Our trip begins in Noto and ends in Kaga. You will want to book your flights in and out of Tokyo. From North America, it will be necessary to depart the day before you need to arrive.
There are a number of airlines that fly to the Tokyo; From the United States: United, American, ANA, JAL all offer non-stop flights. From LA, Cathay Pacific, Delta, American, JAL, United, Singapore Airlines all offer non-stop flights. From Canada, Air Canada has direct flights from Toronto (1:35 arrive 4:55+1) & Vancouver (1:45 arrive 4:40+1 non-stop).
We will purchase your domestic ticket from Tokyo to Noto for Day 1 of your trip and send to you 30 days prior to your trip.
Pre-trip Extension Day -2 & -1
Optional
Tokyo Extension
What is included:
- 2 or 3 nights lodging (our favourite 4-star hotel)
- Full day guide
- City Guide Tokyo (itineraries and restaurant suggestions)
Cost:
2 days/2 nights – US $795 pp
3 days/3 nights – US $1,195 pp (if doing the 3 days, you can opt for a ½ day cycling on the 3rd day)
Day 1
Noto
Start cycling from the airport in Noto crossing from the middle of the peninsula to the northern coast. The quiet road passes through rice paddies and small villages until arriving in Wajima, centered around a protected harbor on the Sea of Japan. Famous for its morning market (dating back over 1,000 years) and its lacquerware, the city’s most well known handicraft.
Ride Distance: 48 km ride through rural coastal landscapes with several 2-3 km climbs.
Day 2
Wajima
Visit the morning Asaichi (morning market) in Wajima. Ride along the coast stopping at Sojiji Temple for an introduction to Zen Buddhism. There were over 16,000 temples across the country when Zen Buddhism was popular and many of these have been restored and interesting to view. After lunch option to ride through small farming villages. Transfer into town to a new fusion restaurant. Ride Distance – 43 km (27 mi.) along scenic roads linking small farming towns in isolated valleys, with several climbs before a long descent to a valley followed by lunch. Option of an additional 23km ride.
Ride Distance: up to 55 km
Day 3
Yoshigaura
Wajima to Yoshigaura. After a brief transfer, bike along a quiet coastal road, winding northwards past the Senmaida Rice fields, a hillside of terraced rice fields along the Sea of Japan. There are over 2000 small rice fields that must be worked by hand, (senmaida literally means ‘a thousand rice fields’). A side-trip visits the Tokikuni Residences historic site and the oldest surviving residence on the Noto Peninsula with an irori firepit. After a visit to the Rokkazaki Lighthouse, reach the Lamp No Yado Ryokan.
Ride Distance: 54 km (33 mi.) ride that sweeps along the coast to the southeastern corner of the Noto Peninsula.
Day 4
Wakura
Noto to Wakura. Ride from our Ryokan through sleepy fishing villages, forests and pastoral landscapes along the coast. Stop at Koiji Beach and the Mitsukejima rock which juts out of the sea and was first discovered by Kobo Daishi, one of the most important figures of Japanese Buddhism. After lunch transfer to the hot spring town of Wakura Onsen, famous resort town with a hot spring. We will enjoy a kaiseki, a multi-course meal served in the traditional style.
Ride Distance: 52 km (32 mi.) flat riding exploring villages and countryside.
Day 5
Wakura
Today we bike the quiet roads of Noto Island along quiet coastal roads and past lush rice paddies through verdant landscapes. After a delicious lunch, transfer south to the fascinating city of Kanazawa, known for its well preserved Edo-era districts, art museums and regional handicrafts. Kenrokuen Garden, begun in the 17th century, is celebrated for its classic landscape designs incorporating ponds and streams. Adjacent Kanazawa Castle was built in the 1580s, after the defeat of the Peasant’s Kingdom, Japan’s only Buddhist fiefdom.
Ride Distance: up to 62 km (32m mi) of rolling terrain around Noto Island and inland on the peninsula.
Day 6
Yamanaka
We start the day with a tour of the Kenroukuen gardens followed by lunch at a superb French-Japanese restaurant. Afterwards, we transfer south to the hot spring resort of Yamanaka Onsen and ride a scenic loop. Back in town, enjoy a walk through the Kakusenkei Gorge with its iconic wooden bridge. The hot springs here were discovered 1300 years ago and provide soothing relief after a day of activity. We will have dinner out tonight.
Ride Distance: City Walk followed by 35 km (22 mi) loop bike ride including a gentle climb of 15 km (9 mi).
Day 7
Yamanaka
Drive to begin our ride to the mountain temple of esoteric Buddhist. After lunch explore the shops of Yamanaka, explore the gorge below town or relax in the onsen. Enjoy a sake tasting at the hotel before dinner at the ryokan.
Ride Distance: 38 km (23 mi.) with one significant climb before lunch.
Day 8
Departure Day
We offer a shuttle to the Kaga train station after breakfast. You can reach Tokyo or Kyoto by train.
Post-trip Extension Day 8 & 9
Optional
Kyoto Extension
What is included:
- 2 or 3 nights lodging (our favourite 4-star hotel)
- Full day guide (tour will include: Kinkaku-ji Temple, Fushimi-Inari Shrine, Kiyomizu-Dera District – Kiyomizu-dera temple; San-nen-zaka quarter, Yasaka Pagoda & Gion district)
- City Guide Kyoto (information and restaurant suggestions)
Cost:
2 days/2 nights – US $595 pp
3 days/3 nights – US $895 pp
Trip Reviews
“This was one of the best trips that I have been on for a variety of reasons….the rides, staff, hotels, and food. I have not been on any other trip like it! I would highly recommend this trip as being a trip of a lifetime. The region was fantastic….hills, rice paddies, oceans,…such a variety of rides in a region that offers so much. The Ryokans were wonderful! My favourite was the Lamp no Yado just because of the location…it was the highlight for me. Loved being on the ocean. Over going to the onsens after a day of riding. Liked all the meals! Kenroken Garden, Natadera Temple plus enjoyed seing the paper maker and wood turner. Great variety of places to visit and nice to have a break from riding. Good combination! Maps & route instructions were easy to follow. Nice to have them just in case but really didn’t need them too much since the leader as well as the support team were never far away. Great variety of rides. Loved the challenge of the hills plus the beauty of the land and ocean. Fantastic! Anthony was so knowledgeable and knew the area very well. If I was in doubt about the difficultly of the ride, he was able to describe it plus I was able to hitch a ride. The snacks were delicious and welcomed! Both guides were amazing and it was great that Taro spoke Japanese as well as Anthony. I can’t say enough about them plus Robbin was great too. Always had a joke as well as being a very strong rider. New bikes which were comfortable and perfect for the type of rides that were offered.”
“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.”
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