Two Day Japan Countryside Tour
An adventurous getaway for travellers with a full schedule, this trip provides an opportunity to see traditional country life in Japan, as well as taste a bit of the history and culture that are all but lost in the business-class hotels of downtown Tokyo.
Description top
Your days will be spent riding through the beautiful mountains or a cruising through the streets of the historic small-town Chichibu.
Your night will provide you a chance to unwind as you enjoy a traditional small-town family run ryokan style Japanese inn. Soak in an onsen hot-sping bath followed by a traditional Japanese dinner of local delicacies, coffee or green tea, and a chat with the owners of the inn and other guests. Your OneLife guide will be with you all the way to translate, answer questions, and put what you see into historical and cultural context.
Highly customizable, this course allows you to decide how far and fast you want to ride. Those looking for a workout have the option of riding 100km in a day, past small farms and rice paddies nestled in Japan's impressive mountains. If you are looking for a more relaxing trip, a 20km cruise leaves ample time to explore some of the many small streets, shops, and museums historic town of Chichibu, famous for its traditional silk kimonos, kabuki, and soba noodles. There are even opportunities to get in a day-hike to the top of the famous Mt. Buko, overlooking the city and perhaps providing a view of Mt. Fuji.
What to Expect (A Sample Day) top
The specifics of your trip will be decided once we get to know you and what you are looking for, but a sample day may look something like this.
| 7:00 | Meet at Ikebukuro station and catch the express train out of Tokyo. |
| 8:30 | Disembark at a small station surrounded by mountains, assemble the bikes, and enjoy a breakfast snack |
| 9:00 | Take in the countryside as we ride along a winding mountain road. |
| 11:00 | Stop to explore old-style Japanese farmhouse architecture or a small-town general store |
| 12:00 | Handmade buckwheat soba noodles for lunch (This area is famous for them) |
| 1:00 | Enjoy a panorama view of Chichibu town and the surroundings from a hillztop park |
| 1:30 | Learn about the natural history of the area at the Mt. Buko museum |
| 2:30 | Cruise down into Chichibu city through narrow streets surrounded by historic buildings |
| 3:30 | Ride through small farm villages toward Ogano, famous for Kabuki |
| 5:00 | Arrive at a small, 150 year old family-run ryokan inn. Relax in the hot spring bath and slip into a traditional cotton yukata robe. |
| 6:00 | Enjoy a full-course Japanese meal filled with traditional and local delights. |
| 7:00 | Sip green tea or coffee as we chat with the inn's owners and other guests, take an evening walk through the village, or just kick back and read a book. |
| 10:00 | Fall asleep dreaming about the next day - a morning bath and a traditional breakfast followed by... |
Pricing and Registration top
| 2 Days, 1 Night | |
| 1 Person | 55,000 JPY/person |
| 2 People | 40,000 JPY/person |
| 3 People | 35,000 JPY/person |
| 4+ People | 32,000 JPY/person |
If you would like to register for this trip or create a customised to a specific location other than Chichibu, contact us today.
Email: kevin@onelifejapan.com
Phone: +81-(0)3-3361-4776
What To Bring top
Just bring yourself and a camera - we have everything else you will need. But if you would like to bring your own gear, we will send you a check-listsuitable for the season when you register.