JAPAN

09 – 24 September 2023

Trip Overview

Yokoso! Japan welcomes you for an amazing tour! From the ancient capital of Kyoto through the heart of the Land of the Rising Sun, riding beside the cliffs of Tojinbo, wandering ancient forests, bathing in natural volcanic onsen, climbing the Japanese Alps to the Castles in Nagano and cycling around the mighty Mt Fuji to the modern capital of Tokyo—it’s all waiting for you in Japan.

Enjoy a unique bikepacking adventure unlike any other on earth. Japan is mystical and rich with culture and natural beauty, and with 70% of its landmass completely uninhabited, the best kept secret is Japan’s amazing combination of accessibility and wild, off-grid living. You are never too far from society or solitude and serenity.

Of course, for this expedition to be truly successful, it is absolutely necessary to create a strong team spirit amongst all our travelers. No rider will ever be left alone or find themselves individually facing difficulty for any reason. It will be the responsibility not only of the guides, but also of the individual participants to help problem solve throughout the duration of the trip, working together to make the most of our adventure as a team. It will be an unforgettable cycling experience and journey, but also a unique opportunity to educate ourselves on group consciousness and the ability to share—be it joy, fatigue, planning, organization, coordination, defeat or success.

“In the autumn night Breaking into A pleasant chat” —Matsuo Basho

And in this case, success will not be defined as arriving at the final destination but setting off and doing our best to arrive all together.

Cancellation policy

Refund and cancellation

Where, for whatever reason, one person is obliged to withdraw, the person must give written notice to Project Adventure Cycling.

Refund will be calculated with this penalty:

– Within 45 days from date of departure the penalty fare is 10% of the total cost of the trip.
– Within 30 days from departure the penalty fare is 30% of the total cost of the trip.
– Within 21 days from departure the penalty fare is 50% of the total cost of the trip.
– Within 14 days from departure the penalty fare is 75 % of the total cost of the trip.
– After this date no refund will be given.

There will be no refunds for those who do not show up at the start of the trip or withdraw during the course of the tour.
There will be no refunds for those who are unable to start or complete the tour due to a lack or inaccuracy of personal travel documents (i.e Visa or Passport).

The traveller understands that some destinations pose more of a risk than other destinations due to weather conditions, socio-political situations and the geography of the region. The traveller acknowledges that factors such as, but not limited to, weather conditions, landslides, floods, flight cancellations or delays, strikes, labour issues, power failures, restrictive governmental laws or regulations, riots, insurrection, war or other (hereinafter called “Force Majeure Event”) are not the fault of Project Adventure Cycling and may hinder, delay or even prevent the Traveller’s ability to make or complete the trip. The traveller acknowledges that the Project Adventure Cycling shall not be liable to the traveller for any delay or cancellation of the trip due to a Force Majeure Event. The traveler is neither entitled to a refund nor any other payment for damages from the Project Adventure Cycling in the event that the trip is cancelled or delayed due to a Force Majeure Event. Please note that we are never responsible for any airfare ticket expenses.

COVID 19

In the event that you are unable to fly due to COVID 19 restrictions because of a declared state of emergency, PA Cycling, SL, guarantees:

RETURN OF QUOTE* (Except for expenses incurred up to the time of cancellation of the trip)

QUOTA FREEZE UNTIL NEXT DEPARTURE*.

FEE FREEZE UNTIL THE DEPARTURE OF ANY OTHER TRIP ORGANISED BY PA-CYCLING, SL*.

* The above conditions ARE NOT VALID in the case of a positive individual.

Included + Not Included

The price includes

Bike guides from PA Cycling (specific number of guides depends on the number of participants)
Transfer from Kyoto airport to our Hotel
2 night’s stay in Hotel in Kyoto (breakfast and welcome dinner included)
All Overnights in onsen or Eco Villages or Camping
Dinner on stages 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8
Two nights in the Fujiyama District
Transfer to the Tokyo Airport
Travel insurance coverage

The price does not include

Airfare and baggage fees, bike equipment
Lunches and dinner where not expressly specified
Food during bike days except where specified
Excursions, extra activities
Additional costs in case of logistic changes (extra transfers etc.)
Anything not listed in “The price includes” section

THE TRACK

THE STAGES

DAY 01

Arrival in Kyoto. Transfer to hotel. Bike preparation, briefing.

DAY 02

Do some sightseeing and purchase food—there are many places to buy supplies in Kyoto. Bike bags and boxes will be sent to our final destination in Odawa, so please drop them off at this time.

DAY 03 – STAGE 01

Kyoto to Anegawa. Camp ground – 120 km | 1100 m

Departure from Kyoto:

Our adventure begins in the ancient capital of Japan. We will quickly head to Lake Biwa (BIWAKO), the largest freshwater Lake in Japan. Traffic may be a bit heavy in this section; please follow the normal cycling traffic laws. One difference in Japan is that it is lawful to ride on the pedestrian path but at a reduced speed of 12 kmph. There will be a 400m climb during this section.

Once we have arrived at Biwako, we will take the cycling path around the north side of the lake. This will take us into Shiga Prefecture. The ride should be relaxed with short climbs and mellow descents. To our left will be a mix of mountains, forests and cityscapes; on the right will be shimmering Biwako. After 100 km, we will head into truly rural Japan, climbing and descending through forests and villages until we reach the Anegawa camping area. There are showers and toilets available, and there may be some other campers in the area. October nights are chilly, (14C-7C) so be sure to prepare for cold weather.

DAY 04 – STAGE 02

Anegawa camping to Usuzumi Onsen ryokan/camp – 75 km | 2150 m

This stage is one of many physically demanding stages of our bikepacking journey. The trail is paved, but for the first 50 km, we may not see more than a few cars as we climb through dense forests to the top of the Mikuni Pass. As we make our ascent, we’ll be accompanied by forests on our left and the Majestic Ibuki Mountain on our right—truly one of the most beautiful mountains in Japan. After the Mikuni Pass, as we enter Gifu Prefecture, we will have a slightly technical descent through some mountain villages until we reach the Ibi River. After crossing the river, we will pass through Ibi Township. This is a good place to stop for a well-deserved lunch break. There are many stores in Ibi where we can buy food.

After Ibi, we will make our way to the Neo River where we will climb through an autumn canopy, passing a few rural communities until we reach Usumi Onsen for a hot bath and a Ryokan-style rest.

DAY 05 – STAGE 03

Usuzumi Onsen to Eco Village Fukui Prefecture – 97 km | 2080 m

The first segment is a brutal 27km climb with 800m of vertical gain. There are troops of Japanese macaques (commonly known as snow monkeys) in this region. At the apex of Honshu, we will leave Gifu and start a cool 36km descent into Fukui Prefecture. Small rolling hills will keep you for getting too cold as we cycle through some of the most remote areas in Japan. There will be several waterfalls and a large range of forest types. In Ikeda Village, we can have some lunch and relax at the Michinoeki, a rest area for motorists and cyclists alike. We will end the day with a gentle climb to the Eco Village Campground, where we will stay for two nights.

DAY 06 – STAGE 04

Eco Village – Tojinbo cliff loop – Eco Village – 130 km | 1500 m

This loop will take us through the rural landscape of Echizen to the Tojinbo Cliffs that overlook the Sea of Japan. At the cliffs, we will experience a traditional marketplace, where you can get some local yummy desserts and savory treats. Departing the cliffs, we will make our way southwest along the Sea of Japan before taking a short climb through a deep forest and back to camp.

DAY 07 – STAGE 05

Eco Village – Yunohira Onsen – 95 km | 2020 m

The next stage of our bike tour will take us through some of the most backcountry riding Japan has to offer, passing by the gorgeous Ryusoga Falls and with many ups and downs. We bid adieu to Fuki Prefecture and return to the heart of Japan.

General Oda Nobunaga once said “Control Gifu and you control Japan!” It is therefore fitting that, throughout our journey, we will crisscross Gifu and enjoy the energizing power gained from its amazing onsen.

DAY 08 – STAGE 06

Yunohira Onsen – Shirakawa go – 50 km | 850 m

This is a rest day with a short recovery ride. The day begins with a 500m climb, after which, it is mostly a slight downhill through the mountainous river valleys until we arrive at our first rest destination. Once we arrive at Shirakawa-go, you can wander through this traditional Japanese village—this is certainly a place where you will want to have your camera batteries charged. There are many food options, too, as well as spots for local beer and Sake.

DAY 09 – STAGE 07

Shirakawago – Takayama – 60 km | 1400 m

Compared to the first six days, we will have a relatively easy day with a lot of time to enjoy the journey through Hira City and along to Takayama, where we will attempt to recover and prepare ourselves for the challenging day to come. In Takayama, you will find great western food and beautiful old-style Japanese city dwellings; you can rest your legs and get a good night’s rest, or you can enjoy barhopping on Halloween.

DAY 10 – STAGE 08

Takayama – Matsumoto Onsen Ryokan – 99 km | 2620 m

Depending on the weather, this may be the most challenging day of the tour as we climb 2,200 meters up mighty Mt. Norikura, passing through the Japanese Alps into Nagano Prefecture. The descent will be breathtaking. This will likely prove to be a very cold day, so be sure to dress in layers for a mix of both warm and cold weather. We end our day at the foot of beautiful Matsumoto Castle, after which, we will make our way to our campsite at Hoshi Yama campsite.

DAY 11 – STAGE 09

Matsumot – Lake Motosu of Fuji Cam – 124 km | 1760 m

This is a long day of riding. As we pass the mountain villages of Nagano Prefecture and coast out of the Japanese Alps, we enter Yamanashi Prefecture. On this stage, we will finally see Mt. Fuji, and this great mountain will keep watch over us for the remainder of our bikepacking journey. During this stage, we will spend most of our day cycling through in smaller cityscapes. Be mindful of traffic laws. As a bonus, there will be plenty of places to stop for lunch and to pick up supplies. We will end our day at Motosu Lake, where we will camp for night.

DAY 12 – STAGE 10

Lake Motosu – Odawara – 96 km | 1800 m

Our last day of riding will be a journey through forest and river valleys under Mt. Fuji’s watchful gaze. With Fuji on our left, we will make our way out of Yamanashi prefecture and enter Shizuoka Prefecture en route to Shiraito Falls. Like a scene from a mythical story, these magical falls are buried in lush forests and are sure carve a memory into your soul. After a rest at Shiraito Falls, we will make our final push out of Shizuoka Prefecture and into Kanagawa Prefecture to Odawara City and the Pacific Ocean, where we will enjoy a much-needed and well-earned rest in a modern hotel with Saki and Yakinuku and craft beer for dinner.

We’ll end the day by packing up our bikes.

DAY 13

Day off at Odawara

DAY 14

Transfer to airport

YOUR GUIDE

Willy Mulonia

Founder & President

Willy Mulonia, expert lonely traveler and cyclist for more than 30 years. He made several solo expeditions, but the most important is without a doubt the 28,640 bike trip from Ushuaia (Patagonia) to Prudhoe Bay (Alaska). He raced in the Crocodile Trophy (Australia) in ’98 and the famous Iditarod Trail Invitational (ITI) in Alaska in 1999, 2000, 2018, 2019, 2020 & 2022 as well as many other mountain bike stage races all over the world. In 2003 he founded the bike travel agency Progetto Avventura, now renamed Project Adventure Cycling. In 2010, with the help of all the team of PA-Cycling he created the Mongolia Bike Challenge, one of the most important MTB stage race in the world. Today you can find him guiding most the tour offered by Project Adventure Cycling.

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