CUSTOM SELF- GUIDED CYCLING TOURS IN JAPAN

Japan Is Yours to Explore

Explore Japan on your own terms.

Our custom self-guided tours are built entirely around you — your travel dates, your ride level, your interests, your pace. Whether you’re drawn to remote mountain passes, quaint countryside ryokans, traditional cultural experiences, or steaming onsen baths, we design a one-of-a-kind cycling journey that reflects what excites you most about Japan.

Volcanoes. Remote forests. Massive mountains. Scenic valleys. Cultural and historical exploration. Exceptional local cuisine. Hiking trails. Undiscovered backroads.

If you can imagine it, we can build it.

Total Flexibility — Built Around You

Custom means there are no templates to fit into.

You choose:

• Your travel dates
• Trip length
• Ideal daily ride distances and elevation
• Accommodation style
• Regions you want to explore (we currently run tours in Gunma, Tochigi, Nagano, and around Lake Biwa)
• Rest days and off-bike interests

Want to base yourself in one region and do loop rides? Prefer a point-to-point journey across multiple prefectures? Interested in incorporating one of our existing set itineraries as a starting point?

We’ll start with your vision and build outward.

Is custom a good fit for me?

Custom self-guided tours are ideal if you:

• Have specific preferences you want to include in your tour plan
• Want to start/end in different cities than our pre-set tours
• Have a fixed schedule that doesn’t match our standard itineraries
• Value having more control and input in building a personalized itinerary

Custom may not be the best fit if you:

• Prefer a lower-cost, ready-to-book cycling adventure
• Prefer a fully structured itinerary with minimal decision-making
• Need to confirm your self-guided tour on a short timeline
• Don’t see value in paying a premium for a fully customized itinerary design

How the Custom Process Works

Want to start building your custom tour but aren’t sure what to expect? Here’s a step by step breakdown of our process:

1. Initial Inquiry

You submit a custom tour request form outlining:

• Desired dates
• Group size
• Preferred regions
• Rider level and daily distance range
• Accommodation preferences
• Any special interests

2. Follow-Up & Price Quote

We review your request and follow up as needed to clarify goals, expectations, and constraints. This ensures we understand exactly what kind of a trip you’re looking for so our proposal matches expectations. Before moving forward, we’ll send an exact price quote to make sure the tour is in line with your budget. 

3. Itinerary Proposal (2–3 Weeks)

Our team builds your itinerary proposal that includes: 

• Tour plan overview
• Day by day itinerary
• Route recommendations for each day’s ride
• Accommodation details

We’ll send this proposal and highlight any key details that might not be obvious at first glance - such as weather conditions based on the time of year, transfer options, etc. You review and provide feedback.

4. Refinement & Final Confirmation

If you have any adjustments you’d like us to make, we’ll update the proposal based on your feedback. Once our proposal receives your approval, we’ll send an invoice and booking forms to confirm your booking. After your rider deposit has been received (or full tour payment in the case of tours booked less than 2 months before the tour start date), your tour will be fully confirmed. 

5. Final Preparation (60–30 Days Before Departure)

One month before your tour start date you’ll receive an info packet email that contains:

• All of the routes for your tour (shared via RWGPS)
• Self-guided 101 logistics info guide (contains packing list, how to get to your tour info, what to expect on tour, etc.)
• Japan 101 cultural info guide

From there, you arrive in Japan ready to ride.

Sample Self-Guided Itineraries

Not sure where to start? Check out our self-guided set itineraries for some inspiration on what your remote, cycling adventure might look like. 

Ready to Design Your Ride?

Tell us what excites you about cycling in Japan — and we’ll build a journey around it.