Noto Peninsula Plus! the Alps Bike Tour

Day4Suzu (4)

Overview

Experience the ultimate cycling adventure with our Noto Peninsula Plus! the Alps Bike Tour, an exhilarating journey that combines the rugged beauty of Noto Peninsula with the majestic splendor of the Japanese Alps.

Begin your adventure by cycling along the stunning coastline of Noto Peninsula, renowned as one of the most breathtaking coastal routes worldwide. The Noto peninsula offers some excellent cycling routes, especially along its rugged coastline which is every cyclist’s delight. It is so isolated from the rest of Japan that until the medieval age, it was a place deposed kings and noblemen were banished to. However, it is this very isolation that has allowed Noto to develop its unique culture while remaining a relatively untouched and unexplored region of Japan.

Discover the UNESCO-recognized Oku-noto no Aenokoto rice harvesting ritual and delve into the Satoyama and Satoumi agricultural techniques that define Noto's landscape. Pedal through this enchanting region and be treated to a tapestry of unique agricultural landscapes and awe-inspiring coastal vistas.

But the adventure doesn't end there. Elevate your journey with a thrilling ride to the Japanese Alps, where we cycle through winding mountain roads and charming villages.

The cycling tour in the Noto Peninsula combined with Alps takes us through one of the most unique agricultural landscapes on earth, and some of the most beautiful coastal and mountain scenery. And of course, there are numerous Onsen springs and stays at Ryokan or traditional Japanese inns that complement the cycling experience.

Start

Kanazawa | 17:00hrs

Finish

Gifu

Lodging

casual

Level

moderate

Avg. dist. cycled

60km/36mi

Suitable for

Age: 13+

Highlights

Highlight Image

Noto Peninsula's dramatic coast

Bike along the rugged coastline of Noto Peninsula, one of the most beautiful coastal cycling routes anywhere in the world.

Itinerary

Brief Itinerary

DayPlacecasual Inns or similarMealsDistanceActivity
DAY 1KanazawaKanazawa Hakuchoro OnsenD
DAY 2HakuiKyukamura RyokanB,D60-75km/36-45micycling
DAY 3TogiSeaside Villa BokkaiB,D60-75km/36-45micycling
DAY 4Wakura OnsenAenokaze RyokanB,D95km / 57micycling
DAY 5Transfer to TakayamaB30km / 18micycling
DAY 6Gujyo-HachimanB74km / 45micycling
DAY 7GifuJuhachiroB,D64km / 38micycling
DAY 8DepartureB

Detailed Itinerary

Itinerary Image

Day 1: Kanazawa

We meet at our hotel in Kanazawa at 5:00 PM. After an introductory meeting and bike fitting, we take a stroll through the city and enjoy a welcome dinner in town.

Kanazawa is a city of half a million inhabitants which is sometimes given the moniker of Little Kyoto, on account of its being a nerve center of cultural life in the region. Kanazawa has great food, beautiful wooden townhouses, and serene gardens.

However, the one thing that Kanazawa is known for, above all else, is its gold leaf craft. In fact, Kanazawa in Japanese literally translates to “gold marsh”. Gold leaf is real gold that has been hand-beaten into a weightless, paper-thin sheet, which is then used in a range of products, from home decor to paintings, and even in food. The small town of Kanazawa makes all of Japan’s gold leaf. So significant is the gold leaf craft of Kanazawa that UNESCO recognizes the Kanazawa gold leaf craft as an intangible cultural heritage of the world. A local delicacy we suggest you must try when in Kanazawa is the gold leaf ice cream, which is, as the name suggests, ice cream with gold leaf on it.

Yet another Kanazawa highlight is the Kenrokuen Garden, considered one of the three most beautiful landscaped gardens in Japan.

With so much to explore, you’ll have your hands full in Kanazawa even before our cycling adventure has begun. This is why we recommend that you arrive a day earlier in Kanazawa to explore some of it on your own. Kanazawa is a 3.5-hour bullet train journey from Osaka and 3 hours by bullet train from Tokyo.

Meals: D
Itinerary Image

Day 2: Hakui

Near Kanazawa, we have the opportunity this morning to visit a traditional soy sauce factory, which is among the tour's highlights. Later, we begin our cycling journey by heading due west towards the Sea of Japan and then taking a sharp northwards course to ride along the beach. The ride takes us to the famous Chirihama Nagisa Driveway — an 8 km stretch of hard-packed sand on which it is permissible to drive and bike. This makes it perhaps the only driveway of its kind anywhere in the world. We stop by the beach for lunch and then continue onwards to our destination, which is the small town of Hakui noted for its silk textile production.

Day2 Kanazawa to Hakui.png

Meals: B,D
Cycling Distance: 60-75km/36-45mi
Accommodation: Kyukamura Ryokan
Itinerary Image

Day 3: Togi

We get on our bikes in the morning and continue heading due north along the coast. The sea is our constant companion on this day, and we cross several quaint fishing villages as we ride along the rugged Noto coastline. A particularly interesting phenomenon we get to observe this day is the fascinating rock formations along the coast, where the turbulent sea has shaped the rocks into interesting shapes over thousands of years. As we near the end of the day’s ride, we might get to catch the sun going down into the sea behind the famous Hatago Iwa, or “married rocks” that are considered sacred in the Japanese Shinto religion. We end the day’s ride at Togi, a town known for its ancient gold and silver mines.

Day3 Hakui to Togi.png

Meals: B,D
Cycling Distance: 60-75km/36-45mi
Accommodation: Seaside Villa Bokkai
Itinerary Image

Day 4: Wakura Onsen

Since Suzu is the northernmost tip of the Noto peninsula, we now start biking in a southerly direction. We bike past fishing villages and white sand beaches, where we get off our bikes and dip our feet in the sand, relaxing for some time. We then get back on our bikes and ride through Noto Jima Island, a small island cut off from the rest of the Noto Peninsula by small strips of the Sea of Japan, forming natural bays. We ride over the bridges that connect the island to mainland Noto, and since it is quiet all around, we get to stop and admire the view of the bay from the bridge. We then ride onwards to our destination for the day, the famous Wakura Onsen.

Wakura Onsen is a system of hot water springs located close to Nanao Bay and was founded over 1,200 years ago. It is one of the oldest hot spring resorts in the region. The large ryokan offers guests excellent baths with gorgeous views. Today don't miss soaking in one of Wakura's world-famous hot springs and catching a glimpse of bottlenose dolphins from Noto Island.

suzu-wakura.png

Meals: B,D
Cycling Distance: 95km / 57mi
Accommodation: Aenokaze Ryokan

Day 5: Transfer to Takayama

As we head inland by van away from Noto Peninsula, we experience a change of scenery from the ocean to mountain landscapes. Today we shuttle (about 2hrs) inland further to Hida Takayama, the foothills of the Japan Alps! After cycling out of the village, we start climbing on quiet mountain road where we see local farmers working on rice fields. After a pleasant downhill, we meet the Miya River where we are likely see local fishermen at work. The river flows through all the way to our destination Hida Takayama, often described as the little Kyoto because of the similarity of construction and atmosphere. We try some Hida beef here, the local specialty known as one of the best beef in Japan!

Meals: B
Cycling Distance: 30km / 18mi
Accommodation:

Day 6: Gujyo-Hachiman

Today, we cycle along the Hida Seseragi Highway, tracing the lively mountain streams. Passing through quaint villages, traditional shrines, and verdant paddy fields, we reach Gujo-hachiman, a castle town that thrived during the 16th century. Strolling leisurely along its atmospheric streets, adorned with ancient houses and water channels, we make our way to Gujo-hachiman Castle. Tonight, we indulge in the regional delicacy of Unagi eels, freshly caught from nearby rivers.

Noto-Takayama to Gujohachiman.png

Meals: B
Cycling Distance: 74km / 45mi
Accommodation:

Day 7: Gifu

Derived from melting snow and rainfall in the central mountain ranges, the Nagara River is renowned for its pristine waters and serene allure. Today, we ride alongside this tranquil river to Mino City, renowned for producing the finest quality Japanese papers known as Mino Washi. Our ultimate destination, Gifu, beckons us with a festive dinner cruise along the Nagara River, offering a glimpse of Ukai, the traditional cormorant fishing method, from the comfort of our boat. (Please note that cormorant fishing is seasonal from May 11th to October 15th. During other times, we enjoy a traditional Japanese dinner at our accommodation instead.)

Noto-Gujohachiman to Gifu.png

Meals: B,D
Cycling Distance: 64km / 38mi
Accommodation: Juhachiro
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Day 8: Departure

The tour concludes following breakfast today. For transportation to Gifu station, a taxi ride of approximately 20 minutes is available, costing around JPY 2,000 per taxi. You can take a train from Gifu to Tokyo for 2.5 hours, and 1.5 hours to Kyoto.

Meals: B
Accommodation:

Ready to plan your adventure? Download a print-ready detailed itinerary.

Map

Accommodation

Each hotel has been thoughtfully selected to ensure an exceptional and memorable experience for guests. Should the listed hotel be unavailable, we will ensure an alternative of similar quality.

Highlight Image

Kanazawa Hakuchoro Onsen

The rooms capture the atmosphere and the culture of the Taisho period romanticism. Because of its mineral-rich hot water, their onsen is often referred to as "Hot Spring of the Beauty".

Dates and Prices

Members get an estimated 10% off on this trip.

$50/yearLearn more


Single Supplement

From US $350

E-Bike Upgrade

From US $150


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Essential Info

Inclusions

LODGING

All hotels as mentioned in the tour details or similar (subject to availability).

trip leader

Expert Trip Leader(s) who look after your every need and add meaning to your vacation.

bike

Immaculately maintained bike with helmet, suited to a terrain.

shuttle

A Van support follows the group of riders and carries all belongings.

meals

Meals as per itinerary. Guests are given the opportunity to dine on their own so that they discover a location independently.

refreshments

Refreshments and mineral water while cycling.

entrance

Entrance fees to most of the monuments and temples.

E-bikes

E-bikes are available (subject to availability) on this trip at a surcharge.

Exclusions

Airport pickup and drop

We recommend to book direclty from airport or hotel.

meals

Some meals may not be included. Please check your itinerary.

Beverages

Beverages such as alcohol, tea, coffee, juice at a hotel or restaurant.

Bikes

When you have a road and the thrill of a journey ahead of you, it’s imperative to have a good bike to enjoy it. Our fleet majorly consist of the below bikes as a part of this tour. However, sometimes due to height or availability constraints, we may provide a different but similar quality bike.

Bike Image

Trek FX 7.4 or similar

hybrid

Included in your trip price

Bike Image

Trek 1.2 or similar

road

Included in your trip price

Bike Image

Panasonic Jetter or similar

ebike

Available at a surcharge

Weather

Mid-April to mid-June and mid-Sep to the end of Oct are the warm months with an average temperature of around 20 degrees and most suitable for cycling in the Noto Peninsula.

Normally, Tsuyu season (rainy season) starts from early June to mid July. If we go on a bicycle trip during this time lasting over a week, there's a possibility of encountering rain on at least one day, though the possibility of rain remains similar during other seasons as well.

January

Offseason

February

Offseason

March

Mixed

April

Best

May

Best

June

Good

July

Mixed

August

Mixed

September

Good

October

Best

November

Good

December

Offseason

Best

Good

Mixed

Offseason

Visa

For a Japan visa, we recommend visiting the official website of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). Japan has implemented measures concerning visa exemption agreements with about 69 countries/regions, as mentioned in the above official link.

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