Self-Guided Cycle Tour Adventure from Kyoto to the Coast
Bike the heritage-rich sights of Kyoto, Nara, Yoshino and Mount Koya on this self-guided cycle tour of Japan. Balance the independence of self-guided bicycle touring with the seamless planning of a Grasshopper experience. Comfortable, achievable distances, great food, hotels with comfort and style, all topped off with quality bikes.
E-bikes and Carbon Frame bikes are available on this tour as an optional upgrade.
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- India
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Highlights
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Itinerary idea in detail
Includes international flights from a choice of UK airports, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
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In Japan, there’s a lot more to explore beyond its rich history and traditional temples. You’ll find modern art buzzing alongside ancient landmarks like the grand Imperial Palace and the dazzling Golden Pavilion by the lake. This UNESCO World Heritage site is not only a symbol of tradition but also a hotspot for Japan’s vibrant contemporary art scene. On the day you arrive, there are no set plans until a late afternoon briefing. This means you have the freedom to wander and discover this captivating city at your own pace. The briefing, scheduled at your convenience, is a chance to go over trip details, get acquainted with your bikes and gear, and prepare for the adventure ahead.
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Kyoto is a fantastic city to explore on a bike. It’s got wide roads, paths for cyclists, and drivers who are careful and considerate. Plus, there are charming little streets along the canals that make biking here super enjoyable in this bike-friendly country. Since Kyoto was Japan’s capital for a long time (twice!), it’s packed with history and culture.
Your ride starts by the river and heads north, where you can see cool spots like the Bamboo Forest and, if you’re lucky, beautiful cherry blossom gardens. You’ll also stop at Tenryuji Temple, which has that classic ancient look that’s lasted through the years. Then, you’ll head east to Ryoanji, known for its amazing UNESCO-approved zen garden. On the way, you can check out Kinkakuji for a stunning view of the city.
Along the route, you’ll find lots of yummy traditional sweets to munch on. And when you’re ready, you’ll pedal back into town along the Kamo River. You get to decide where you want to stop, with the help of our audio guide. Tonight, you’re free to explore the awesome dining spots in Kyoto, but we can recommend some top local eateries if you need ideas.
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Now you’ll be staying at a place that’s a mix of a hotel and a Ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn. It has beds instead of futons, but you’ll still find Tatami mats from the reception area to all around the property. Your stay will be right in Nara, next to the main train station. Nara Park and important temples like Todai-ji and Kofuku-ji are just a quick ride away (3km), but there’s also a shuttle bus that goes around the area in a circle.
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Last night, you stayed on the northern edge of Nara. This morning, you’ll ride through what’s left of the ancient city. There’s not much left of it now, but you’ll see an impressive replica of the palace as you pass by.
During the Nara period from AD 710-794, the city was designed to look like Chang’an, the capital of China’s Tang dynasty. The wealthy people back then used Chinese writing and adopted Buddhism.
As you cycle through Nara, you’ll notice it’s a pretty big city. The cycling route is a bit tricky but manageable, avoiding heavy traffic. Once you leave the city behind, you’ll ride on peaceful back roads through the countryside. You’ll encounter some hills, but they’re not too long or steep. You’ll pass through more farmland and small villages.
As the day goes on, the hills get a bit steeper until you reach the foot of the climb up to Yoshino. It’s only about 6km, though, and the slope isn’t too steep. Yoshino is a lovely place with temples on top of a ridge. Tonight, you’ll stay in a Ryokan, a traditional Japanese inn. You’ll sleep on tatami mats (be sure to take your shoes off!), and there’s a hot spring on site where you can relax your tired legs. Dinner will be served in the traditional Japanese style, giving you a chance to immerse yourself in the culture.
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If you’re in the mood for a more relaxed day, there’s a scenic option instead of tackling the climb. After cycling about 35km, you’ll reach Hashimoto Station. Here, you can park your bikes, buy tickets for the Nankai Koya train line, and hop on one of Japan’s longest funiculars to the top of Mount Koya. That’s where your Shukubo, a traditional lodging, is waiting for you.
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If you wake up early and go biking, Koyosan will be quiet with few people around. Koyasan, originally called Kong-Obb Ji, is a sacred place for Shingon Buddhism.
In the morning, Koyasan looks like a picture postcard. You might see moss and green plants, and monks walking to meditation sessions. You can visit places like the Konpon Daito Pagoda and memorial grounds.
Back at your Shukubo, breakfast is served in your room. It’s a vegetarian meal like the monks eat. You can also take a dip in an Onsen before starting your ride, but aim to start by 10 am.
The ride down the mountain is exciting. The road is smooth and wider than the one you went up. You might see some cars, but not many since most people are going up.
About halfway down, you’ll leave the main road and bike on smaller ones. After a climb of about 3km, you’ll mostly ride downhill through forests and along a river. As you near Wakayama, the town gets busier. You’ll find a bike path along the river that leads into Wakayama—a calm and flat ride. Wakayama is a port city with lots of history to explore tonight with our recommendations.
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Wakayama has plenty to keep you busy in the morning. You can visit the castle, an art museum, and a train museum—all close to the hotel.
Check-out time at the hotel is 10 am, but you can ask for a later check-out, like 11 or 12 pm, depending on how busy the hotel is. When you’re ready to go, just take a quick taxi ride to the train station. From there, you can easily catch a train to Osaka Airport (KIX), Osaka City, or Kyoto.
Accommodation options
While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodation, Audley trips are 100% tailor-made, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.
Booking Policy
- 6 nights in premium hotel accommodation.
- 6 x breakfasts
- Introduction briefing designed to run through the practicalities
- Quality well-maintained bike and helmets
- Luggage transfers throughout the tour
- A Jersey and a water bottle as mementos
We'll help plan your trip based on you like and want to do. We know a lot about the place you're gomg. so we can give you good advice. WIIether you're into history, food, or culture, ue'll make sure your trip is just right for you. With us. your travel will be easy and fun!
We carefully choose our expert guides and travel concierges to make sure you have an authentic experience. They're passionate about their work and will bring your destination to life with care and enthusiasm.
We design our luxury trips with responsible travel principles in mind. This means we prioritize experiences that benefit both you and the planet.
It is easy to customize your Highlights of Vietnam tours with us
What our clients say about us
Eriberto P
16 March 2024 ★★★★★We did a 10 day private tour of Thailand with Amazing Bike Tours (ABT), including a couple of days of biking in Chiang Mai and a day in Phuket. ABT put together a great mix of biking and classic tours at a reasonable price. They responded quickly to emails and were very easy to deal with. The whole trip was fantastic, from the boat trips to James Bond Island to staying overnight in Bangkok and other towns. Our guide, Tom, was not only knowledgeable but also really friendly - he even became our unofficial photographer and shared all his photos with us. I definitely recommend ABT if you're planning a trip to Asia.
Jeremy
28 April 2024 ★★★★★We had a fabulous time on the cycling tour from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and Phuket with Amazing Bike Tours company. Our tour guides TOM in Bangkok and Chiang Mai were fantastic, and I want to thank TUK in Phuket for taking such good care of me. This experience will always be special to me.
Steven
23 April 2024 ★★★★★I booked Cycle Thailand to Cambodia in 2023. Stephen at Amazing Bike Tours was excellent, very helpful, responsive and knowledgeable. In particular, our local tour guide Tom was outstanding. He was essential to connecting with local village people, visit remote villages, and explore exotic food. Can't wait for my next adventure
Naad
16 April 2024 ★★★★★We had a great time biking through the Mekong Delta and Angkor Wat. Bob was a fantasic tour guide who took us through Angkor Wat and showed us a different side of the delta in his own way. We visited temples and a floating market many delicious snacks. It was really fun ! A great tour !
Alex Boshoff
19 April 2024 ★★★★★Our Thailand Vietnam Bike Tour was very well managed. The teams took great care of us, they support van was always available when needed. The food was excellent. We loved all the restaurent. The accommodations were great, offering a variety of options from resorts to boutique hotels to city hotels, all of which were comfortable. Biking on and off-road was enjoyable. The people in both countries are warm, welcoming & kind. The experience in the Mekong Delta was fantasic. We definitely recommend this trip.
Tavelshab
6 May 2024 ★★★★★We had a great time biking through the Mekong Delta and Angkor Wat. Bob was a fantasic tour guide who took us through Angkor Wat and showed us a different side of the delta in his own way. We visited temples and a floating market many delicious snacks. It was really fun ! A great tour !
Scott
5 May 2024 ★★★★★We spent 12 days with Amazing Bike Tours from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh via Battambang. Our tour was perfectly tailored to our route and physical condition and on the last day, we were safely transported to our beach accommodation in Sihanoukville. The organization was flawless from start to finish. The accommodation was also comfortable, allowing us to rest well after eventful days. The tour provided great value for money. The experiences were unique and could fill two vacation reports! The bikes were perfectly adjusted to our needs, with well-maintained gears and brakes. If there was a minor issue, the guide promptly addressed it. The minivan support was modern and very comfortable. The driver was excellent and we felt safe! Besides the visual impressions, we learned a lot about the country and its people.
Kyle
18 January 2024 ★★★★★We had a custom and private 3-day bike tour in the Mekong Delta with Loc, our expert bike tour guide who organized, coordinated, and led three days of fantastic bike touring. Our tour of the the Mekong Delta included Cai Lay, Cai Be, Can Tho, and My Tho, before catching a luxury Mekong River cruise up to Cambodia. Loc was a great guide who really helped us appreciate the culture of the untouched tourist areas of the delta where we met fantastic people and toured through incredible villages, markets, Khmer temple, and even a local school. Loc did an excellent job of pacing the bike ride to our activity level and we enjoyed some great lunches at some local residences, even picking up some rat at a local market we toured and having it expertly prepared at a local home. Our best, most authentic Vietnamese meals were enjoyed on this biking tour. We had a van w/driver following us throughout the bike rides to ensure we had plenty of water and picked us up when we were ready to be done for the day. Loc also gave us a tour of Saigon as well as the underground Vietnam war tunnels at Cu Chi. I can't say enough about the biking tours and Loc was just a fantastic guide. We hated to say good-bye as we continued our tour of Southeast Asia but will always cherish the bike tour we had with Loc in Vietnam.