Premiere Hotels
Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the View Scheduled Dates or Private Dates tabs.
Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto
Kyoto (2 nights)
Fusuma panels, paper lanterns and lacquerware are among the artisanal elements at this refined property in the well-preserved Higashiyama District. (pool, spa)
Notonosho Ryokan
Waijima (2 nights)
Serenity, hot-spring baths, futons and tradition await at this beautiful inn by the sea. (spa)
Matsuno Midori
Wakura (1 night)
Experience Japanese elegance at this spectacular waterfront retreat, complete with inspiring views and sea breezes.
River Retreat Garaku
Toyama (1 night)
Modern luxury and artistry of design abound at this riverside inn nestled in the Northern Alps. (spa)
Nikko Kanazawa
Kanazawa (1 night)
A comfortable Western-style hotel in the heart of Kanazawa.
This Trip Is Rated Levels 2-4
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.
Daily Route Options (drag to see full )
| Daily Route Options |
| 1 |
19 |
1000 |
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|
|
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|
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|
| 2 |
16* |
500 |
25* |
1300 |
|
|
43 |
2500 |
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|
| 3 |
13* |
800 |
25* |
1200 |
38 |
2200 |
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|
| Morning Market Visit (1 Hour) |
| 4 |
18 |
400 |
|
|
31 |
700 |
45 |
1200 |
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| Himi Seaside Botanical Gardens Visit (1 Hour) |
| 5 |
|
|
20* |
1500 |
|
|
42 |
3200 |
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| 6 |
|
|
20* |
100 |
31 |
300 |
|
|
|
|
| Kenroku-en Guided Walking Tour & Tea Ceremony (2.5 Hours) |
| 7 |
|
|
22* |
500 |
|
|
40 |
1500 |
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| 8 |
Fushimi Torii Walk (3 Miles, 500' elevation gain) |
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Note:
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity level and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies and other external factors.
Meals
All breakfasts, 8 lunches, 6 dinners
Available Bike Options
The key to a stellar day’s ride is a bike that’s perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Read on for your available bike options for this trip.
Backroads Titanium Bikes (Included in your trip price)
Our custom-built titanium bikes are specially designed for you—and we offer different models for varied terrain so your bike is ideally suited to the region. Our custom-made bikes are included in your trip price.
Touring Bike (Included)
Performance Road Bike (Included)
Backroads Custom Electric-Assist Bike (Included in your trip price)
Wishing for a little extra assistance up those hills? Our custom Backroads Electric-Assist Bike lets you experience the thrill of exploring on two wheels while providing a boost when you want it. We've modified a selection of our great Titanium Bikes with the intuitive BionX "pedal-assist" system.
Backroads Custom Electric-Assist Bike (Included)
Also Included
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
- On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
- Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
- Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
- Park and other entry fees
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
- Select coach transfers
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Get the Straight Talk about This Trip
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Accommodations
Even at five-star, Western-style hotels in Japan, the local preference for ordered austere aesthetics is prioritized. This means simple rooms with fewer amenities than one might find at a typical Backroads Premiere Hotel and an emphasis on tranquility and refined
onsen (Japanese-style spas).
Meals
Japanese cuisine is renowned for its freshness and variety. A typical meal is comprised of several small plates with a range of vegetables, meat and seafood; however, fish is often the staple. It is not common in Japanese restaurants to make substitutions and in most cases restaurants do not offer additional choices beyond their set menus.
Shuttle Time
In order to access the scenic and culturally significant biking routes and points of interest on this trip, strategic shuttles are incorporated into our itinerary. Most will be limited to an hour or so at a time, but on some days you can expect to spend a bit more time in the shuttle—though always to reach a worthwhile destination!
Why Travel with Backroads in Japan
The Best Leaders in Japan
Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in Japan, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.
A Variety of Routes Each Day
In Japan you head off each morning after choosing among several expertly designed routes—all with detailed directions, mileage and shuttle options. Unlike trips with one fixed daily route (or worse, one guide that everyone's obliged to follow), you're free to enjoy the best of the region at your pace, stopping wherever you want to explore further.
Everyone at Their Own Pace
We design and support our Japan trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.
Our Superb Bikes Included
A great bike is obviously critical for a great biking trip; you don't want to gamble on one that's been sourced locally to trim costs. This trip features our acclaimed Backroads Custom Titanium bikes, expertly tuned and fitted, and included in your trip price. Learn why our titanium bikes are ideal for most riders.
Only the Best Hotels
On this trip featuring Premiere Hotels, you can count on the best lodgings Japan has to offer. In fact, the hotels we've chosen in this region have higher retail room rates than those offered by any other active travel company—even when their trips cost more.
We Stand Behind Our Trips
Most companies' trips in Japan are run by local operators. At Backroads we manage our own trips; we would never subcontract your precious vacation to a third party. So as you enjoy the support of your seasoned Trip Leaders, along with our expert local guides and drivers, you have the confidence of knowing we're with you every step of the way.
We've Set the Standard
For nearly four decades we've worked to earn and maintain our right to call Backroads the world's #1 active travel company. In pursuing that vision on behalf of our guests, we believe we've set the standard for our industry—captured in the Backroads Quality Guide, which clearly sets out the benchmarks of excellence, choice and support that we live by
Quality You Can Measure
Since 1979, Backroads Founder and President Tom Hale has shown that staying #1 means constantly evaluating our performance using the best possible source of information: our guests. As we systematically analyze your feedback on our trip consultants, leaders, hotels, meals and on-trip activities, we never stop working to make a great company even better.
We Know Where We're Going
Tom Hale has been keeping Backroads on track, with one eye on the horizon, since 1979. His passion for active travel, and for ensuring the highest-quality travel experience, is evident in every detail we add to make a guest's trip unforgettable—and the fact he's right there in the office, making it happen. To hear Tom describe his vision, watch our video.
The Right Local Pairings
Our Trip Leaders combine deep local expertise with a firm grasp of North American expectations around quality of service. By the same token, we pair experienced Backroads leaders with local guides who know how to cater to your needs while cracking open the culture or natural history in ways that are meaningful, memorable and often magical.
