Welcome to Oka Tours! -Specialists in bike tours in Japan

Support Van

2010-08-19T07:14:30Z

Support vehicles are used on all of our trips. The van carries your baggage, water, snacks, bike repair kit, and first aid. It also gives you a lift if you want to stop cycling at any point during the ride.

Bikes/Gears

2010-08-19T07:11:36Z

All trip prices include the use of a rental bicycle. Oka Tours has a fleet of SPECIALZED Crossrider CE SPORT (an equivalent of Crossroads Sport (CE)). They are 24-speed comfortable lightweight hybrid bicycles, which are agile, reliable and easy to handle. All of them are equipped with cycle computer, handlebar or rear bag, water bottle, lock, patch kit and pump. We emphasize safety and require helmets on all tours. If you do not wish to bring your own helmet,please let us know and we can purchase one for you. You are welcome to bring your own bicycles. However, please note that we cannot provide maintenance or assembly services to them.

Trip Leaders/Guides

2010-08-19T07:05:30Z

On all of our trips, you will be accompanied by our tour leader (plus a guide for a group of more than eight guests.) Our tour leaders are bilingual Japanese nationals who have qualified as licensed guides under the Guide-Interpreter Business Law in Japan. They have vast knowledge of Japan and are well trained to introduce you to various aspects of Japan - its history, culture, places of interest, people's daily lives - in correct and interesting manners. All of them are friendly and love cycling in Japan. They are trained in first aid, and are committed to providing our guests with the best services and fun experience.

Group Size

2010-08-19T07:01:59Z

Because we want to make sure that we provide personalized services to each one of our guests and keep a friendly atmosphere during the trip, we would like to keep the group size small – normally around eight and up to twelve guests.

WEEKLONG TOUR

2010-08-16T04:41:47Z

TOUR	LEVEL	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug
TOUR	LEVEL	2010	2010	2010	2010	2011	2011	2011	2011	2011	2011	2011	2011
Sado Island	Moderate		11-17 18-24						11-17	9-15 16-22	6-12 13-19
Aizu/Nikko	Challenging	27-10/3	4-10							23-29 30-6/5	6-12
Noto/Kanazawa/ Kyoto	Moderate		25-11/2						18-26	9-17	6-14
Izu Peninsula	Challenging			8-13 15-20

Autumn is just around the corner

2010-08-12T02:27:20Z

As temperature cools down and air becomes crisp after hot summer, autumn is one of the best seasons to enjoy bicycling in Japan. You can ride through colored leaves and golden rice fields. Sado Island For tour details click here. In Sado Island in mid-October, you will have an opportunity to stop by a picturisque local festival called Chitochinton. Email us for details. Nikko & Aizu For tour details click here. Izu Peninsula For tour details click here. Noto/Kanazawa/Kyoto For tour details click here.

2011 Tour Dates

2010-08-12T02:09:06Z

We have now updated our tour calendar for 2011. Check out all tour dates here. Also we are currently designing some new tours for 2011 - we plan to publish tour details in the next few months!

Sado Island's spring beauties

2010-02-09T03:41:05Z

Located 38 degrees north latitude, both temperate and cold climate plants are distributed throughout Sado island. Bicycle riders can enjoy a variety of plants and flowers from early spring to late autumn on the island. Mid-April is normally the best season to enjoy beautiful cherry blossoms all over the island. In May, farmers become busy with rice-planting. You can ride through beautiful rice paddy fields with newly planted seedlings. Spring departure dates are April 5-11, April 12-18, May 10-16, and May 17-23. Join us and enjoy spring time on beautiful Sado island! Please check out tour details here.

2010 Tour Dates

2009-09-27T04:47:08Z

We have now updated our tour calendar for 2010. Check out all tour dates here.

New tours for 2009 - Aizu/Nikko

2009-02-28T14:31:33Z

Join us for our new 7-day 6-night tour in Nikko and Aizu, and enjoy the splendor of Toshogu shrine as well as the serenity of beautiful countryside in Aizu. Every night, you can soak yourself in excellent onsen (natural hot spring bath). See tours details and dates here.

AIZU/NIKKO CHALLENGING

2009-02-28T12:37:52Z

A Japanese proverb says, "Never say Kekko (meaning I am satisfied), until you've seen Nikko". Our ride starts in Nikko, a center of Shinto and Buddhist mountain worship for many centuries and the seat of Toshogu shrine, an UNESCO�fs world cultural heritage site. We then explore its surrounding area which offers magnificent landscapes, lakes, waterfalls, and hot springs. We spend the latter half of the trip in Aizu, which is a scenic region in northern Japan surrounded by beautiful mountains. The route takes us through quaint farm villages, rice fields, and on narrow mountain roads. Our accommodations are mostly elegant ryokans (Japanese-style inns) which offer local charm and comfort as well as excellent onsen (natural hot spring bath). Our route encompasses several challenging hill climbs, and therefore is most suitable for intermediate to advanced riders.

Trip Highlights

Picturesque rides in pastoral areas with several hill climbs
Stay at elegant ryokans (Japanese-style inns), all of them with great onsen (natural hot spring) baths
Visit Nikko's Toshogu, UNESCO's world heritage site
Visit variety of cultural/historical attractions in the Aizu region, including post town with thatched roof houses, an old samurai villa, Tsuruga castle and sake brewery

Minimum number of guests required for guaranteed departure: 4 Reserve Online

Trip Itinerary

2009-02-28T12:34:58Z

Day 1 (Monday) Nikko (52km)
Meet in Tokyo in the morning and transfer by train to Shimo-Imaichi (takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes), which was once an important point of transportation in the old days. Our warm up ride starts on one of the old major roads lined with 380+ years old cedar trees, and then onto quiet country roads amid rice field and gently rolling hills. Tonight we stay in a ryokan (Japanese-style inn) which is located adjacent to Toshogu Shrine, and unwind in a nice onsen (natural hot spring bath).
Day 2 (Tuesday) Okukinu onsen spa (40km)
We spend the morning sightseeing Toshogu Shrine, the site for mausoleum of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who established the shogunate government that ruled Japan for 260 years until Meiji Restoration in 1868. You will be overwhelmed by the serene atmosphere and series of gorgeous engravings and statues that decorate the shrine�fs buildings. After a short transfer via the Irohazaka road to Lake Chuzenji, we start biking in the Oku-Nikko (inner Nikko) area which is blessed with magnificent natural beauty. We eventually head Oku-Kinu, which is known as �gthe home of secret spas�h. The last 7km of our ride to our ryokan is on road with uncovered surface.
Day 3 (Wednesday) Kinugawa onsen spa (73km)
After a smooth and gradual downhill in the morning, we start a challenging 13km ascent via Ozasa pasture to Kirifuri Highland, which is a home to beautiful azaleas in spring and colorful leaves in autumn. Past Kirifuri Highland, we enjoy spectacular downhill towards Nikko and then to Kinugawa onsen spa. Discovered around 300 years ago, Kinugawa onsen spa is one of the most famous hot spring areas in the northern Kanto region. We stay at a large Japanese-style hotel with excellent facilities for a relaxing and fun stay.
Day 4 (Thursday) Yunokami onsen spa (90km)
After breakfast we take a local train and transfer to the rustic Aizu region. In the morning we cycle on quiet country roads through rice fields. After lunch we ride into mountainous areas. We hunt two challenging passes, riding past beautiful rice fields and small farm villages. En route we encompass about 6km of unpaved downhill terrain. Tonight we stay at Yunokami onsen, a secluded spa with excellent hot spring water. You can soak in abundant hot spring water and relax – perfect way to end a long day of riding!
Day 5 (Friday) Aizuwakamatsu (80km)
Following a smooth start on flat roads, we take on an ascent to Ouchijuku, an old post town on the road used long ago by Aizu feudal lords until the 19th century to travel back and forth to Edo (now Tokyo). Preserved thatched-roof houses give you an idea of what the town used to be like in old days. Past Ouchijuku, our ride starts with a steep but short climb, followed by a long descent through mountain forests into the Aizu Basin. On our way to Aizuwakamatsu, we stop by some of the oldest temples in the region and a sake brewery. We stay at a beautiful ryokan in Higashiyama onsen spa, Aizuwakamatsu�fs back parlor.
Day 6 (Saturday) Lake Hibara (68km)
We spend the morning touring the castle town of Aizuwakamatsu by minivan and visit Bukeyashiki (reconstructed samurai villa) and Tsuruga-jo Castle to see what the samurai lifestyle used to be like. Our ride today starts with the toughest hill climb of the whole trip towards Lake Hibara, a serene lake situated halfway up the Bandai-san (Mount Bandai, a magnificent volcano). Following lunch by the Lake, we take on yet another climb to Shirabu Pass and enjoy spectacular sceneries. We retreat in a western-style hotel by Lake Hibara.
Day 7 (Sunday)
Following breakfast, we leave Lake Hibara by shuttle bus and local train and transfer in Koriyama to the Shinkansen (bullet train) for Tokyo. Once in Koriyama, it is time to say goodbye to your leader/guide. You arrive in Tokyo in the afternoon.

What's Included

2009-02-28T12:33:07Z

All lodgings on a double occupancy basis. A limited number of single-occupancy rooms are available for an additional charge on most tours. If you are a single traveler, please inquire for room availability and a single supplemental charge.
Meals (6 breakfasts 6 dinners. Lunch is not included.)
Guides and van support
Rental bikes
Any ground transportations (except for private taxis)
Admissions to museums and temples/shrines

Routes

2009-02-27T07:14:31Z

We are constantly on the road throughout Japan in search of best routes. Each of our routes is a culmination of rigorous selection of safe and quiet roads, scenic beauty, high quality accommodations, and cultural attractions. We offer roughly two levels of trips: MODERATE with a relaxed pace over flat to rolling terrain and an average daily cycling distance of 40 to 60 kilometers (25 to 38 miles), and CHALLENGING for experienced cyclists with a daily average of 80 to 100 kilometers (50 to 63 miles) covering hilly terrain with passes and climbs. Because of hilly landscapes in Japan, roads are in general a little steeper than those in the US (but rarely exceed 10% grade - similar to local roads that you will find in France or Italy). However, you do not need to be scared off. We carefully consider how much effort it takes to gain elevation in designing rides. Moreover, a support van is around you to give you a lift just in case you have had enough. After all, these roads are exactly what enable you to enjoy beautiful scenery and rewarding rides!

Accommodations

2009-02-27T07:14:01Z

Our accommodations are either ryokans (Japanese inns) or western-style hotels - a range of best accommodations in the areas visited. They are chosen not only for their comfort and quality of services, but also for their authenticity and regional characters. All of them have private baths and toilets in guest rooms (unless otherwise specified in each itinerary). In a ryokan you can experience the elements of Japanese culture and customs: living in a room with tatami (straw mat) flooring, changing into a yukata (robe) after taking an onsen hot-spring bath, sleeping on a futon (bedding) put down directly on the tatami floor. Our trip prices are per person based on a double occupancy basis. A limited number of single-occupancy rooms are available for an additional charge on most tours. If you are a single traveler, please inquire for room availability and a single supplemental charge.