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All of our trips are custom made, but many follow routes through the areas we know well - mostly in Northern Nagano.
Check out some past private custom trips ↓
For those looking to explore a differnet region, cover more ground over a wider range of multiple regions, or maybe you just want something that starts a bit closer to the rest of your itinerary.
Custom trips can be by bicycle, walking on paved paths, hiking in mountain trails, or any combination. Let us know more about your requirements and wishes, and we will research and put together sample itineraries to chose from.
We always try to work within your budget to find the most interesting, most unique Japan adventure available, and offering a range of add-on options to chose from.
Our goal is to put great adventures off the Golden Route within reach of anyone.
An ambitious journey covering 1000s of kilometers and climbing 1000s of meters - passing through large cities, small islands, mountain villages
With no set plan, only a general sense of direction, the itinerary changed daily with the mood, ensuring that every day was exactly what was needed.
Taking it slow, spending the time to focus on getting to know a single region.
This was a supported self-guided trip starting Shirakawago, passing through Kanazawa, and Wajima.
NOTE: This was a custom made before the 2024 Noto Earthquake.
A little bit of lake, a little bit of mountain, and a little bit of National Seashore. A little up, a little down, and a little rain.
This was short a bike-packing adventure for father and son repeat visitors who wanted to start and end in Kyoto.
Being a custom trip, this can be as easy, or as challenging as you would like. We want to make difficult-to-reach areas of Japan accessible to as many people as possible.
A custom trip can range from:
Yes, most of our trips involve some form of physicla activity, and some distnace on the bike or walking, but we are not masochists. Sometimes we like to relax too.
The riding, hiking, and walking do not have to be the main activity. We want people of all abilities and ages to enjoy rural Japan and see some places that they otherwise would not get to. Just keep in mind that many rural areas are not packed with tourist attracitons, so if you are not walking or riding, the pace will be slow and the goal is to enjoy just being there. "So... what's next?" is a a forbidden question.
Sometimes, riding the bike is still too fast. Some places deserve a few hours just to wander. Not being in a rush, and taking the time to slow down and see all of what the place has to offer. Without any specific distance goals for the day, this allows any pace without worry. We might cover just a few kilimoeters and get wrapped up in a museum for most of the day, or wander around a small town for a few hours, but spend just as much time soaking in a bath.
Walking all day is not just great exercize but a great goal. There are usually sites to stop and see along the way, of course, but we will put more focus on making it from point A to point B. We will plan based on the level of the participants.
Similar to a full day of walking, but we cover a lot more ground. We will of course stop for photos and breaks, and may have to push the bikes up some small hills. Maybe we comver between 30 ~ 60 km.
This will involve longer distnaces and more hills. 60 ~ 100 km depending on the terrain and how much there is to stop and see. We will wake up early and may climb 1000+ meters.
Believe it or not, we are not racers. Sometimes we have guests who are. For those who really want to put on a lot of km, or challenge themselves up ultra steep hills. We won't stop you, but if we are going to slow you down, we might not join you for all of it. Keep in mind, however, that such challenges are not what we are all about. Usually, this is a case where only one or two people in the family are that into biking. We will make sure that they can get the workout, while the others can go at a more relaxed pace
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.
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.
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.
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.
For certain times of the year, mainly spring and autumn, we
Longer trips will generally have a lower average daily rate, but this depends a lot on location, dates, and advance notice.
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.
One great thing about a custom wanderlust trip is that we have freedom to go wherever is best for the season.
While our main base is covered in meters of snow in winter (that itself is worth a visit), there are plenty of snow-free areas easily walkable or rideable without rubber boots or fat-tire bikes. In fact, when planned right, even without the green rice paddies, winter can be preferable to the summer heat as some places will be less crowded.
Please contact us with the dates you will be in Japan, and we can suggest something that would be appropriate based on your needs.