Depart from home to arrive into Tokyo Haneda (HND) airport the following morning.

Today you’ll be arriving into Tokyo Haneda (HND) airport from where we’d ask that you make your own way into Tokyo.

Following check-in at the hotel (usually from around 14:00) you are free to relax for a few hours. In the evening your guides for the week will join the group and will brief you all on the week of riding to come. Dinner can be taken at a local restaurant nearby the hotel.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner
• Ascent: 245 Metres Approx.

We’ll start the day with a quick walk downtown (600 Metres or so), and we’ll start our e-bike tour. It’s a great way to shake off the jet-lag and there’s no better way to see the sights of this bustling city than by bike.

Following lunch we return to our hotel to check-out, before heading to the nearby Bus Terminal for our journey (2hrs) to Lake Kawaguchi. We’ll soon leave the urban sprawl of Tokyo behind and as we get closer to the lake, the majestic Mount Fuji should be clearly visible.

Kawaguchi is the second largest of the Fuji Five Lakes and whilst it has the longest shoreline it is situated at the lowest elevation (800 metres). Whilst a popular destination for the Japanese it is still possible to get away from the crowds with our hotel chosen a little way from the centre for this reason.

Pre-dinner and it’s time to enjoy the hotel’s onsen facilities and soothe away any post-travel tiredness. Taking an onsen is very much part of Japanese culture and something we’ll be doing regularly during our time here and we’ll have a briefing about onsen / bathing etiquette before you take the plunge.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 535 Metres Approx.

Today our cycling begins with a lovely route that begins straight from the hotel and initially follows the northern side of the lake. After a few kilometres we reach another one of the Fuji Five Lakes – Lake Saiko. After following its shoreline our route takes us through the dense Sai pine forest where after around 25kms we reach a great viewpoint. From here we can see the panorama of the 1000 Alps mountain range that includes some of Japan’s highest peaks. We then enjoy a gentle sweeping descent to lunch.

Our scenery changes from here on in with lakes and forests replaced by bamboo and lush paddy fields. After a brief stop at some lovely wasabi fields our route takes us on a winding ride along quiet narrow lanes that take in numerous small villages as we follow the water-course of the local springs.

Our scenery along this section sees the lakes and forests replaced by small paddy fields, many of which are used for the growing of rice to be used in the production of Sake. With this in mind we stop at a family Sake brewery, dating from the 17th Century.

Our ride ends with a nice downhill to the town of Fujinomiya where we stay for the evening and where we might enjoy a plate of Okonomiyaki, a Japanese savoury pancake, for our dinner this evening.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner
• Ascent: 240 Metres Approx.

Our day starts with a visit to the Fujisan Hongu Sengen Taisha. This Shinto shrine was built to appease the Kami (Japanese spirits of phenomena) after sustained volcanic activity on Mount Fuji and it’s the most important shrine in the Fuji area.

After following the small side streams of the River Urui we soon find ourselves cycling between the green tea plantations as we make our way to the coast, which is reached after a rolling 14kms. From here we follow the coastline of the Bay of Suraga for a similar distance until we reach the fishing port of Numazu.

It’s a bustling place famous for its Shirasu (small white fish) and Sakura shrimps and makes for the perfect place to take lunch. On the menu will be some of the tastiest fish / seafood you’ll experience during the tour.

Our afternoon ride includes a stop at Kakita Park to view its river whirlpools before we wind our way alongside the Kakita and Kano Rivers to Hatage Onsen in Kannami Town, a hidden hot spring with a long history and highly effective properties.

Along the way, we’ll visit the Nirayama Reverberatory Furnaces (known as Hansharo in Japanese). These furnaces are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list as one of the “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution.” Built in the final days of the samurai era, they were used to produce iron cannons to defend Japan’s coast against the Western threat.

Our hotel for tonight is Hatage-Onsen Daisenya, one of the national recreational onsen resorts designated by the Ministry of Environment. It is especially known for its “tepid bath” and soothing hot spring waters, perfect for relaxing before enjoying more delicious local cuisine.

• Meals: Breakfast

A non-riding day today and in order to connect to our second part of the tour we’ll be utilising Japan’s ever efficient rail network. Our initial section takes us to Mishima (30mins), from where we speed it up with a Bullet Train (Shinkansen) to Maibara (1.5hrs) then slow it down once again with another local train to Omihachiman (30mins).

Situated at the foot of Mount Hachiman-yama, its quaint well preserved streets are lined with traditional white walled / black wood houses situated either side of a gently flowing stream and combine to make it a delightful place to visit.

The town grew in importance due to its closeness to Lake Biwa and is famous for its craftsmen and merchants who traded goods. It is also famous for Funa-Zushi a type of sushi made from Funa Carp and fermented rice. It’s an acquired (and very smelly) dish so you might want to sample some tender Omi beef instead in your evening sukiyaki!

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 195 Metres Approx.

Leaving the lovely Omihachiman behind we make our way to Hikone. It’s a flat 30km with much of the land reclaimed and now famous for its sake rice paddys and vegetable fields.

Welcoming us into Hikone is its majestic castle which dominates the skyline. Once here it’s time for a spot of lunch before we check out this amazing place. Built in 1603 it’s one of the oldest original-construction castles in Japan and is now listed as a National Treasure, and rightly so. Ramparts rambled and photos taken we jump back on the bikes.

Our final 17kms follows the edge of Lake Biwa until we reach Nagahama on its north-eastern shore (where we will stay for the night). Nagahama was an important Post Town supplying travellers and merchants with lodgings and supplies. It now houses numerous small museums within its traditional buildings.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner
• Ascent: 290 Metres Approx.

Today’s cycling takes us on a peaceful ride along the edge of the lake. It’s a day during which you’ll be able to see numerous ancient temples, Buddhas and Kannons (statues of the Goddess of Mercy). These exist from the time of the Samurai and were made to represent great warriors who died.

Our first major stopping point is the town of Kinomoto which we reach after a flat 26kms. The main attraction here is the Kinomoto-Jizoin temple. Its Buddhist statue is said to have eye healing qualities, so if you don’t have 20/20 vision nowadays, it might be worth a quick prayer here. The town is also famous for its production of miso, soy and sake.

Following lunch here we continue to Shiozu a lakeside port that was the gateway to Kyoto for goods that arrived from the Sea of Japan.

We end the day at our home for the evening, The Okubiwako Makino Grand Park Hotel, complete with a quiet beach on the lake.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner
• Ascent: 315 Metres Approx.

Today we’ll be making our way along the western edge of Lake Biwa on a route that is make up of quiet lanes and dedicated cycle paths. This is a place of cherry trees, traditional villages of pan-tiled houses and small fishing communities who catch Ayu Salmon and Biwa Eels in the lake.

On reaching Omi-Takashima (45kms) we enjoy lunch before checking out a local vinegar maker’s shop.

After lunch it’s just a few kms to the Shinto shrine of Shirahige whose vermillion Torii (gateway) is situated in the lake and signifies our arrival there. From here we continue along the lake shore for around 20 kms that leads us to Katada. Katada is an old town with a temple built on a lake and an old sake brewery. After arriving at the hotel, we can jump back on our bikes if we fancy, to a lovely quiet beach for a little relaxation.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 465 Metres Approx.

After the recent flat and rolling riding of the lakeside today there’s a little challenge in store. Our target is the Tochugoe Pass which is situated at 370 metres and symbolically marks the border of the prefectures of Shiga and Kyoto. It’s 10 kms to here and you’ll be steadily climbing from the lakeside which is at a height of 80 metres. Of course for those looking for an uplift our support vehicle is close at hand.

From here it’s a gradual downwards ride to the ‘hidden village’ of Ohara in the mountains of northern Kyoto before we follow the rivers of Takano and Kamo into the centre of Kyoto. (If we have time, we’ll also stop by the Golden Temple (Kinkakuji).

Tonight we’ll be staying just south of Kyoto station, slightly out of town. The bustling streets are only a subway ride away however (or a short taxi) and we’ll enjoy one of the city’s many restaurants, and take a wander through Gion and the heart of Kyoto’s most famous geisha quarter. Wooden slated, tile roofed tea houses line these streets and it is where, come dusk, shadows of elaborated gowned woman rustle past, disappearing behind sliding doors.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 160 Metres Approx.

This morning, we’ll cycling around Kyoto for 15 or so kms and visit one of the city’s numerous temples. After returning to the hotel, the afternoon is yours to spend as you like.

There is lots to see in Kyoto and on our list of favourites are the Golden Temple (Kinkaku-ji), Kiyomizu Temple and Gosho Palace, which until recently was closed to visitors.

For those leaving next morning this should give plenty of time for a little souvenir shopping. Early evening and we’ll meet up for our final group meal and perhaps sink some celebratory sake to toast our achievement.

• Meals: Breakfast

This morning we will enjoy our final Miso soup and bowl of sticky rice before saying our goodbyes. The hotel is usually located within walking distance from JR Kyoto station and the Airport Limousine bus stop (at Kyoto station)for onward travel. For those of you staying to extend your time in Japan, Kyoto has lots to offer and with other destinations such as Hiroshima just a bullet train away, there are lots of options.