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With the 101st Tour de France battling through the French Alps and after the success of the recent British leg in Yorkshire, cycling is seemingly rising in popularity amongst men and women in the UK. Japan is another place that cycling is growing in popularity and it just got even better.
For the visitor, a cycling tour of Tokyo or Kyoto for example is a great way to sight-see and gather a different perspective. A bike ride through temples, shrines and paddy fields in the Chubu region or by the sea on the Noto Peninsula always gives the sense of being somewhere very different.
For the more hardcore there are cycle routes through the mountains of Shikoku Island, but the crème-de-la-crème of cycling is arguably the Shimanami Kado.
The Shimanami Kaido is a 60km ride across six islands of the Seto Inland Sea from a small temple town called Onomichi on the mainland Honshu coast to Imabari on the rural island of Shikoku. The islands are connected by bridges and is geared up especially for cyclists.
A new hotel called ‘U2’ has just opened in the small town of Onomichi. The hotel is unique and especially aimed at cyclists. This is probably one of the only hotels in the world where cyclists are able to check in whilst on their bike, they can eat at the café whilst on their bike and sleep soundly in the knowledge that their beloved bike will not get stolen as it is parked on a rack on the bedroom wall.
There is of course bike repair services at the hotel and a bike shop enabling you to upgrade if you wish. This hotel is stylish and the perfect place for one (wo)man and her/his bike and a great place to start or finish your cycle across the beautiful Shimanami Kaido cycle route.
If you can’t wait until the Tour of Japan (May 2015) we can help you discover Japan by bike….