Nara / Lake Biwa / Kyoto

This tour is perfect if you are interested in Japan's traditional culture and enjoy relaxed bicycle rides. We explore Japan's ancient capitals, Nara and Kyoto, and their surrounding areas which are considered to be the best repositories of Japan's cultural legacy. We ride leisurely, making stops at temples and historical monuments. After two days in Nara we visit a ceramic town of Shigaraki. We spend the second half of the tour riding around Lake Biwa, the largest fresh water lake in Japan. En route we visit old merchant towns of Oumi-Hachiman and Gokasho, as well as the Hikone Castle which is one of the best preserved castles in Japan. Accommodation is varied from moderate western-style hotels to elegant Japanese-style inns (Ryokans). Some of the Japanese inns only have shared baths, and do not have private bath/showers in guest rooms. This itinerary is ideal for guests extending stay in Kyoto before or after the tour.