I was intrigued when I read that the writer Pico Iyer had made Japan his home. Pico is a discerning travel writer and his descriptions of his adopted country make anyone desperate to visit, if not live. A colleague suggested that the Noto Peninsula offered just the right mix of rural countryside, beautiful sea-side vistas, an astounding number of cultural attractions, charming ryokans, great restaurants and more. But how would it be to bike, I asked? At this question, his eyes sparkled and he grinned widely, exclaiming: the biking is some of the best in the world on the quietest roads imaginable.
We put together an itinerary that included a mix of inland and coastal riding, visiting and staying in the towns of Wajima, Suzu Beach, Wakura Onsen, Kanazawa and Yamanaka. We designed the trip around where the best riding is including regions of the interior that are exquisite and this is where the traditional rural villages and quietest roads are. One of the great appeals of this region is the opportunity to stay in charming and luxurious ryokans that are unlike any hotel I have stayed at before. Omotenashi is Japanese hospitality and until you have experienced it first-hand, when staff make you feel an honoured guest, you really can’t imagine. Many of the ryokans have hot springs (onsens) that you can enjoy and provide traditional yukata to wear to the spa (and dinner when dining in!). Did we mention the food? In a word, extraordinary. We mix traditional Japanese meals with French and Italian-fusion restaurants including Ben Flatt’s outstanding restaurant along the coast south of Suzu for a lunch you will never forget. To hear Ben describe his philosophy to food and cooking and why he chose to live in this region of Japan will have you understand its appeal.
Because I have been leading trips for some 35+ years, people often ask what is my favourite trip? My new answer is – Japan – and the Noto Peninsula.
Best time to go? May is ideal. On our May 10-17 trip, the cherry blossoms were still in bloom; rice was being planted and the weather was perfect averaging a balmy 23-26C. We will be offering trips in April, May, and October.
What bikes do we use? We purchased a brand new fleet of Cannondale Quick model hybrid bikes for this trip.
Do we operate the trip? Great Explorations operates our own trips – no ‘middle man mark-up’ which is why our prices offer outstanding value.
Client Reviews? Here is a comment from a guest from our first trip (May 2019):
“Food, biking, cultural events, Ryokan service, onsens were all amazing. For me, rural Japan shows the essence of Japanese culture, that people find something to be passionate about, whether serving tea, preparing food, making paper, or greeting you at a Ryokan. Then they work hard on details to produce something special. And, undoubtably, the result is amazing. Such passion and effort is something we can all learn from. All accommodation was great. Especially loved the quaint seaside location, food and service of the Lamp Ryokan. The final Ryokan had the most amazing service as the staff appeared wherever we were to make sure all went well – the grandfather made a surprise visit at the train station to make sure we got on the right train. Food was also great. The meals provided an opportunity to understand that no matter what kind of food Japan serves, it is amazing. Loved all meals. Loved all events! Maybe the Sake one was a highlight, with the adorable, spunky sake master. The rides were challenging but manageable. I was worried that I was going to “die” each day, but was relieved that the most difficult days were the first 2, and that I could relax(somewhat) for the rest of the trip. Snacks were superb – great mix of salty, sweet, unusual and interesting Japanese fruit, cookies, crackers, powerbars, candy and chocolate. These were the best snacks on a bike trip.” Deborah H. from Toronto, ON.
Want to know more? We offer both Luxe and Classic trips. The itineraries both start from the Noto airport (we include flights from Tokyo). The Luxe trip finishes in Yamanaka and the Classic trip finishes in Kanazawa.
Need inspiration? Stay tuned, video coming soon! The trailer video is now online on both itinerary pages.
Robbin McKinney, Owner of Great Explorations
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