Fully customizable
tours of Shikoku
Unique Itineraries
To fit any and all travel plans.
Local
Experts
A Shikoku family at your cycling service.
Hassle-free
Hotels, meals and assistance from start to finish.
Full Support
Experienced guide, top bikes & SAG van support.
Why go with us?
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.
Why go with us?
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.
Tours
Browse our tours or go custom! With flexible itineraries and starting dates, your task is just to choose one of the Tours below.. or pick our brains about customizing your perfect cycling getaway.
Tours
Browse our tours or go custom! With flexible itineraries and starting dates your task is just to choose one of the itineraries below.. or pick our brains about customizing your perfect cycling getaway.
Explore Shikoku from North to South. A compact cycling adventure showcasing the best landscapes Shikoku has to offer.
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.
TOTAL DISTANCE: 300km
DIFFICULTY: Easy/Medium
DURATION: 7 Days
START / FINISH: Takamatsu / Kochi
7 days
SHIKOKU NORTH TO SOUTH
Explore Shikoku from North to South. A compact cycling adventure showcasing the best landscapes Shikoku has to offer.
TOTAL DISTANCE: 300km
DIFFICULTY: Easy/Medium
DURATION: 7 Days
START / FINISH:
Takamatsu / Kochi
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.
Daily Itinerary
Day 1
DISTANCE: 45km
MEALS: Lunch & Dinner
DISTANCE: 45km
MEALS: LD
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.
Day 2
DISTANCE: 40km
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DISTANCE: 40km
MEALS: BLD
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.
Day 3
DISTANCE: 55km
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DISTANCE: 55km
MEALS: BLD
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.
Day 4
DISTANCE: 65km
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DISTANCE: 65km
MEALS: BLD
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.
Day 5
REST DAY
MEALS: Breakfast
REST DAY
MEALS: B
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.
Day 6
DISTANCE: 45km
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DISTANCE: 45km
MEALS: BLD
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.
Day 7
DISTANCE: 58km
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DISTANCE: 58km
MEALS: BLD
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!
.. or Go Custom!
We are flexible and understand that not everyone can make time to spend their entire Japan getaway in the saddle. We empathize with you if you’re in this position.
To counter this, our tours have been designed to allow for tweaking and give you flexibility to cut the itinerary short, reroute its sections or connect it with the itinerary of the 10-day From Shikoku to Shimanami Kaido tour.
We are also eager to hear from you about other places and routes which are not part of our usual itineraries. Let us use our knowledge and experience to put you on a fully custom ride.
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.
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.
On request, and for additional price, we can also fit you with a Miyata Cruise e-bike – a comfortable build with a capacity to support your cycling effort for over 100km daily.
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. We also use our van to transfer your luggage.
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.
All the while, your luggage will be safely stored in the van making it easy to access during breaks.
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.
We are a flexible team and can accommodate almost any departure date that you prefer.
The best cycling conditions in Shikoku start with the onset of spring in March until May, and in the Autumn, September through November. While temperatures in these periods may be low, it will not stop you from having a great time on two wheels.
Summers in Japan can be hot and one should observe the typhoon forecasts which may hinder international travel or foil all cycling plans in the country. Japan is accustomed to dealing with these conditions and any damages caused by typhoons are usually quickly dealt with.
Late March until early May coincides with sakura blooming season. This period, along with the Autumn leaves period may see a bit more travelers on the roads, but it’s also the most rewarding time to visit Shikoku.
A yearly celebration, called the golden week, falls on May 1st-6th and is a time when Japan comes to a complete halt with the Japanese visiting their holy places and families. This period is very difficult for international travel as it’s close to impossible to secure your itinerary.
Reach out to consult the best time to visit Shikoku by bike.
Ride the ultimate coastal tour of Shikoku. Visit the fishing communities, explore one of Japan’s last remaining castles and go on an epic island-hopping ride across the Seto Archipelago on this fully supported tour of Shikoku.
Heading out of Tokushima, you will visit local fishing communities as you follow the coast of the Pacific towards Kochi, where you will visit one of Japan’s historic castles. Continue along the back roads of the Shimanto river towards Uwajima for lessons in Japanese culture and history and spend a night in Matsuyama on the western coast of Shikoku to test traditional sake and to visit local breweries.
Finally, set out to take in the otherworldly panoramas of the Shimanami Kaido, the most popular island-hopping ride in Japan.
TOTAL DISTANCE: 610km
DIFFICULTY: Medium/Demanding
DURATION: 10 Days
START / FINISH: Tokushima / Onomichi
10 days
FROM SHIKOKU TO SHIMANAMI KAIDO
Ride the ultimate coastal tour of Shikoku. Visit the fishing communities, explore one of Japan’s last remaining castles and go on an epic island-hopping ride across the Seto Archipelago on this fully supported tour of Shikoku.
TOTAL DISTANCE: 610km
DIFFICULTY: Medium/Demanding
DURATION: 10 Days
START / FINISH:
Tokushima / Onomichi
Heading out of Tokushima, you will visit local fishing communities as you follow the coast of the Pacific towards Kochi, where you will visit one of Japan’s historic castles. Continue along the back roads of the Shimanto river towards Uwajima for lessons in Japanese culture and history and spend a night in Matsuyama on the western coast of Shikoku to test traditional sake and to visit local breweries.
Finally, set out to take in the otherworldly panoramas of the Shimanami Kaido, the most popular island-hopping ride in Japan.
Daily Itinerary
Day 1
DISTANCE: 60km
MEALS: Lunch & Dinner
DISTANCE: 60km
MEALS: LD
Ride mountain roads and rivers to the seaside town of Hiwasa. Visit temple 23 Yakuo-ji (one of the temples of the famous 88 temple pilgrimage). Tour the local fishing village and see the Sea turtle protection center at the beach. Rest your feet in the town footbath and stay in a local inn converted from a 100 year old house.
Day 2
DISTANCE: 70km
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DISTANCE: 70km
MEALS: BLD
Leave Hiwasa for a fantastic day long coastal ride along the blue Pacific Ocean with breathtaking views. This is one of my favorite rides in Shikoku. Stop for lunch in a small fishing port with a farmers market. meet pilgrims along the route. Stay in the town of Muroto (formerly famous for whaling.) This is a fabulous way to see southern Tokushima.
Day 3
DISTANCE: 80km *
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DISTANCE: 80km *
MEALS: BLD
Day 4
REST DAY
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
REST DAY
MEALS: BLD
Spend the day in the covered shopping streets and explore Kochi castle, one of the few preserved historic castles in Japan. Kochi is famous for making wonderful sushi knives, a great souvenir to bring home.
Day 5
DISTANCE: 50km
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DISTANCE: 50km
MEALS: BLD
Ride from Kochi to Suzaki. Another great coastal ride to this very small fishing village and stay in a classic Japanese house. Just lovely.
Day 6
DISTANCE: 75km
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DISTANCE: 75km
MEALS: BLD
Ride from Suzaki to Shimanto. Ride along small river roads and mountainsides. Stay in another private house near the beach with wonderful views.
Day 7
TOTAL: 75km
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DISTANCE: 75km
MEALS: BLD
Today we will follow a river through the mountains to the coast. You will have a chance to see many farmers fields and small towns along the way. This is a hilly ride and a nice change of pace. We will stay at an Onsen hotel in Otsuki.
Day 8
TOTAL: 75km
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DISTANCE: 75km
MEALS: BLD
This day starts with a great loop ride to the tip of the cape and an inland ride to the town of Uwajima. Being a coastal city, Uwajima supports a couple of industries related to the sea, such as fishing and pearl cultivating. It is one of the top pearl producers in Japan. The accommodation for today is a western hotel in the vicinity of a historic castle and a lovely Tenshaen Garden (天赦園).
Day 9
TOTAL: 52km
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DISTANCE: 52km
MEALS: BLD
A quaint ride to the town of Uchiko where time stands still. We will tour the local streets and then train transfer to Matsuyama to do Sake tasting and dinner at a local sake factory.
Day 10
TOTAL: 75km
MEALS: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
DISTANCE: 75km
MEALS: BLD
.. or Go Custom!
We are flexible and understand that not everyone can make time to spend their entire Japan getaway in the saddle. We empathize with you if you’re in this position.
To counter this, our tours have been designed to allow for tweaking and give you flexibility to cut the itinerary short, reroute its sections or connect it with the itinerary of the 7-day Shikoku North to South tour.
We are also eager to hear from you about other places and routes which are not part of our usual itineraries. Let us use our knowledge and experience to put you on a fully custom ride.
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.
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.
On request, and for additional price, we can also fit you with a Miyata Cruise e-bike – a comfortable build with a capacity to support your cycling effort for over 100km daily.
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. We also use our van to transfer your luggage.
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.
All the while, your luggage will be safely stored in the van making it easy to access during breaks.
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.
We are a flexible team and can accommodate almost any departure date that you prefer.
The best cycling conditions in Shikoku start with the onset of spring in March until May, and in the Autumn, September through November. While temperatures in these periods may be low, it will not stop you from having a great time on two wheels.
Summers in Japan can be hot and one should observe the typhoon forecasts which may hinder international travel or foil all cycling plans in the country. Japan is accustomed to dealing with these conditions and any damages caused by typhoons are usually quickly dealt with.
Late March until early May coincides with sakura blooming season. This period, along with the Autumn leaves period may see a bit more travelers on the roads, but it’s also the most rewarding time to visit Shikoku.
A yearly celebration, called the golden week, falls on May 1st-6th and is a time when Japan comes to a complete halt with the Japanese visiting their holy places and families. This period is very difficult for international travel as it’s close to impossible to secure your itinerary.
Reach out to consult the best time to visit Shikoku by bike.
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.
On request, and for additional price, we can also fit you with a Miyata Cruise e-bike – a comfortable build with a capacity to support your cycling effort for over 100km daily.
Other inclusions
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. We also use our van to transfer your luggage.
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.
All the while, your luggage will be safely stored in the van making it easy to access during breaks.
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.
Availability
We are a flexible team and can accommodate almost any departure date that you prefer.
The best cycling conditions in Shikoku start with the onset of spring in March until May, and in the Autumn, September through November. While temperatures in these periods may be low, it will not stop you from having a great time on two wheels.
Summers in Japan can be hot and one should observe the typhoon forecasts which may hinder international travel or foil all cycling plans in the country. Japan is accustomed to dealing with these conditions and any damages caused by typhoons are usually quickly dealt with.
Late March until early May coincides with sakura blooming season. This period, along with the Autumn leaves period may see a bit more travelers on the roads, but it’s also the most rewarding time to visit Shikoku.
A yearly celebration, called the golden week, falls on May 1st-6th and is a time when Japan comes to a complete halt with the Japanese visiting their holy places and families. This period is very difficult for international travel as it’s close to impossible to secure your itinerary.
Reach out to consult the best time to visit Shikoku by bike.
Join us in downtown Takamatsu for an adventure by bicycle with an experienced bilingual guide.
See the port area, top ranked Ritsurin Gardens, ride through vast shopping streets, go to a local Udon shop and make your own bowl of noodles, cycle the backroads of Japan to see and meet local people.
We will provide you with city bikes and helmets for this comfortable ride. The tour is open to everyone but please note that our bikes are not fit for children or adults below 140cm tall.
PRICE: ¥7500 yen / rider
TOTAL DISTANCE: 15km
DIFFICULTY: Casual
DURATION: 6 Hours
START: 9 am
MEALS: Lunch, snacks & water
MEETING POINT:
7-1 Uchimachi, Takamatsu (near Mitsukoshi Store)
1/2 day
EXPLORE TAKAMATSU BY BIKE
Join us in downtown Takamatsu for an adventure by bicycle with an experienced bilingual guide.
PRICE: ¥7500 yen / rider
TOTAL DISTANCE: 15km
DIFFICULTY: Casual
DURATION: 6 Hours
START: 9 am
MEALS: Lunch, snacks & water
See the port area, top ranked Ritsurin Gardens, ride through vast shopping streets, go to a local Udon shop and make your own bowl of noodles, cycle the backroads of Japan to see and meet local people.
We will provide you with city bikes and helmets for this comfortable ride. The tour is open to everyone but please note that our bikes are not fit for children or adults below 140cm tall.
