The Japan most visitors never see is waiting along Honshu's western coast and deep in its mountain interior. Over 7 days, we pedal 344 km (214 mi) through rugged Sea of Japan fishing villages, Edo-era artisan towns, and a historic railway-turned-cycling-path before trading salt air for the quiet solitude of the Japanese Alps. A night in a 200-year-old thatched farmhouse in UNESCO-listed Shirakawago, a soak in an onsen, and a triumphant finish in Takayama—often called Little Kyoto—round out one of Honshu's most rewarding rides. Most nights are spent in comfortable Japanese hotels with natural hot spring baths (onsen), buffet breakfasts featuring local specialties, and rooms that blend Japanese warmth with modern comfort. The standout exception is Shirakawago, where we spend the night in a working gassho-zukuri farmhouse over 200 years old—a UNESCO World Heritage icon that once sheltered entire families through harsh mountain winters. Dinner is shared communally with other guests, featuring traditional mountain food, and an onsen dip in the village rounds out the evening perfectly. All meals are included throughout the trip —from dinner on Day 1 through breakfast on Day 7—and they follow the landscape. Along the coast, expect the full Japanese seafood experience: grilled fish, miso soup, and rice for breakfast; raw and cooked seafood at dinner. A typical lunch might be a bowl of Echizen's famous soba noodles, a local specialty in these parts. As we climb into the mountains, the food shifts accordingly—hearty, warming, traditional mountain cuisine shared around the table in Shirakawago. The tour starts in Kanazawa. The most convenient flight option is into Komatsu Airport (KMQ), which is served by domestic flights from major Japanese hubs—Kanazawa is roughly 40 minutes away. Kanazawa is also easily reachable by shinkansen from Tokyo, Osaka, and other major cities. We handle the logistics; local guides lead the way. Our team has been all over the world skiing, hiking, biking, climbing, and sailing. And when it comes to finding the sickest trails or just having the most fun, nothing beats hanging with passionate local guides.
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