The inaugural Island Hopping Japan Cycling Tour recently came to a conclusion on the island of Okinawa. What did the riders think of their journey through the Japanese islands of Honshu, Shikoku, Setonaikai, Honshu, Kyushu, Yakushima, Amami & Okinawa? Let’s take a look…

“Amazing scenery with views enhanced by the effort to get to there, fuelled by exquisite Japanese cuisine, and supported by exceptional staff, in the enjoyable company of interesting fellow riders.” – Stephen Williams (Australia)

“This was my second TDA tour. I found the crew, the cycling group, and the tour itself to be everything I’d hoped it would be. The tour was challenging but an exploration of parts of Japan that many don’t get to see. Our entire group was fun, supportive and inclusive. Our TDA crew and staff were all wonderful! Well done yet again TDA!” – Charlene Cebryk (Canada)

“This tour was a personal adventure and challenge. I met extremely interesting engaged riders. The staff were outstanding. I visited places and did things that i could not imagine organizing by myself. I would recommend this trip to anybody who wishes to discover Japan in the presence of motivated co-travellers.” – Padraig O’Carroll (Canada)

“The Japan Island Hopping Tour is a fabulous new tour – the variety of landscapes, challenging and remote cycling, wildlife and a great introduction to Japanese culture off the beaten track are just a few of the highlights. The ferry travel added another fun and interesting dimension.” – Ruth Storm (UK)

“TDA is a world class operation based on adventure, cultural awareness and the environment. Safety was paramount as was keeping us well informed as to what was coming up. I loved the ‘white board’ that gave us a glimpse of our riding future the next day. The riding was challenging but well within reach for most of us and having the option to not ride or ride part way relieved a lot of anxiety for some in the group. We had great group dynamics so that was also a bonus. Thank you TDA for this one of a kind experience, I don’t think anyone is on par with you.” – Catherine McDonald-Smith (Canada)

“The tour was much more than I expected. We were in the back and beyond on most of our rides. There is not a chance that you could travel to Japan on your own and see the true country. Travel would most likely be along the train, bus, plane and ferry routes. The land and places beyond these corridors would be missed. We got to see, smell and experience the real Japan. What a great experience. Thank you TDA!” – Frank Smith. (Canada)

“The TDA model has been undeniably successful. Why? Because TDA preserves the raw adventure while still providing significant structure and organization, a safety net and opportunity for kinship with like-minded riders. As our first long haul “guided trip” we’d say they over-delivered in almost every category. We will do another.” – Jay Zammit (Canada)

“A fabulous way to see a part of a fascinating country. A bicycle allows one to cover substantial distances but still immerse in and savour the country, its people, and culture.” – Ian Tingle (South Africa)

“This was my absolute favourite tour of the four tours that I have done with TDA! I felt spoiled and was blown away by the routes, hotels, food, crew, scenery, culture, history. We saw a Japan that I bet 99% of tourists would never see. That is what made this trip very special.” – Brian Cebryk (Canada)

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After 31 days of riding, 2500km (1553 miles), two long ferry transfers, two additional travel days, nine rest days and 36 km (118,000 ft) of climbing, TDA Global Cycling’s inaugural Island-Hopping Japan Cycling Tour has arrived in our final destination, the city of Naha in Okinawa as planned. I write- as planned – because for several days things didn’t look that great.

Probably the main characteristic that hits you when you walk around Naha is the presence of mythical animals called Shisas. A cross between a lion and a dog, they are guardians of the city and are supposed to bring good fortune and ward of evil spirits. There are two types of Shisas – one with an open mouth to ward off bad spirits and another with a closed mouth to keep good spirits in. Traditionally, locals place Shisas at entrances or on rooftops. If you walk the main shopping streets, Shisas are for sale in a wide variety of forms. I bought a pair of small Shisas sitting on a miniature banana. You might ask, why am I giving you all these details?

Well, as mentioned in the first paragraph, for several days things didn’t look good. It was just two months ago that I wrote a blog – Climate Change and Cycle Touring – describing how climate change is affecting our cycling tours. We were scheduled to reach Okinawa after the typhoon season and yet every night my roommate Kazu, our local support, would be sitting in front of the TV watching the weather, particularly the typhoon that devastated the Philippines and was predicted to eventually hit Okinawa.

We first got the true indication of this on the day-long ferry from Kagoshima. The ferry normally makes three stops before arriving in Okinawa but due to the winds and some rough seas, the captain decided to bypass one of the scheduled stops. Debarking at our destination an hour earlier in late afternoon, the weather was still not bad but in the morning when we went to pick up our bikes at the ferry terminal, the rain was in full swing and conditions for the next three days were looking – let me say – worrisome. As it was a rest day, we decided to take some precautions and rented a small bus in case it would be needed.

I will not bore you with more details of the next three days, except to say that we must have had help from the Shisas, as we arrived in Naha under a full sun with winds not even worth mentioning. In fact, sitting in the hotel writing this, I feel that the Shisas have been warding off bad spirits and keeping the good ones in on this tour from the day we started in  Osaka as we have been blessed with wonderful weather.

As one of the riders wrote to me, “We had a wonderful experience on our inaugural TDA trip. The staff, the routes, the hotels, the food – everything was well done and organized. Like most (participants) on this trip, we will be back.” And so the first ‘TDA lite tour’, here I would refer you to my first blog on this tour, is a wrap!

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After cancelling our Journey to the East Cycling Tour three times due to COVID, in 2023 we finally managed to run two separate groups of riders, one following the other three days later. I was fortunate to ride half the tour with the first group and the second half with the second group. I, and all my fellow riders, enjoyed the tour to such an extent that when I came back, I informed our team that Japan really deserved another tour with a different route. Our Operation Manager Miles, or as I call him, our firewall for new tours, was initially not convinced but eventually he, Kazu and Ozgur came up with the Island-Hopping Japan Cycling Tour, where I am currently writing this blog.

It is one thing to suggest another tour in Japan, it is quite another when the time to join the tour arrives. Doubts creep in. Will I enjoy Japan the second time as much as the first time? After all, things will no longer be new. Will the same things that gave me so much pleasure, will they be the same? Will watching an old lady shuffling alongside her bicycle grab my attention and make me smile? Will a mother with a child in front and one on the back of a bike make me want to grab my camera? Will visiting some of the famed 88 Shikoku temples be enchanting as before? Will the route that passes less known places attract participants and how will they enjoy them?

Today two and half weeks into the tour, sitting in Uwajima, a small city on the western coast of Shikoku Island that I had never heard of, I sat in a delightful Japanese garden, Tensha-en, which apparently refers to a place of heavenly forgiveness. The garden was created by the last feudal lord of the area in 19th century, who lived to be 100 years old and named it after one of his ancestors who wrote about the ideal way to live one’s retirement.

As I sat in the corner observing a small bird hopping around on the pristine grass and doing things which I don’t usually do at home like watching a leaf fall off a tree and land in the water, I smiled to myself, all my doubts about the tour gone. The tour, at least so far, has been beyond my expectations. The team has come up with a terrific route that meanders through forests, small towns and villages, the coast and, of course, the mountains. The traffic on the roads has been almost non-existent and when we do encounter vehicles, the drivers are respectful and patient. The views have been magnificent, the accommodations, both traditional and modern, have been great and the food, typically traditional Japanese.

Almost everywhere, after a day of cycling, we find a yukata (cotton summer kimono) in our rooms. We strip, slip on the yukata and quickly head for the Onsen – traditional hot baths that also includes a sauna as well as a cold pool, for those like me, who after soaking in very hot water or a sauna, love to cool off in a cold pool. If there is a better way to clean up and relax after cycling 60, 80, 90 km or even 100km with an altitude gain of 1500 meters or so, I don’t know about it…and as you are all aware, I have cycled all over the world.

I mention the distances here on purpose. If you are a long-time follower of TDA tours, you might think, wow, these are not typical. The distances are shorter, even the elevation gains are not as large as some other tours. Your observation would be correct. It seems that the team decided to experiment a bit and create a TDA ‘Lite’ tour with shorter distances and more rest days. I must admit that so far, the reaction of the participants has been very positive. I will keep you posted.

Apropos the ‘garden of heavenly forgiveness’, as I sat in the garden and watched another leaf fall, my mind wandered to an email from one of the participants of the recently finished Silk Route. What an achievement! Belated congratulations to all the participants. Unlike this tour, the Silk Route is one tough epic. In this case the participant and apparently several others were unhappy with the bike boxes we provided for their trip home – “In short these boxes are not up to the standard I would expect from TDA given the general proficiency I have experienced with other aspects of your tours.”

Thank you for the compliment! I write that because being in Japan I think of Wabi Sabi. Wkipedia describes it as, “the appreciation of beauty that is imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete.” What I am trying to say is that TDA is imperfect, impermanent and incomplete. We try hard, very hard, but we don’t always succeed. Yes, these boxes were imperfect, but not for lack of trying. I hope that all the bikes have made it home and are in good condition. Sending this thought from the garden of ‘heavenly forgiveness,’ I hope you can forgive us.

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The fascinating Japanese city of Osaka is the starting point for our new Island Hopping Japan Cycling Tour and is best known for the spectacular Osaka Castle, tasty street food and bustling Dōtombori pedestrian area.

Osaka Castle

In 2025, however, there is an added bonus as the city (which previously hosted a World Expo in 1970) will be hosting the 2025 World Expo from April 13th to October 13th. This means our cyclists will have the opportunity to visit the Exposition.

I personally remember visiting Expo 67 in Montreal and how much I enjoyed it so would highly recommend that the riders check this out. The theme for the 2025 World Expo is ‘Designing Future Society For Our Lives.’ There are 5 major features  to the project: (1) A venue where you can feel the sea and sky, (2) Ideas for a future society for our lives from around the world, (3) A place you can see future technologies and social systems, (4) An Expo where you can enjoy real entertainment and (5) Somewhere committed to comfort, safety, and sustainability.

The organizers have even provided a guide for visitors who wish to ride their bicycles to the Expo on the man-made island of Yumeshima, located on the shores of Osaka Bay. It is a perfect opportunity to try out your bike before the big tour! Be sure to reserve a spot for your bike before you go.

There is also the possibility of creating your own commemorative socks by riding a bike!

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During the Island-Hopping Japan Cycling Tour there are many famous sites to visit, sometimes solemn, such as the Hiroshima Peace Museum. There are the daily highlights to experience along the route each day as well, from interactions with locals, to the varied and rich cuisine, to the well-deserved Onsen baths to be enjoyed after an incredible day of cycling.

Then there are the ones, partly due to the fact that they are different enough culturally or naturally, that give pause, and perhaps create a sense of awe, and certainly a chance to ponder and absorb the experience into your own history. For many, these opportunities to experience the new and unique are one of the greatest joys of travel…

Here are a few of the unique sights to ponder while cycling the Island-Hopping Japan Tour…

Maishima Incineration Plant, Osaka

The start of the Island-Hopping Japan tour takes place during the World Expo in Osaka in 2025. Arriving early to explore the pavilions, art and architecture is highly recommended. While not part of the Expo, and likely not something many people think of when planning a city visit, you may also wish to check out this waste disposal facility, the Maishima Incineration Plant. It was designed by the Austrian architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser, who may have had some inspiration from Dr. Seuss. The design brings attention and a chance to ponder our society’s relationship with our created waste.

Naruto Whirlpools

Did you ever wonder how long it would take the ocean to drain if there were a plug somewhere down below? I didn’t until I saw a photo of the Naruto whirlpools. Not that you need to worry. While the whirlpool looks similar to your bathtub emptying, it is not actually draining. The whirlpools are caused by high and low tides changing between the Pacific Ocean and the Seto Inland Sea.

Taga Shrine

“Fertility symbols at Taga shrine” by Maarten1979 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Dedicated to fertility, longevity and perhaps sexual curiosity, the Taga Shrine is renowned for its 2m long wooden phallus statue and for the sex museum located next door to the Shrine. Visit the shrine on its own or dive into the 3 floors of exhibits in the sex museum as well. It is sure to make one reflect on the relation between sex and Japanese culture as a whole.

Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine (Yukushima/Princess Mononoke)

As Atlas Obscura describes it, the Shiratani Unsuikyo Ravine is “The Magical Mossy Forest that inspired Princess Mononoke.” If you have not watched the Japanese film, Princess Mononoke, it’s highly recommended to do so! Located on the isolated island of Yakushima, it’s clear to see how the ravine and forest’s serene beauty would inspire both art and a sense of a greater spiritual world. Perhaps in the quietness you may experience Shirin Yoku, the Japanese practice of relaxation known as ‘forest bathing’.

Okinawan Bullfights

Sometimes travel offers a person opportunities to see something they thought they knew, but in a new light. The bullfights of Okinawa would fit into this category for most of us. A contest of strength between 2 bulls, but without an outcome of harm for the bulls. Each bull in the contest is coached in its strategy by their handler, as well as prevented from becoming too aggressive and hurting the other bull in the ring. Drinking beer and gambling is also a common indulgence of the local spectators. Perhaps at the end of a long and satisfying cycling journey to Okinawa, one may let themselves be taken in by both the unique and also the familiar.

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Japan Island Hopping. We have taken what was once a military strategy used by both the Japanese and American forces in World War Two and transformed...

When we first scouted our route for the Journey to the East tour in Korea and Japan, it was an incredible eye opener to these diverse, beautiful and perfect cycling destinations.

Japan, especially, has been one of our most popular destinations in the past 2 years, with tremendous participant feedback. So, we thought, how can we do another tour in the region that follows the TDA ethos of discovering new and unexpected routes that open up whole new lands to explore by bicycle.

Island Hopping Japan is that. A project put together with our operations team here at TDA, our local expert guide in Japan; Kazu, and Ozgur, our Tour leader extraordinaire and one of the original route planners of Journey to the East.

>>Related: Click here for dates, prices and full details

Osaka to Okinawa. Traversing 7 islands in 44 days, starting in October, 2025.

We will take you from the mountains to the tropics, from forested temples to sandy island beaches, as we cycle our way to the far southern reaches of Japan. Along the way we will experience the lesser-travelled islands of Setonaikai, Yakushima, Amami and Okinawa.

We are happy to announce our Island Hopping Japan tour and invite you to explore the breathtaking scenery, diverse and distinct cultures, and amazing cycling routes of each island with us!

Registration is now open.

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