Island Hopping Japan

Japan Island Hopping. We have taken what was once a military strategy used by both the Japanese and American forces in World War Two and transformed into a peaceful approach to cycling some of Japan’s southern islands. From the big cities of Osaka and Hiroshima on Honshu and the historic mountain temples on Shikoku to the waterfalls, wildlife and tropical vibe of Yakushima, Amami Ōshima and Okinawa, this cycling journey through seven Japanese islands will reveal the incredible diversity of the country and its people.

Starting in Osaka, site of one of the country’s most famous castles, the route heads out across the scenic island of Shikoku, home to the famous 88 Temple Pilgrimage. The riders will cross back to the island of Honshu via the Shimanami Kaido, a stunning cycling route across the Seto Inland Sea, heading for Hiroshima and its Atomic Peace Dome. The riders then head south across some of Japan’s lesser known islands – Kyushu, Yakushima and Amami Ōshima – before arriving in tropical Okinawa, home to the colourful Ryukyu culture that brought us karate.

Highlights

• Osaka
• Hiroshima
• Tropical Japanese Islands
• Shimanami Kaido bike path