5 Days Biwako & Wakasa Coast

Trip Basics

Season:
Late May
Duration:
5 Days
Estimate:
Fit to budget
People:
2 ppl
Region:
Multiple Regions
Difficulty:
Work Up A Sweat

Overview

This trip was for a repeat father / son who had already been to our Northern Nagano playground. They had also been to Japan several times before. While they wanted to see someplace other than Kyoto and Tokyo, their time was limited so starting in Kyoto was a requirement.

The main considerations for this trip were:

  • Goal is father-son time
  • Good Ride More Important than famous sites
  • Challenging for son
  • Not too challeninging for dad
  • Self-contained (no luggage transport or support van)
  • Guided

This was an easier trip to plan because I knew the customers, their ability, and what might interest them.

Client Request:

To: [email protected] Subject: Back to Japan in Late May

Hi Kevin, its me! I will be in Japan on business in May and son will be coming to meet up with me at the end. We will have about a week free. We will be meeting up in Kyoto, so can you arrange something that will start and end there?

We want to get out of the city, but not Nara. We don't have a lot of time, so ideally start right on the bike from Kyoto instead of spending time in the train on the first morning.

Notes from the Road

This trip was for a repeat father / son who had already been to our Northern Nagano playground. They had also been to Japan several times before, so they wanted to see someplace other than Kyoto and Tokyo. They did not mind if we pass through some areas are relativly well-visited tourist spots, but not for the entire trip.

Given their limited time, spending half a day to just get to the starting point ruled out Shikoku or Kyushu. They wanted to just start and finish the ride from where they were Kyoto.

Unlike some of our Custom Wanderlust trips, the accommodations for every night were booked in advance with no option to cancel, so distances were planned conservatively, but having ridden with them before, I had a good feeling for their ability and how much they like to ride.

Day 1: Kyoto ~ Hikone

Day 1: Kyoto ~ Hikone

Day 2: Hikone ~ Kinomotocho

Day 2: Hikone ~ Kinomotocho

Day 3: Kinomotocho ~ Wakasa Bay

Day 3: Kinomotocho ~ Wakasa Bay

Day 4: Wakasa Bay ~ Kayabuki-no-sato

Day 4: Wakasa Bay ~ Kayabuki-no-sato

Day 5: Kayabuki-no-sato ~ Kyoto

Day 5: Kayabuki-no-sato ~ Kyoto

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Difficulty


This trip was medium-high difficulty. Long days of riding, but always the option to take a cab if needed.

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Price Estimates

A custom trip is very difficult to give a one-size fits all price estimate due to many factors. Our main goal is to make it reasonable and affordable for anyone to have a unique once in a lifetime adventure with your limited time in Japan.

  • Number of Participants

    We want to make it affordable as possible, especially for families, which make up a large part of our customer base, so we do not have a set per-person rate. If you request as a family or group, it is much easier for us to take that into account.

    Unfortunately, it is often difficult insert individuals into custom trips with other random individuals, so joining a group to reduce costs can be difficult, but if we have requests from multiple parties for the same time, and everyone is happy to join strangers, we are happy to accommodate.

    Individuals, couples, or small group of three are welcome as well, of course, and we do our best to make an active rural Japan adventure attainable.

  • Type of Accommodation

    Depending on the itinerary, accommodation options can vary widely - from fairly luxury ryokan, to simple inn to business hotel. Usually we prefer smaller, more homey accommodation. Farm inns, small family run inns where possible. We prefer a warm friendly host with down-to-earth meals to a fancy lobby. We tend not to do luxury unless that is the request, and that luxury inn is actually the main attraction of the day.

    If we are truly wandering, going where the wind takes us without preplanned accommodation, sometimes there are not a lot of options, but this is just a feature and part of the excitement.

  • Location

    Price can vary depending on the number of days of the trip, and how far it is from our base near central Japan. Having to travel further to get to and from the location to host a two day trip will be more costly on a per-day average than if it is for a longer trip.

  • Dates / Advance Notice

    For certain times of the year, mainly spring and autumn, we

  • Number of Days

    Longer trips will generally have a lower average daily rate, but this depends a lot on location, dates, and advance notice.

  • Level of Support

    To accommodate different budgets, we can offer different levels of support. The price difference may not be huge, but for those where every little bit counts, we are happy to work to fit your budget.

    Fully guided: The guide will be with you to explain all meals and attractions, and either riding or walking with you, or always nearby.

    Semi guided: We will be there to support, carry luggage, help with communications, checking in, and some attractions, but also you will have more free time. We may choose meeting points through the day, and you will be on your own (although we will share GPS location, and always available on phone) and dinners at inns you can enjoy on your own, or on a case-by-case basis.

    Self-guided with support: We plan the route and give you maps, meet you are the start with bikes and take your luggage to the inn. We will be available via phone for support, and can see your location. Otherwise you are on your own. We will pick up the bikes at the end and you can seamlessly continue your journey.

    Fully Self Guided We plan the route and give you maps, assists with accommodation and other bookings, make arrangements for your to get bikes if needed, and give you as much support as possible without ever meeting. We will be available via phone for support, and can see your location. Otherwise you are on your own.

Please contact us with more details and we will do our best to either build an itinerary that fits your needs, or point you in the right direction if we are unable server you directly.

Dates & Availability

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