JAPAN S GOLDEN ROUTE 7 Day Road Cycling Tour

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April Sims
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1 JAPAN S GOLDEN ROUTE 7 Day Road Cycling Tour Join us on a fully supported road cycling tour experiencing Japan s rich history and culture. 7 day Road Cycling Tour 20 th 26 th Oct 2019 From 418,000 per person twin share

JAPAN S GOLDEN ROUTE - 2019 Welcome to our exclusive 7 day cycling exploration through Japan s Golden Route! Our Golden Route links the historical towns of Kanazawa, Shirakawago and Takayama.

Each night you will stay in either good quality hotels or traditional ryokan style accommodation, most with hot springs so you can take a dip at the end of each day s ride.

Day 1: 20 th October Kanazawa: Arrival Please make your own way to the castle town of Kanazawa on mainland Honshu s west coast.

2 JAPAN S GOLDEN ROUTE Welcome to our exclusive 7 day cycling exploration through Japan s Golden Route! Our Golden Route links the historical towns of Kanazawa, Shirakawago and Takayama. Starting in the Ishikawa prefecture we ll ride through the majestic Japan Alps to finish at the foot of iconic Mt Fuji. Each night you will stay in either good quality hotels or traditional ryokan style accommodation, most with hot springs so you can take a dip at the end of each day s ride. Delight in exquisite cuisine which is always a big part of a trip to Japan and experience its interesting history and culture. Day 1: 20 th October Kanazawa: Arrival Please make your own way to the castle town of Kanazawa on mainland Honshu s west coast. One of the best preserved Edo period cities in the country, its well known for its historical attractions such as restored residences and districts. There is much to see here including modern museums, attractive temples, the old market, geisha districts and samurai quarters. The hotel is located near Kenroku-en, a castle garden dating from the 17 th century. Its one of Japan s most beautiful gardens and indicates the affluence of the city s past. It takes 2.5 to 3 hours by bullet train to Kanazawa from any of the major cities. Afternoon transfer from Kanazawa train station to the hotel is included. Cycling Dinner None Day 2: 21 st October Kanazawa to Shirakawago Today as we head east from Kanazawa into the mountains we ll cross over two passes, making for a big day of climbing. We will be cycling through rural countryside so should see plenty of local farmers at work. Our destination is the traditional village of Shirakawago, hidden away in the mountains of Toyama prefecture. What makes this is village unique are its triangular thatched houses built to withstand the heavy snows of winter. A 15 minute walk up to a lookout offers stunning views of the valley and the town below. Cycling 82 km Elevation 2,527 m Day 3: 22 nd October Shirakawago to Takayama Our route continues along the foothills of the Japan Alps to the city of Takayama. Its narrow streets in the historic district are lined with wooden merchant s houses dating back to the Edo Period. They were built by legendary carpenters who also built the imperial palace and temples in Kyoto. The town is also well known for its biannual festival dating back to at least the mid 1600 s. Our ride today will finish at one of the sake breweries in the old part of town. One of the delicacies of the area is the wagyu beef which will be part of our evening meal tonight. Cycling 61 km Climbing 1,472 m

Day 4: 23 rd October Takayama to Norikura Firstly there ll be time to catch the local asaichi, or morning market which sells local crafts, snacks and farm produce.

We ll be climbing one of the passes of the Japanese Alps to an altitude of 1,800m which is one of the highest roads in Japan. Then we descend into the Nagano prefecture.

Our destination is the Shirahone Hot Spring, an opaque-coloured spring with supposedly therapeutic properties. Tonight we ll stay in a traditional mountain ryokan.

Our route follows the Azusa tributary down the valley to Lake Suwa in the heart of the Kiso Mountains.

3 Day 4: 23 rd October Takayama to Norikura Firstly there ll be time to catch the local asaichi, or morning market which sells local crafts, snacks and farm produce. It is a shorter ride today but what it lacks in distance is more than made up by elevation gain! We ll be climbing one of the passes of the Japanese Alps to an altitude of 1,800m which is one of the highest roads in Japan. Then we descend into the Nagano prefecture. Today we should see the stunning autumn colours that are a feature of this mountainous area. We will also pass the Hida s Great Limestone Cave. Our destination is the Shirahone Hot Spring, an opaque-coloured spring with supposedly therapeutic properties. Tonight we ll stay in a traditional mountain ryokan. Cycling 60 km Climbing 2,246 m Day 5: 24 th October Norikura to Lake Suwa There will be more downhill than uphill today which most will appreciate after the previous two big days. Our route follows the Azusa tributary down the valley to Lake Suwa in the heart of the Kiso Mountains. After a post ride dip in a hot spring there will be an option to visit Suwa Taisha, considered to be one of the oldest shrines in existence. Day 6: 25 th October Lake Suwa to Mt Fuji From Lake Suwa we continue along the valley. The first 20 km is a gentle incline, then its a long 60 km descent. We enter Yamanishi prefecture and start ascending to the Fuji Goko or Five Lakes. Our accommodation is perched over Lake Kawaguchiko from where there are stunning views of Mt Fuji. If the conditions are right, the lake reflects the mountain s almost perfect cone. Before dinner we take a side-trip to the Arakura Sengen Shrine, which has one of the most iconic views of Fuji. Cycling 103 km Climbing 1,448 m Day 7: 26 th October Mt Fuji Departure Day After breakfast there will be two included group transfers. One vehicle will travel to Yokohama (approx. 2 hours) and another to Tokyo. Cycling Breakfast None Cycling 73 km Climbing 1,050 m

4 TOUR INFORMATION Prices: Tour Price: Single room surcharge 418,000 per person twin share 52,000 (limited availability and not possible some nights) Bike Hire: E-bike 40,000; Road Bike 36,000; Hybrid Bike 30,000 Inclusions & Exclusions: 7 Day Tour Inclusions: 7 Day Tour Exclusions: Accommodation in 3* to 4* hotels or ryokans as listed in the itinerary: 6 x breakfasts, 5 x lunches & 6 x dinners Arrival transfer (afternoon of day 1) from Kanazawa train station to the tour hotel Group departure transfer (morning of day 7) to Yokohama and Tokyo cities Support vehicles and drivers Cycling guide(s) numbers depending on group size Drinking water while cycling Route maps and profiles 8% consumption tax (similar to GST, VAT etc) International & domestic flights and airport taxes Bike hire (available at extra cost) not listed in the itinerary Passport and any Travel Visa requirements Travel insurance (compulsory) Optional trips and sightseeing tours Pre and post tour nights Personal expenses & drinks (except water while cycling) Entrance fees for sights unless specified Single room surcharge Tips for guide(s) and driver(s) Tour Grade 2-3 = moderate-challenging Grade 1: Grade 2: Grade 3: Grade 4: Easy: km/day. No hills or technical difficulty Moderate: km/day. Some hills but no technical difficulty Challenging: km/day. Hills and some technical difficulty Hard: 100 km+/day. Hilly terrain and technical roads Grade 5: HIGH ALTITUDE (4000 M +) Please note: There are options for participants with a range of fitness levels & technical ability. For door-to-door cycling this tour is a grade 3, but a grade 2 is easily achievable by utilising the support vehicle on longer days and/or for hillier sections.

5 BOOKING INFORMATION Payment Schedule Deposit (to secure your spot): 25% of the tour price (NON REFUNDABLE) 2nd Instalment: 25% of the tour price by 20 th October 2018 Balance: by 20 th June 2019 Terms and Conditions Terms & Conditions for this tour will vary from our standard terms & conditions due to the uniqueness of this trip. Please ensure you understand the following. Cancellation Fees: 1. Cancellations received more than 365 prior to tour departure will incur a cancellation fee of 25% of the tour cost 2. Cancellations received between days prior to tour departure will incur a cancellation fee of 50% of the tour cost 3. Cancellations received less than 120 days prior to tour departure will incur a cancellation fee of 100% of the tour cost Note: Prices may be subject to change. Exact cycling routes described in this document are subject to change.

6 TOUR MAPS

7 Hotel List Kanazawa 20 th October Hotel: Trusty Hotel Address: 1 Chome-2-16 Korinbo, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture Website: Shirakawago 21 st October Hotel: Kazuraya Address: 223 Magari, Shirakawa, Ono District, Gifu Prefecture , Japan Website: Takayama 22 nd October Hotel: Futarishizuka Address: Gifu Prefecture, Takayama, Horibatamachi Website:

8 Norikura Hotel: Address: Website: 23 rd October Shirahone Onsen Tsuruya 202-6, Azumi, Matsumoto City, Nagano Lake Suwa 24 th October Hotel: Kamisuwa Onsen Shinyu Address: Nagano, Suwa, Kogandori Website: Kawaguchiko 25 th October Hotel: Fuji View Hotel Address: Yamanashi Prefecture, Minamitsuru District, Katsuyama Website:

9 17 Bay Heights, RD1 Lyttelton, New Zealand NZ Tel:

Tour map NOTO-GIFU CYCLING ITINERALY

Tour map NOTO-GIFU CYCLING ITINERALY Itinerary Noto Peninsula, situated in the middle of mainland Honshu, is our newest cycle touring destination in Japan. The region offers a perfect opportunity for rural