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Beautiful Japan

Japan has to be one of the most fascinating places to visit and what better way to experience it than by motorcycle. No matter what you’re looking for (except maybe deserts) you’ll find it somewhere in Japan; from the majestic snow capped Mt Fuji, to the scenic winding mountain roads leading to the most beautiful sights and places, to the quilt-like rice fields of the plains, to the sleepless cosmopolitan cities like Tokyo, to the simple elegance and beauty of Japanese gardens, temples and castles.

Why spend the whole day flying to a destination halfway round the world, where the clocks are not in time with your body, when Japan is a whole world away but only 7 and a half hours flying time from Cairns! Most Australians can fly to Tokyo within ten hours and Japan is virtually in the same time zone so you can forget about jet lag problems – there are none! You can even ride on the same side of the road as you do in Australia.

Japan is a country steeped in tradition, with a rich history with a highly refined culture, but at the same time it is full of modernity, surprising contrasts and apparent contradictions that are sure to fascinate visitors. Japan is unique, even among Asian countries. Service levels are typically high in Japan, the whole country is orderly, efficient and clean. It is also comparatively crime free, no tipping is expected or required, and nobody will hassle you to buy anything. Respect for others is the guiding principal in all they do – It’s hard to imagine, but even in a train station where up to a million people change trains a day and almost everyone has a mobile phone, you should not expect to hear even one ring tone!

The Route

Leaving the millions far behind - imagine strolling through a mountain village where all the inhabitants still live in World Heritage-listed houses, cruising lakeside mountain roads draped in all the hues of autumn leaves or the cherry blossomed avenues, soaking in natural hot spring baths at the end of the ride and trying some of the local cuisine.

There is so much to see and experience. Why not have a look at some of the links and see what we mean.

Our 9 day/8 night tour starts and ends in Tokyo and includes the World Heritage listed Nikko National Park and temples, Kinugawa Hot Springs (Onsen) Resort Town, Kegon Falls, the Japanese “Romantic Route” via Lake Chuzeji to Kusatsu before making its way through the Northern Japan Alps to Takayama in the heart of the Hida area famous for the prized Japanese ‘marbled beef’ and where rows of 400-year-old Edo period houses still stand. From there it’s more scenic riding to Shirakawa - where the whole community lives in World Heritage Listed thatched roof houses – and more beautiful lakeside riding before taking some expressway down to Kyoto – Japan’s capital city before Tokyo and where magnificent streets full of cherry blossoms can be enjoyed in the Spring.

Spending a day out of the saddle, there’s time to take in more of what Kyoto has to offer by way of cultural performances and theatres, or just soak up the atmosphere.