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

On this tour, you will cycle in rustic regions that are rich in great nature and farmlands and yet possess unique cultural heritages. Our ride starts in Aizu, which is a scenic region surrounded by beautiful mountains in northern Japan. The route takes us through rice fields and along serene rivers, and crosses Honshu (the mainland). Our journey ends after reaching the Sea of Japan in Niigata. On our way, we make many stops at historic sites, temples and shrines, and small towns and villages that maintain their old charms. Both Aizu and Niigata are known as Japan’s main sake (rice wine) and onsen (natural hot spring bath) centers, so every night we can celebrate our ride with good sake and unwind in onsen.

Minimum number of guests required for guaranteed departure: 4

• Day 1 (Monday) Yunokami (30km)
  Meet in Tokyo and transfer to Aizu by train (takes about 3 hours). Following quick lunch on the train, we start our warm-up ride. Our route follows quiet country roads through rice fields and over gently rolling hills. We spend the first night at a ryokan (Japanese inn) in Yunokami onsen spa. You can soak in abundant hot spring water and relax – perfect way to prepare yourself for another day of riding.
• Day 2 (Tuesday) Aizuwakamatsu (57km)
  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 to travel back and forth to Edo (now Tokyo) until the 19th century. Preserved thatched-roof houses give you an idea of what the town used to be like in old days. We take a soba-noodle making lesson at Ouchijuku. After a quick descent from Ouchijuku, our route follows rolling hills and then a bike path along the Aga-gawa River towards Aizuwakamatsu. We stay at a ryokan* in Higashiyama onsen spa, Aizuwakamatsu’s back parlor.
  * Guest rooms are equipped with private toilets but not with private baths.
• Day 3 (Wednesday) Kirinzan (50km)
  We spend the morning touring the castle town of Aizuwakamatsu and visit Bukeyashiki (reconstructed samurai villa) to see what the samurai lifestyle used to be like. Following a short transfer by a local train, we ride on narrow forest roads over small passes and down into small valleys. We stop at a small village of Miyako for lunch featuring its famous soba noodles. After lunch, we continue on forest roads crossing the prefecture border into Niigata. We then cycle along the beautiful Agano-gawa River to Kirinzan onsen spa. We stay in a ryokan with onsen that offers a splendid view of the Agano-gawa River.
• Day 4 (Thursday) Echigo Nagano (64km)
  Our ride starts along the Agano-gawa River past the old river port town of Tsugawa. The route then takes us over a small pass and into the town of Muramatsu. After lunch in Muramatsu, we ride on quiet roads on rolling hills and small mountains towards Echigo Nagano. Our accommodation today is a rustic ryokan with onsen situated in a small valley.
• Day 5 (Friday) Teradomari (60km)
  We continue through forests and rice fields in the morning. Following lunch we cycle along a river towards its mouth. After four days of cycling in inland regions, we finally hit the Sea of Japan! Today, we stay at the port town of Teradomari. On our way to the inn, we visit a fish market in the town and enjoy its colorful scene. In the evening we feast on fresh seafood direct from the nearby port.
• Day 6 (Saturday) Iwamuro (44km)
  In the morning we make a round trip along a beautiful coastline to the town of Izumozaki. After lunch in Teradomari, we head off to Yahiko-jinja Shrine which stands in a dense forest and is considered by many the best shrine in the Echigo region. The ride ends in Iwamuro onsen, an elegant spa town situated at the foot of Mt. Yahiko. We stay at a ryokan with onsen.
• Day 7 (Sunday)
  Following breakfast, we leave Iwamuro by local train and transfer in Niigata to the Shinkansen (bullet train) for Tokyo. Once in Niigata, it is time to say goodbye to your leader/guide. You arrive in Tokyo in the early afternoon.

• 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 lunches and 6 dinners)
• Guides and van support
• Rental bikes
• Any ground transportations (except for private taxis)
• Fee for soba noodle making lesson
• Admissions to museums and temples/shrines