Cycle Shikoku North to South
Explore Shikoku from North to South. A compact cycling adventure showcasing the best landscapes Shikoku has to offer.
Tour price:
from 3,900 USD
Duration:
7 Days
Distance:
300km
Difficulty:
Easy/Medium
Start Location:
Takamatsu
End Location:
Kochi
Highlights
Explore the city of Takamatsu and get a bowl of udon before heading out to see Ritsurin Gardens, one of the top four gardens in Japan. Visit Zentsuji, one of the 88 temples of the Henro pilgrimage to spend a night in a Buddhist temple and join an early morning prayer ceremony with the monks.
Ride along small country roads and rivers to the Iya Valley and see the famous vine bridges that have helped locals cross deep gorges for centuries. Try the local fish in Kochi by the coast of the Pacific Ocean. Ride along the deep ocean where whaling was prevalent in the past.
This tour is off the beaten track and beautifully scenic.
Tour Itinerary
Day 1
Cycling Toward Zen and Tradition
Start in Takamatsu and visit one of the top 4 parks in Japan, Ritsurin Gardens and have tea in a 100 year old tea house. Continue on to Zentsu-ji, a 1200year old Buddhist temple and stay in the temple overnight to experience temple life and Shojin food – a simple, traditional buddhist fare. An early night’s rest is recommended, in order to attend the 06:00am morning prayer service.
Distance: 45km
Start location: Takamatsu
End location: Zentsuji
Meals: Lunch & Dinner
Day 2
Pedaling to Shrines and Ocean Vistas
After the morning service, explore the temple and ride on to the Shonai peninsula for breathtaking ocean views. Visit the Takaya Shinto Shrine. Stay in the town of Kanonji to see the giant 5 yen coin sand sculpture.
Distance: 40km
Start location: Zentsuji
End location: Kanonji
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 3
Into Iya’s Ancient Mountain Paths
Leave the coast and head to the mountains. Our destination is the Iya valley, a picturesque mountain town to visit the famous vine bridges and enjoy the hot springs. These bridges helped mountain people cross deep gorges over the past 1000 years.
Distance: 55km
Start location: Kanonji
End location: Iya Valley
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 4
A Downhill to the Ocean
Enjoy the mountain downhill ride to the Pacific Ocean town of Kochi. A former whaling town that now specializes in deep sea fish. Eat great fish in the Hirome Ichiba (fish market stalls.) Have a drink with local people who enjoy quality beer and sake.
Distance: 65km
Start location: Iya valley
End location: Kochi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 5
Sightseeing Historical Port City
Spend the day exploring Kochi castle and sightseeing & shopping in the town. There are many things to do here. Kochi is also famous for high quality knives used by many prestigious restaurants. Buy a real Sushi knife for a keepsake that is both beautiful and practical.
Distance: Rest Day
Start location: Kochi
End location: Kochi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 6
Coastal Whalespotting Ride
Ride the coastal southern skyline to Suzaki, another famous fishing town and taste the local delicacies. The ocean is very deep here and whales can sometimes be seen off the coast.
Distance: 45km
Start location: Kochi
End location: Suzaki
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Day 7
Follow the Picturesque Nyodo
Leave the coast and head back into the mountains to ride down the lovely Nyodo river back into Kochi city. This tour is packed with great rides off the beaten track. Lovely sealed small roads with very low car traffic. A cyclist’s dream!
Distance: 58km
Start location: Suzaki
End location: Kochi
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
What's included
Excellent Guides
We are a family team with a professional approach. We know Shikoku’s every shrine, nook and cranny. We are fully committed to delivering the best cycling experience in Shikoku.
Accommodation
All long tours booked with Cycling Shikoku include accommodation.
In order to ensure you have the best insight into Japanese lifestyle, we carefully choose from a variety of accommodation styles including Japanese inns with futon beds or ryokans, traditional guesthouses with onsen mineral baths, as well as some western style hotels.
We only work with trusted accommodation providers in all daily destinations that we operate in.
Reach out to learn more about accommodation on the tour of your choice.
Bicycles & gear
On all our tours you can expect to be fitted with a top-quality bicycle.
Our standard tour bikes are hybrid and road bike builds from some of the most trusted brands in the world: Merida, GT, Specialized and Cannondale.
SAG Vehicle
All our guided tours are accompanied by a SAG vehicle. Our van is capable of handling bike transfers for groups as large as 10 people and can also help out those in your group, who feel like resting over a short section of ride. Last but not least, the van will be packed with yummy and healthy Japanese snacks as well as energy bars to replenish your energy at any point and keep you going.
Luggage Accessibility & Transfer
All the while you enjoy your day cycling, your luggage will be safely stored in our support van making it easy to access your belongings during breaks.
Mechanical Support
Wherever you ride you will also be accompanied by a mechanic who will deal with any inconvenience that may arise during your ride – a flat tyre or any other unpredictable issue.
Snacks
On our guides tours we always have plenty of snacks available to make sure you have enough energy to get you thru the day. A hungry rider is not a happy rider.
Optional E-bikes
On request, and for additional price, we can fit you with a Miyata Cruise e-bike – a comfortable build with a capacity to support your cycling effort for over 100km daily.
Optional Shimanami Kaido Tour Extenstion
Shimanami Kaido, a famous island hopping route that connects Shikoku with Japan’s mainland, isn’t included in this itinerary—but it can be! If you’d like, we can craft an extension to include this incredible route, customised to fit your Japan holiday schedule.
Optional Arrival & Departure Transfer
On demand and subject to additional charge, we will make transfer arrangements or pick you up ourselves, from your point of arrival in Japan.