See our itinerary for our daily agenda.

The pace of the riding will be moderate at all times.

We are never in a rush to get from Point A to Point B and will immerse ourselves in cultural, artisan and sightseeing experiences along the way. This itinerary has been designed for everyone to be comfortable and enjoy the riding and beautiful surroundings.

We will always have a support vehicle for guests to use if needed.

Most importantly, we are here to Live the Ride safely and take in the beauty that Japan has to offer.

Difficulty of this trip is rated at 3.5/5. We are not riding vast distances on a daily basis, and there are plenty of breaks and stops along the way.

Riders will need to have the required fitness to complete the longest ride of the tour – Day 5 which is 87km with 1600m elevation.

The Japan Cycling Tour caters for seasoned cyclists with the required level of fitness to back up 80km+ days
If necessary, we will split the rides into two groups, to cater for different speeds.

Day 5 - 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.

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.

You will always have at least one ride captain on the road with the group. Depending upon the group size and riding strengths, there may be two riding groups, with a ride captain leading each group.

Our rides are further enhanced with a support vehicle to provide mechanical help as and when needed, provide hydration and nutrition or just a cosy place to rest up in case of that dreaded bonk.

In Japan, cyclists ride on the left-hand side of the road. Helmets are strongly recommended, and road rules are strictly observed. Rural traffic is light, but climbs can be sustained and steady. Convenience stores are frequent and well-stocked, making hydration stops easy. Respect for local customs, punctuality and quiet road behaviour are appreciated. Guided and supported cycling tours in Japan provide the safest and most seamless experience.

Hill climbs in Kita Kanto are challenging but achievable for trained recreational riders. Expect daily distances of 70–80km with 1,000–1,600m of elevation gain. Climbs such as Iroha-zaka feature multiple scenic switchbacks at steady gradients (5–7%), while optional ascents like Konsei Pass offer more demanding alpine efforts. The rewards are long descents, panoramic views and pristine mountain landscapes.

All accommodations on the tour offer private bathroom facilities.

However, in keeping with authentic Japanese tradition, our stays at Itamuro Onsen Daikokuya (Days 1–3) and Nikko Hoshi-no-Yado (Days 4–6) follow the classic ryokan style. While rooms include private toilet facilities, showers are located within the gender-specific communal bathing areas.

These beautifully maintained onsen bathing spaces are an integral part of Japanese culture — serene, immaculately presented and deeply restorative. Embracing this experience offers a genuine and memorable immersion into traditional Japan.

For many guests, it becomes one of the unexpected highlights of the journey.

Cycling in Japan is safe, scenic and culturally immersive. Roads are well maintained, drivers are respectful, and rural regions like Kita Kanto offer quiet mountain roads, forest climbs and lakeside riding with minimal traffic. Expect smooth tarmac, disciplined road etiquette and a strong café culture perfect for post-ride refuelling. Japan blends challenging terrain with deep cultural experiences — making it one of the most unique road cycling destinations in the world.

Japan is widely regarded as one of the world's most rewarding cycling destinations, offering an extraordinary blend of spectacular scenery, quiet roads, rich culture, and exceptional hospitality. Whether you're climbing through forested mountain passes, riding alongside the coastline, or exploring peaceful rural villages, every day presents something completely different.

Cycling is deeply woven into everyday life in Japan. Millions of people use bicycles daily for commuting, shopping and recreation, creating a strong cycling culture that is both practical and widely accepted.

Cycling in Japan is about far more than simply covering kilometres—it's about immersing yourself in one of the world's most fascinating cultures.

Our Japan Cycling Tour has been carefully designed to showcase the country's most scenic and enjoyable roads while avoiding busy traffic wherever possible.

Japan is extremely bike-friendly. Drivers are patient and courteous, infrastructure is excellent, and there is a strong cycling culture throughout the country. Rural regions like Nasu and Nikko are particularly welcoming to cyclists, with smooth roads, clear signage and respectful road sharing. Safety standards and hospitality are world-class.

Japan is home to some of Asia's most spectacular natural landscapes, and our tour has been designed to showcase many of its most iconic regions.

Highlights include the breathtaking mountain roads surrounding Nikko National Park, peaceful forests lined with towering cedar trees, tranquil lakes, dramatic volcanic landscapes and beautiful rural valleys that change with the seasons.

Japan offers exceptional cycling throughout much of the year, however spring and autumn are widely regarded as the country's premier cycling seasons thanks to their comfortable temperatures and spectacular natural beauty.

Our Japan Cycling Tour is designed for cyclists who enjoy spending several hours on the bike while appreciating the journey as much as the destination.

Packing for a cycling holiday in Japan is refreshingly straightforward thanks to the country's excellent infrastructure and reliable weather during the cycling season.

At Après Vélo, we believe the best cycling tours are about far more than the roads you ride.

Our Japan Cycling Tour has been thoughtfully designed to immerse guests in the country's extraordinary landscapes, rich traditions and world-renowned hospitality. Along the way you'll experience spectacular cycling, authentic local cuisine, traditional accommodation, unforgettable cultural encounters and those unexpected moments that become the stories you'll tell for years to come.

Japan offers an extraordinary variety of cycling routes, ranging from quiet rural roads and scenic mountain passes to coastal highways and picturesque lakeside rides. While the country is famous for routes such as the Shimanami Kaido, many of Japan's most rewarding cycling experiences are found away from the well-known tourist trails.

Japan is consistently ranked among the safest countries in the world, making it an outstanding destination for cycling holidays.

Japanese cuisine is considered one of the world's finest, and experiencing it is an essential part of the journey.

Nikko is widely regarded as one of Japan's most spectacular regions for road cycling, combining breathtaking mountain scenery with extraordinary cultural significance.

Japan is an incredibly rewarding country to explore by bicycle, but navigating an unfamiliar language, transport system and regional customs can sometimes feel daunting for international visitors.