Japan Biking

A visit to Japan is pure indulgence for the senses, so come prepared to experience a rich history that dates back centuries and to soak up after a day of cycling in zenlike onsen spas; visit beautiful forests, mountains and sea coasts as well as futuristic architecture and transportation; sample delicious regional cuisine; meet polite and candid locals as well as lovers of Hello Kitty and karaoke.

You set out from your accommodations or from the train station around 9am and come back around 5pm. It is a 35km tour, leaving you ample opportunity for bird watching. Lunch, morning and afternoon snacks are included in the tour price. Optional English speaking bird guide. In case you want to bring your photo and spotting equipment, you can borrow sturdy Ortlieb bike bags.

We visit the Crane Park Museum to understand everything about the cranes. Then we guide you along the crane’s protected roosts in rice fields, see them feeding in nearby onion and vegetable plots throughout the day and visit the reedbeds west of Tsurumitei, the Minshuku of Matano-san were it all started.  Lunch is ramen or udon with Tsurumitei’s home made miso. In the evening we experience the unforgettable sight of thousands of cranes returning to roost, while enjoying a cup of tea and a roasted, locally grown sweet potato.

This harmony reflects in the hospitality of island folk and their quiet villages, reflects in the rich tastes of terroir products and local cuisine.

No wonder Japan’s first Christians found a perfect hideaway on the islands of Amakusa. You will surely meet their hero Amakusa Shiro.

To prevent rebellion, the Shogun forbade the Shimazu’s to build castles. Instead, they invented the fumoto, fortified samurai neighbourhoods that were spread out all over the territory. The Shogun wasn’t done with Satsuma and when Edo came to an end it was to a large extent thanks to the intellectuals and warriors of Satsuma. To this day many bukeyashiki samurai residences remain in Kagoshima, the modern name for Satsuma.

To the south the rugged mountains of the stunning Kirishima volcano chain. Smouldering Sakurajima looms over the port city of Kagoshima, at times showering the town with fine ash which the residents casually respond to with open umbrellas. Unzen, Japan’s first national park (1934). 

The eerie volcanic landscape of Aso-san, Japan’s most active volcano. Numerous onsen hot springs provide a soothing side effect of all this violence.

Our Kyushu Hot Springs Tour was created on the basis of Jalan’s Kyushu top 15 onsen. It combines the best of the best in biking & bathing, as onsen are often set in a splendid scenery. You’ll see: nothing beats a good soak after a day in the saddle.

Nothing beats a steaming onsen bath after a day of cycling. And we are lucky: apart from being a cycling paradise, Kagoshima is onsen heaven. Of course these hot springs are often located near volcanoes, adding an exciting aspect to the tour.

And that says it all in cycling paradise Japan. The ride is so delightful we ride it twice, once in each direction.

Ride along scenic sea coasts, rushing rivers, rustling bamboo forests and majestic mountains as well as futuristic architecture and transportation. Sample delicious regional cuisine, meet polite and candid locals and soak up after a day of cycling in zenlike onsen spas.

This Cherry Blossom Onsen Tour combines the very best of biking and bathing.

A visit to Japan is pure indulgence for the senses, so come prepared to experience a rich history that dates back centuries and to soak up after a day of cycling in zenlike onsen spas; visit beautiful forests, mountains and sea coasts as well as futuristic architecture and transportation; sample delicious regional cuisine; meet polite and candid locals as well as lovers of Hello Kitty and karaoke.