cycle: honshu

The Tohoku, or northeast region of Honshu provides a unique contrast of ancient and natural Japan. Whereas Hokkaido is mostly devoid of old (more than 150 years) temples and shrines, Tohoku dates back many centuries. Here you see a rich mixture of ancient Japan side by side with the vast wilderness that made this area very inhospitable to industrialists and developers.

Like Shikoku to the south, many old style villages still exist high in the mountains. Cycling through Tohoku allows you to see the stamp of Japanese culture against big mountains such as those in the Banda-Asahi National Park and the magnificent Towada-Hachimantai National Park.

The cycling here will be a combination of coastal scenery and high mountains and lakes with vast stretches of wilderness. Full details will be available early in 2009 and the first departure is tentatively scheduled for June 2009.

From the April blossoms of Shikoku, the band of blossoming cherry trees, or Sakura, moves slowly north. We will be following this cherry blossom season north and timing our ride to coincide with the best of the spring colours in this district.

Please contact us to put your name down if you are interested in joining our first ride in Honshu. We expect it to be of approximately 10 days riding with possibly one day hiking and will take place starting at the end of the first week in June 2009.