Japan: Kyoto to Tokyo

10th edition, 8 to 23 October 2027

From the ancient capital to the modern one: ten stages through the Japanese Alps, Shirakawago and around Mount Fuji.

€1,000 deposit to book your place, 50% of the price one month later and the rest one month before departure. Groups of up to 12 riders. Cancellation terms

Dates

8–23 Oct 2027

Duration

16 days

Distance

876 km

Climbing

10,870 m

Difficulty

Hard

From

€5,150

Yokoso! Japan welcomes you

From the ancient capital of Kyoto through the heart of the Land of the Rising Sun: ancient forests, natural volcanic onsen, the Japanese Alps and their castles, and a ride around mighty Mount Fuji to the modern capital, Tokyo.

Ten stages, each its own adventure, showcasing the natural beauty, architecture, culture and cuisine of every region. It is said that each prefecture is like a different country, and we ride through Shiga, Gifu, Nagano, Yamanashi and Kanagawa.

With 70% of its land uninhabited, Japan’s best-kept secret is its mix of easy access and wild, off-grid places. You are never far from society, or from solitude and serenity. And, as on every PA Cycling trip, success is not reaching the destination but setting off and doing our best to arrive together.

At a glance

Start: Kyoto
Finish: Kawasaki, Tokyo
Riding: 10 stages on quiet roads and mountain passes
Support: support van and luggage transfers (50 litres per rider)
Nights: hotels, ryokan and small guesthouses

Book this trip Download the handbook

€1,000 deposit to book your place, 50% of the price one month later and the rest one month before departure. Groups of up to 12 riders. Cancellation terms

Day by day

Ten riding stages and around 876 km, with a rest day in Takayama after stage 6. The trip dates include your travel days. Distances and climbing are approximate.

See the full route on Komoot

Transfer to the hotel, bike preparation and briefing.

About 50 km to test the bikes and enjoy the city, visiting famous icons and lesser-known corners. Time for sightseeing and supplies. Bike bags and boxes are shipped to our final hotel, so we drop them off today.

91 km, +430 m

From the ancient capital along the southern and eastern shores of Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake and a mecca for cyclists. We will meet many of them on the way to Hikone and one of Japan’s most beautiful castles.

103 km, +1,640 m

We follow the legendary Nakasendo to the historic battlefield of Sekigahara, over mountain passes and past hidden shrines. The last 15 km are downhill to a traditional travellers’ inn and a good dinner.

78 km, +1,200 m

A mountain expedition through the heart of Japan. Gifu is mostly uninhabited, with farms and occasional villages. In Gujo Hachiman we stop for a late breakfast and a short visit to the castle. The most demanding day so far.

50 km, +790 m

Almost 800 metres of climbing, mostly at the start, then an early arrival at one of the most unforgettable places of the trip: an authentic ryokan whose owners make us feel truly special.

25 km, +440 m

Short in kilometres, huge in experiences. Shirakawago is a UNESCO World Heritage village of thatched gassho houses, with time to stroll its streets. A last climb leads to the spectacular Toyota Institute hotel.

64 km, +1,270 m

One of the most beautiful and hardest stages: a tough pass to almost 1,300 metres, a long descent, a second pass through the trees and a gentle climb up the valley to the old town of Takayama.

A day to catch our breath before the two hardest stages. Time to recover, do the laundry and stroll through the wooden merchant houses of Sanmachi Suji and the riverside morning markets, with free time for craft shops, local snacks and quiet temple courtyards.

92 km, +1,610 m

Probably one of the most demanding stages: a steep climb out of Takayama, then countryside and small villages, with a likely stop at one of the region’s best soba restaurants. The last 26 km are almost all downhill to Agematsu.

109 km, +1,480 m

Long and hilly, with the iconic climb to Gonbei Pass on a small wooded road legendary among local cyclists, and a fun, shady descent. We finish in Chino.

79 km, +990 m

Long but more relaxed, with a surprise at the end: the view of Mount Fuji over the lake, weather permitting. After 45 km downhill we climb Onnasaka Pass into the Five Lakes region, past Lake Shoji and Lake Saiko.

121 km, +860 m

A transition from the mountains to the coast and from the countryside to the city. Long but with little climbing, mostly in the first half, then cycle paths along the river to the endless city of Tokyo.

Rest, pack and explore the city centre and the famous Ginza district.

Transfer to the airport. End of the trip.

Included

PA Cycling guides, according to the number of riders
All nights in hotels, ryokan and small guesthouses
Dinner and breakfast during all stages
Personal travel insurance for each traveller, plus the travel agency’s general insurance
Shipping of bike cases from Kyoto to Tokyo
Support van and luggage transport (50 litres per rider)
Welcome and farewell dinners
Train transfer from Kansai airport to our hotel in Kyoto on the scheduled arrival day
Airport transfer from Tokyo on the scheduled departure day
Group video call
Dedicated WhatsApp group

Not included

Flights, baggage fees and bike equipment
Lunches, and dinners where not specified
Food and snacks during the riding days
Excursions and extra activities
Additional costs from logistical changes, such as extra transfers
Anything not listed under Included

Your guide

Willy Mulonia

Founder, president and guide

A cyclist and traveller for more than 30 years, best known for his 28,640 km ride from Ushuaia to Prudhoe Bay, in Alaska. He has raced the Iditarod Trail Invitational many times, winning the 2025 edition, founded Progetto Avventura in 2002, now Project Adventure Cycling, and created the Mongolia Bike Challenge in 2010.

Instagram: @willy_mulonia

What riders say

5.0 67 reviews on Google

The trip to Japan exceeded our best expectations. The ancient Nakasendo route is spectacular, but what really made the difference was the PA Cycling team. Alessandro made us fall in love with Japan one pedal stroke at a time, with a constant but never intrusive presence.

Matteo F.Japan · Google review · Translated from Italian

Kyoto-Tokyo Japan 2025 tour was absolutely amazing. Our guide, Nacho Pellejero, was helpful, informative, and super friendly. The tour ran smoothly thanks to Franco in the support van. I was promised an epic adventure and PA Cycling delivered!

Scott B.Japan · Google review

We crossed the most authentic heart of Japan, pedalling along extraordinary routes far from the crowds and mass tourism: quiet roads, small villages, enchanting landscapes. Some journeys end when you return home. This one will live on within us.

Andrea D.Japan · Google review · Translated from Italian

Good to know

On the scheduled arrival day we take you from Kansai airport to our hotel in Kyoto by train. On departure day, from Haneda the transfer is by hotel shuttle bus (5 minutes). If you fly from Narita, the hotel shuttle takes you to Haneda and from there a highway bus (about 1 hour 15 minutes, ¥2,100 to ¥2,900, not included).

Bike bags and boxes are shipped from Kyoto to our final hotel, so they are waiting for you at the end of the trip.

Cancellations must be sent in writing to Project Adventure Cycling. An administrative fee of €300 applies, plus a percentage of the total trip cost:

30% up to 45 days before departure
40% up to 30 days before departure
50% up to 21 days before departure
75% up to 14 days before departure

After that, no refund is given. There are no refunds for riders who do not show up at the start, leave during the trip, or cannot start or finish because of missing or incorrect travel documents. Project Adventure Cycling is not liable for delays or cancellations caused by force majeure events and is never responsible for airfare expenses. See the full refund and cancellation policy.

A specific personal insurance policy for each traveller and each trip, on top of the travel agency’s general insurance.

More questions? Read our general FAQ, write to info@pa-cycling.cc or message us on WhatsApp.

Ride from Kyoto to Tokyo

8 to 23 October 2027. From €5,150 per person.

Book this trip Download the handbook

€1,000 deposit to book your place, 50% of the price one month later and the rest one month before departure. Groups of up to 12 riders. Cancellation terms