ON TOUR SUPPORT

A Typical Day on a Guided Tour

All our Japan cycling tours include a full-time support vehicle, ranging from Toyota Hi-Ace vans for bike support to 22-seat buses for larger groups. Vehicle choice depends on group size and local road conditions — on smaller tours, we often use mini-vans to navigate narrow roads safely.

The support vehicle’s main role is to support you on the ride:

  • Deliver your luggage to each night’s accommodation so you can settle in at your own pace.

  • Sweep the route to provide backup in case of mechanical issues, rider fatigue, or snacks.

  • Offer optional assistance on longer climbs, with vehicle-accessible sections highlighted during daily briefings.

With our support vehicle, you can enjoy Japan’s scenic cycling routes confidently and comfortably, knowing help is always nearby.

Daily Briefing

Our tour leader will give you a detailed breifing on each days ride. This is usually in the evening before dinner but sometimes this briefing will take place in the morning. You will receive detailed routing information for each day's riding, including GPS route data for those bringing their own GPS units.

Group of people taking a break from cycling on the side of a road next to a silver van, with bicycles parked against it, green hills in the background, and a clear blue sky.
Group of eight cyclists in cycling gear and helmets standing with their bikes outside a building.
Group of five cyclists with helmets and gloves, standing with bikes along a lakeside trail, with green mountains and a cloudy sky in the background, all smiling and waving.
A person riding a bicycle on a country road, wearing a bright yellow jacket, black pants, a black helmet, and glasses, with lush green trees and hills in the background.
A group of people with bicycles and helmets gathered near a van in a parking area with a mountain in the background.
Three cyclists standing with their bikes on a rural road, mountains in the background, blue sky with a few clouds, and green fields.
A smiling man wearing cycling gear crouching in front of a road bicycle outside a wooden house with a sign that reads 'Open'. The house has a forested background with trees and rocks around the garden.
Group of cyclists riding on a mountain road with green hills and a snow-capped mountain in the background under partly cloudy skies.
Three cyclists in colorful gear near a large stone monument with Japanese characters, on a sunny day with green trees in the background.
A woman and a man sit on a wooden bench by the water, facing away, with their feet immersed in the lake, surrounded by mountains in the distance.
A woman in cycling gear, wearing a helmet and sunglasses, standing with her bicycle on the side of a rural road. She is smiling with green fields and open skies in the background.
A glass mug of dark beer with a foamy head on a blue glass coaster on a wooden table.
A cyclist dressed in black with red accents stands with a black bicycle on a mountain road. In the background, lush green trees and distant mountains under a partly cloudy sky are visible.
Two cyclists riding on a curved rural road surrounded by green fields and trees, with mountains in the background on a partly cloudy day.
Yellow BMC road bike parked by a railing overlooking a winding mountain road surrounded by lush green hills.

Bike Mechanic 

Our guided cycling tours are all accompanied by a skilled bicycle mechanic. They will help assemble your prize possession on arrival, repackage at the end of the ride and keep it going in between. This includes adjustments to gears, brakes and other issues you may encounter, as well as helping you with any flat tyres. Although on that point, the roads are mostly free of broken glass as the Japanese tend not to throw stuff out the windows of their cars, so flat tyres, although they do happen, are a rarity. 

Although our tour leaders can fix most bike problems, some modern electrical gearing systems are difficult to field service. Some other bike repairs may also require specialty equipment, which we may not carry. 

Transfers

On our guided cycling tours, we meet you at the airport or airport hotel.

Please note that small groups and small private groups may have the option to use public transport organised, arranged and escorted by one of our bilingual leaders if it meets their requirements and budget.

Want to learn more about our tours?

Contact us