Cycle Japan

What's Included

• Accommodation
  Hotel (8 nights), Ryokan (2 nights)

• 9 days guided & vehicle-supported cycling

• 9 Days Included Bicycle Hire

• Kyoto - Gion District walk

• Kyoto - Arashiyama Bamboo Forest

• Kanazawa - Kenroku-en Garden

• Kanazawa - Nomura Samurai House

• Myojoji Temple

• Cycling on Chirihama Beach

• Kadomi Traditional House Visit

• Agehama-style traditional salt-making farm

• Shiroyone Thousand Rice Paddies Visit

• Tokyo - Sensoji Temple

• Tokyo - Tsukiji Fish Market

• Meals

  10 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 4 dinners

• Nara - Todaiji Temple

• Omi Hachiman historic village visit

• Gassho Village open air museum

• Takayama morning market visit

• Gifu Castle visit

What's Not Included

• International Travel

• Tipping and Gratuities

Transport

While there are occasions when we use local public transport such as trains, buses or taxis to cover long distances or attend non-cycling activities, we predominantly use the bicycle as our main form of transport. On most of our trips we also have a support vehicle as secondary transport for travelling longer distances, avoiding hazardous areas to cycle, as a backup should we have any incidents and of course as an option for those that would prefer not to cycle for an hour or a day. In most regions, the support vehicle will be a minivan, but may range in size up to a full-sized coach or overland vehicle. Your main piece of luggage is transported in the support vehicle. Our bikes do not have panniers or bags on them, so we recommend a small backpack or a cycling jersey with rear pockets to carry any essentials you’ll need with you.BRINGING YOUR OWN BIKEPlease note that due to operational restrictions clients are unable to bring their own bikes on this trip.Bike bag/box restrictions on TrainsFrom May 2020 there will be size restrictions for luggage on Shinkansen trains. Luggage over 160-250cm may require an additional 1000 JPY oversize luggage fee per train journey. Luggage over 251cm will NOT be permitted on the Shinkansen trains at all.Please note a Japan Rail Pass is not incuded as part of this trip. All train sections indicated as included on the itinerary are prebooked and prepaid as a group and cannot be used individually.INCLUDED BIKESWe use Giant Escape RX3 bikes on our Cycle Japan trip - it is an aluminium frame hybrid style bikes with 27 gears, rigid fork, rim brakes and flat bars and 28mm tyres.For full specs and geometry please see http://www.giant.co.jp/giant16/bike_datail.php?p_id=00000051#specificationsAn e-bike option (at additional cost) may be available on this trip. We have limited numbers of these bikes available and they are an 'on request' basis only. A request does not guarantee an e-bike, only a confirmed booking. Please ask your agent for more details at the time of booking.INCLUDED OR HIRE BIKES: CONDITIONS OF USEYou must not mistreat the bicycle and must return it in the same condition as when you received it (excepting ordinary wear and tear). You should immediately inform the supplier in the case of breakdown or loss. The provider is entitled to charge for any damage caused to the bicycle during the period of hire. You must also make sure that the bicycle is secured when not in use. If the equipment is lost or stolen you may be liable for the replacement value of the bicycle. The bicycle remains the property of the supplier and you may not sell, rent out or part possession with the bicycle. You must not use the bicycle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.SUPPORT VEHICLEWhile we always aim to ride to our next accommodation, outside of the main cities a support vehicle will also be with you at all times. Please note that the maximum number of cyclists we can fit in the support vehicle is 4. The support vehicle is not with us in Kyoto and Tokyo.

Accommodation

All accommodation at traditional Japanese Ryoken has shared bathroom facilities.RYOKANS & MINSHUKUSJapanese-style accommodation - ryokans or minshukus (traditional inn/guesthouse) involve sleeping on futons or matresses on tatami mat floors, with bedding often packed away during the day. Attached bathrooms/toilets will usually be very small and many will only have shared bathing facilities with certain hours, or times available for booking at reception. Your leader will explain etiquette involved in using the shared facilities. As this style of accommodation will often not have furniture (ie. chairs or beds) in the rooms, please consider choosing a different trip style in Japan if you have difficulty getting up from the floor or have knee, hip or back issues. Some establishments may have a curfew when travellers need to be back in the accommodation - this is usually around midnight. Please also be aware that you would normally be required to change to slippers when entering into your room in such properties. Extra fees will be charged if dirty marks are left on their beddings or towels that require professional cleaning.OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATIONThe style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASISAccommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on a different Intrepid trip than your own.CHECK-IN TIMEThroughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATIONIf you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (subject to availability), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.Accommodation in Japan can be difficult to secure at short notice. If you are travelling in Japan before or after your trip, we recommend booking accommodation at least 1 month in advance of travel, especially in high season (March to May, September to November).

Included Activities

Kyoto - Gion District walkKyoto - Arashiyama Bamboo ForestKanazawa - Kenroku-en GardenKanazawa - Nomura Samurai HouseMyojoji TempleTokyo - Sensoji TempleTokyo - Tsukiji Fish Market

Important Information

1. It is very important that you provide your height at time of booking so we can ensure that you have the appropriate sized bicycle when your trip starts. If you do not provide your height ahead of arrival we cannot guarantee a suitably sized bike for you.2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 5 and Day 7 where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.3. It is essential that you pack light and compact for rail travel in Japan. Luggage size restrictions apply. Please review the Packing section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.4. Bike helmets are compulsory on this trip. Please bring your own bike helmet from home. Helmets can be purchased in Kyoto if needed.5. An e-bike option (at additional cost) may be available on this trip. We have limited numbers of these bikes available, and they are an 'on request' basis only.

Mode of Transport

While there are occasions we use local public transport such as trains, buses or taxis to cover long distances or attend non-cycling activities we predominantly use the bicycle as our main form of transport. On most of our trips we also have a support vehicle as secondary transport for travelling longer distances, avoiding hazardous areas to cycle, as a backup should we have any incidents and of course an option for those that would prefer not to cycle for an hour or a day. These vehicles range from a minivan in most regions up to a full sized coach or overland vehicle in others.Your main luggage is transported in the support vehicleBRINGING YOUR OWN BIKEPlease note that due to operational restrictions clients are unable to bring their own bikes on this trip.Bike bag/box restrictions on TrainsFrom May 2020 there will be size restrictions for luggage on Shinkansen trains. Luggage over 160-250cm may require an additional 1000 JPY oversize luggage fee per train journey. Luggage over 251cm will NOT be permitted on the Shinkansen trains at all.Please note a Japan Rail Pass is not incuded as part of this trip. All train sections indicated as included on the itinerary are prebooked and prepaid as a group and cannot be used individually.INCLUDED BIKESWe use Giant Escape RX3 bikes on our Cycle Japan trip - it is an aluminium frame hybrid style bikes with 27 gears, rigid fork, rim brakes and flat bars and 28mm tyres.For full specs and geometry please see http://www.giant.co.jp/giant16/bike_datail.php?p_id=00000051#specificationsSUPPORT VEHICLEWhile we always aim to ride to our next accommodation, outside of the main cities a support vehicle will also be with you at all times. Please note that the maximum number of cyclists we can fit in the support vehicle is 6. The support vehicle is not with us in Kyoto, Kanazawa and Tokyo.An e-bike option (at additional cost) may be available on this trip. We have limited numbers of these bikes available and they are an 'on request' basis only. A request does not guarantee an e-bike, only a confirmed booking. Please ask your agent for more details at the time of booking.This trip includes an option of a motorised bicycle (e-bike) at an additional cost. Please inquire at time of booking.RENTAL E-BIKESWe have 2 models of rental e-bikes in Japan (both with assistance up to 25kph):Giant Escape RX-E+ - hybrid style bike with flat bars, hydraulic disc brakes, & 10sp Shimano gears.Available in sizes XS (155-170cm, 5'1"-5'7") and S/M (165-180cm, 5'5"-5'11")Trek Verve+ - hybrid style bike with flat bars, hydraulic disc brakes, & 9sp Shimano gears.Available in size L (174-187cm, 5'8"-6'2")Please provide your height at time of booking so the correct size can be arranged.INCLUDED OR HIRE BIKES: CONDITIONS OF USEYou must not mistreat the bicycle and must return it in the same condition as when you received it (excepting ordinary wear and tear). You should immediately inform the supplier in the case of breakdown or loss. The provider is entitled to charge for any damage caused to the bicycle during the period of hire. You must also make sure that the bicycle is secured when not in use. If the equipment is lost or stolen you may be liable for the replacement value of the bicycle. The bicycle remains the property of the supplier and you may not sell, rent out or part possession with the bicycle. You must not use the bicycle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Accommodation

Please note that during busy times the group may be split between two different accommodations for the 1 night at Wakura Onsen. When this is the case to ensure your comfort and safety the leader will stay with one group and the driver will stay with the other.All accommodation at traditional Japanese Ryoken has shared bathroom facilities.RYOKANS/MINSHUKUSJapanese-style accommodation - ryokans or minshukus (traditional inn/guesthouse) involve sleeping on futons or matresses on tatami mat floors, with bedding often packed away during the day. Attached bathrooms/toilets will usually be very small and many ryokans will only have shared bathing facilities with certain hours, or times available for booking at reception. Your leader will explain etiquette involved in using the shared facilities. As this style of accommodation will often not have furniture (ie. chairs or beds) in the rooms, please consider choosing a different trip style in Japan if you have difficulty getting up from the floor or have knee, hip or back issues. Some ryokans may have a curfew when travellers need to be back in the accommodation - this is usually around midnight. Please also be aware that you would normally be required to change to slippers when entering into your room in a ryokan. Hotels and ryokans will charge extra fees if dirty marks are left on their beddings or towels that require professional cleaning.Read more about ryokans here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/traditional-japanese-ryokan/OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATIONThe style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASISAccommodation on this trip is on a twin/multishare basis. Please note there may be times where facilities will be shared rather than ensuite and rare occasions when you share a room with passengers travelling on a different Intrepid trip than your own.CHECK-IN TIMEThroughout the trip we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination.PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATIONIf you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (subject to availability), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.There are shared bathrooms at some of the accommodation on this trip.Accommodation in Japan can be difficult to secure at short notice. If you are travelling in Japan before or after your trip, we recommend booking accommodation at least 1 month in advance of travel, especially in high season (March to May, September to November).

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