Depart from Europe on scheduled flights to arrive into Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX) the following day.

• Meals: Dinner

The Skedaddle team will be waiting to meet you on arrival at Osaka Kansai airport and once everyone has cleared customs, collected luggage and assembled in the arrivals hall, we will make a short transfer by train to Izumisano, a suburb of Osaka near to the airport, where we will be spending our first evening.

Whilst there is no cycling scheduled today, once settled into the hotel, for those who have brought their own bikes, there will be time to assemble them so we can put bike boxes/bags into storage, where they will remain until the end of the tour. Later, we will head to a local restaurant to sample some of the local specialities before retiring for the evening.

Please note – Bikes and your main luggage are transported to the start point of the ride (Fukuyama) via road this evening, so that everything’s ready by the time we arrive by train in the morning. We’d therefore ask you to prepare an overnight bag for the evening including clothes for dinner, night clothes, toiletries, clothes for travelling on the train the following day and cycling gear.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner
• Ascent: 200 Metres Approx.

Our Japanese adventure really begins today as we transfer, by train, to the city of Fukuyama, located in Hiroshima Prefecture. The journey from our hotel in Izumisano to our starting point will take around three hours, so we’ll be setting off fairly early.

Our short warm-up ride serves as a perfect, and gentle, introduction to the country as we begin to explore the beautiful islands of the Seto Inland Sea, the body of water separating three of Japan’s four major islands; Honshu, Kyushu and, of course, Shikoku. We’ll follow scenic and quiet country lanes as well as hopping, by ferry, between some of the minor islands until we reach Honshu island’s Onomichi where we have an opportunity to explore, by foot, this hilly port city, perhaps even completing the famous Temple Walk, a network of pathways connecting no less than 25 traditional temples.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner
• Ascent: 1,075 Metres Approx.

Today brings more beautiful islands to explore, with a mix of ferry rides and bridge crossings, and plenty of time spent cycling as we continue our journey through the Seto Inland Sea. Including Honshu, where Onomichi is located, our route takes us across nine distinct islands, such as Mukaishima, Innoshima, Yuge, and finally Omishima, many of which are connected by stunning, architecturally impressive bridges that are a joy to ride across.

Our island hopping route features much of the Shimanami/Yumeshima Kaido Cycling Road, a “cyclist’s superhighway” from where we can enjoy the natural beauty of the islands and surrounding seascape, free from the pressures and stresses of motorised traffic. Our carefully crafted route takes us around the quiet side of the many of the islands where there are stunning views of the Inland Sea and peaceful small fisherman’s villages which are a joy to ride through.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 950 Metres Approx.

The island-hopping stage of our journey draws to a conclusion today with a brief return visit to the Shimanami Kaido Cycling Road which leads us from Omishima, via Oshima and ultimately to the shipbuilding city of Imabari, perched high on the northwestern tip of Shikoku Island.

Just before leaving Oshima Island, we will embark on a climb to the Kirosan Observatory Park, located at the summit of Mount Kiro, near the southernmost point of the Island. The view from the observation platform is considered to be the most spectacular on the entire Shimanami Kaido and on clear days fine days extends as far as Mt. Ishizuchi, the highest mountain in western Japan.

On arrival in Imabari we will catch a train to make a four hour journey, avoiding busy roads unpleasant for cycling, to Uwajima, a beautiful city, Japan’s main producer of pearls, wedged between mountains and sea.

Depending on our arrival time, we may have the chance to visit the stunning Uwajima Castle, a culturally significant monument built by Master Castle Architect Todo Takatora in 1601.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner
• Ascent: 700 Metres Approx.

Our first real taste of cycling on Shikoku Island awaits and promises to be our longest day and most challenging day in the saddle so far. It’s also the first time we head inland into more mountainous terrain, although not before sampling the smooth tarmac of the island’s western coastline as we enjoy breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean and neighbouring islands.

Approximately 33 km into our ride, we temporarily bid farewell to the coast, following the Iwamatsu River as we head inland and into the hills. The main climb of the day starts a further 5 km inland as the road begins to rise, topping out 10 km.

The final stretch is a scenic 30 km descent along quiet rural roads, bringing us back down to sea level and the coastline, where we’ll end our day in the charming fishing town of Sukumo.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner
• Ascent: 1,160 Metres Approx.

The longest ride of our adventure so far, takes us on an unforgettable visit to Cape Ashizuri at the southernmost tip of Shikoku Island, a special place with 270 degrees of visibility from where it’s said that it’s possible to see the curvature of the earth.

We begin the day with a gentle climb across the headland on a road, which after 55 km delivers us to, what feels like, the end of the world! Having taken in the enormous views, it’s time to change direction and head north as we continue to hug the coast until, at approximately 100 kms, we reach the mouth of the majestic Shimanto River which ultimately leads us gently to Nakamura, our destination and home for the next two evenings.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 900 Metres Approx.

Since we are spending two evenings in Nakamura, various options present themselves ranging from taking a day off the bike completely to enjoy the city, to exploring the beautiful Shimanto valley via our longest ride so far.

The city boasts plenty of attractions for those wishing to take the day off and it’s a great opportunity to sample the abundant seafood and other culinary delights or perhaps visit one or two of the numerous museums, the ruined castle or nearby “watermill village”.

A short ride option of approximately 37km along the banks of the river, crossing a number of its idiosyncratic submersible bridges, is available for those keen to stretch their legs just a little.

Another, longer and more challenging loop ride, taking in a 20km forested climb into the surrounding hills before returning via 70kms of beautiful Shimanto riverside, is on offer for anyone with the energy.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner
• Ascent: 1,350 Metres Approx.

The Shimanto River is famed as Japan’s last free-flowing crystal-clear river. The river is magnificent and the tranquil forests, picturesque farmhouses and beautiful tea plantations which surround it have remained virtually unchanged for centuries. Our ride today begins near its mouth and ends just a few kilometres from its source and whilst we will interact with it intermittently during the day, numerous other, more minor rivers and tributaries will accompany us for most our ride.

The first of those tributary rivers we encounter is the Ushiro which leads us, very gently at first, into the hills and over the first ascent of the day, a moderately challenging climb into the midst of Shikoku’s densely-forested interior. We’ll pause to catch our breath at the summit, after which an exhilarating 10 km descent drops us back down onto the Shimanto River’s meandering riverside

We spend the rest of the day navigating minor roads and climbing gently towards the small town of Tsuno situated on the flanks of Mt Irazu where we will spend the evening in a beautiful rural onsen and self-proclaimed “healing village”.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 1,575 Metres Approx.

Ascending further up the slopes of Mt Irazu, we begin the day, rising very gently for the first 12 kilometres or so, before dropping steeply into a beautiful small tea-terraced valley out of which we must climb via a series of tight and extremely scenic switchback bends. The short climb takes us back to the Shimanto’s riverside and leads us past the mighty river’s very source.

Six more kilometres of climbing completes the main challenge of the day, after which we can relax into what is a mainly downhill and flat ride for the rest of the day, much of which follows the course of another of Shikoku’s major rivers, the Niyodo, which leads us, via a series of bridges and tunnels, virtually all the way to Sakawa where we end our ride. Sakawa is famous for its production of saké (Japanese rice wine) and with this in mind we visit a traditional saké shop and indulge ourselves in a tasting session.

Suitably stocked up with your favourite new tipple, we end the day with a transfer to Kochi, one of Shikoku’s major cities and famous for saké and seafood with Katsuono Tataki, a slightly seared skipjack tuna the local specialty.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner
• Ascent: 1,350 Metres Approx.

Another superb day on the bike lies ahead as we leave Kochi and head further north, into the island’s mountainous interior with its stunning scenery. Today is one of the more challenging days, featuring numerous steep, but thankfully relatively short, sections on minor rural roads. Challenges, however are often rewarding, and our journey today into the Iya Valley and its neighbours, the Oboke and Koboke Gorges, doesn’t disappoint.

Officially designated as a national natural monument in 2014 and a national site of scenic beauty the following year, the magnificent rocks and V-shaped valley of the gorges make for one of the few places in Japan where we can observe up-close how the Japanese islands were formed.

• Meals: Breakfast
• Ascent: 1,650 Metres Approx.

This, our last full day of riding on Shikoku is possibly the most dramatic ride of the entire tour. We will begin the day, picking up where we left off yesterday, heading upstream along the gushing Yoshino River. After approximately 10km we take a right-hand turn onto a much quieter road and head into the Iya Valley itself.

The beautifully scenic road with its numerous viewpoints, and, if we’re lucky, the occasional Japanese macaque, leads us to one of the Iya Valley’s famous vine suspension bridges, or kazurabashi. We will take time to visit the bridge and admire the ingenious construction of woven kiwi vines, historically designed so that they could be cut down to prevent invaders from crossing the valley.

Back on the bikes, we embark on the longest climb of our adventure as we head in the direction of Mount Tsurugi. From the vine bridge, the beautifully scenic road rises gently for almost 40 km, easing us towards the pass at just over 1,460 m above sea level, the highest point of our journey. At around 15km before reaching the summit, we pass through Nagoro, the “Village of Dolls” so-called on account of dozens of scarecrow-like figures created by an elderly resident in memory of deceased neighbours and those who have otherwise left the tiny, and sadly almost deserted, rural community.

Having taken in the views from the summit, we’ll pause for lunch before embarking on a thrilling, multi-switchback 36 km descent to the village of Tsurugi, where we bid a final farewell to the gorges and ultimately to the mountains and small rural villages of Shikoku, load up the bikes and transfer to Tokushima, another of the island’s major cities.

• Meals: Breakfast, dinner

A transition day with no cycling planned as we make our way, via road and rail to Kyoto, Japan’s beautiful and historical cultural capital. Our bus journey will take us via Awaji Island, which we will reach and depart via two masterpieces of civil engineering, the Onaruto and Akashi-Kaikyo bridges, the former being dwarfed by the latter yet both amongst the longest suspension bridges on the planet! Despite not being on the bikes, this part of our journey is impressive, presenting us with a unique opportunity to observe, and bid farewell to, the beautiful Setouchi Inland Sea.

Our relatively early arrival at our hotel in Kyoto allows time for a little afternoon exploration and visits to the world-famous Kyoto Station, one of the country’s largest buildings, and the nearby and hugely contrasting, To-ji temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and home to some of Japan’s most sacred national treasures, are highly recommended.

Tonight we will enjoy a sophisticated celebratory dinner together at a traditional Kyoto style restaurant.

• Ascent: 150 Metres Approx.

Back on the bikes today for a more extensive exploration of Kyoto’s many attractions as we embark on a half day city tour during which time we will visit numerous attractions including, according to the season, the spectacular autumnal foliage of the “Momiji”, the brilliant red maple tree, for which the city is famous.

In the afternoon we will travel back to Izumisano, where our adventure began, sadly, it will be time to pack our bikes away before enjoying one final evening meal together.

• Meals: Breakfast

Alas it is time to bid farewell to Japan, our local team and new friends and head back to Osaka Kansai Airport (KIX) to commence homebound journeys.