Experience the origin and pinnacle of Japanese tea culture with your whole body Uji tea in Kyoto is the origin of Japanese tea culture and the best brand. Uji is truly a “tea town” where all kinds of tea cultures come together. And the largest tea producing area is Wazuka, where the beautiful tea fields that spread as far as the eye can see give a unique feeling of the world. This tour starts or finishes in Nara and Kyoto with transportation included, and cycles between Uji and Wazuka on an E-Bike. Enjoy tea and sweets while looking at the tea fields. An optional tea ceremony in a teahouse is also available. Days: 1 day *Standard hours are from 9am to 3pmDistance: 43kmElevation g […]

Lake Biwa is the largest lake in Japan, and cycling around the lake is very popular.It’s very close to Kyoto, and an e-bike can take you to the western end of the lake in 15km (1 hour).You can cycle along the canal from Kyoto to Lake Biwa, or take a short loop to Omihachiman, the old center of Lake Biwa, and back, or even cycle 200km around the lake over three days. We will introduce some model courses from the perspective of local cyclists. Days: 3~4daysDistance: 220kmElevation gain: 970m Itinerary This route starts from Kyoto and goes along the Lake Biwa Canal Path, then along the Lake Biwa Cycling Road to Wani, crosses Mt. Hiei, and returns to Ohara via the Kamogawa Cycling Road. Th […]

Hi, I’m Ontama Negitoro, an avid cyclist mainly active in the Kansai region. I just love to ride—whether it’s a quick spin around my hometown, a full tour around Shikoku, or a Japan-crossing brevet. After countless journeys, I’ve come to truly appreciate the saying, “Where there’s a road, there’s a scenic view.”This time, I set out on a ride that’s both niche and deeply rewarding—rich in natural beauty and historical intrigue. It’s a route that will also appeal to architecture enthusiasts. Let’s head to Tojo Town in Shobara City, eastern Hiroshima Prefecture! Table of Contents 1. Traces of an Ancient Trade Route2. The Taste of Manjū Passed Down Since the Edo Period3. Sanrakusō: A Modern Japa […]

Born and raised in Kanda, Tokyo, I go by the name Shitamachi Kombu. It’s been nearly half a century since I came into this world. Today, I took a ride through the Kanda Matsuri—Kanda area’s largest festival, held once every two years—using a docomo share bike. This festival is one of the three great festivals of Edo, dating back to the Edo period, and is sometimes counted among Japan’s three major festivals. The sky today is a perfect May blue—ideal weather for cycling. If you have a moment, come along with me for the ride. Table of Contents Charging up that Edo spirit in NihonbashiSoaking in Meiji Era vibes at Tokyo StationA detour to Akihabara, the mecca of otaku cultureKanda, […]

Hello, this is Ontama Negitoro.This time, I rode the Saba Kaido from Kyoto with my father, who’s now in his 50s.My love for cycling probably comes from the “early training” I received from him—he’s a cyclist himself.The Saba Kaido is one of the routes we used to ride together several times when I was in elementary school.Thinking back, we rode pretty far for a kid, didn’t we?This time, we made the trip again as a parent-child ride, heading all the way to Wakasa Bay in Obama, Fukui Prefecture, for some mackerel! Table of Contents 1. What is the Saba Kaido?2. Accessing the Saba Kaido (From Kyoto)3. Crossing the Oldest Saba Kaido Route: Harihatagoe4. Remnants of Spring Snow5. To Kumagawa-juku: […]

Hello, I’m Ontama Negitoro.This time, I’d like to introduce a short cycling trip to the “Town of Shinobi” in Iga City, Mie Prefecture, a place famous for ninjas. When asked about famous historical spots in the Kansai region, most people would mention the ancient capitals of Nara and Kyoto. The “Town of Shinobi” is located along the route connecting these historic cities and major urban centers like Osaka to Mie Prefecture, home to the Ise Grand Shrine. Quite fitting for a place known for its stealth, don’t you think? Table of Contents 1. Onto the Iga Kaido, Where Ninjas Once Raced Through2. A Castle Fit for a Shinobi – Admiring Hakuho Castle3. That’s a Ninja House!4. […]

*Check out Race Report #01 & #02 here.https://globalride.jp/trip-travel/ehimemonitortour24_01_en/https://globalride.jp/trip-travel/ehimemonitortour24_02_en/ Table of Contents 　1. Touring the Fishing Villages and Capes of Southern Ehime (Uwajima City)　2. Our Everyday Lives Become Someone’s Entertainment (Uwajima City – Matsuyama City) Already, the Ehime tour has reached its fifth morning. As we enjoy a homemade Japanese breakfast at Kokuriko, the cozy rural dormitory that has hosted us for the past two days in Uchiko, our conversation with the owners, spoken in the gentle lilt of the Ehime dialect, is just beginning to reach full bloom… Yet, it’s already time to say goodbye. Parting […]

Now that we have traversed almost the entirety of the northwest coastal roads, let’s take a look inland at one of the multitude of routes crisscrossing the heart the prefecture, Okuiyo-Hijikawa River Cycling Course. Since it is still summer and as hot as ever, I chose a relatively leisurely ride following a meandering river from the mountains near the border to Kochi Prefecture to a familiar port town I passed through during my last ride; an almost exclusively downhill valley cruise leading to the sea. If you’re looking for a little more exercise, simply start at Nagahama Port and make your way up the valley from there. Table of Contents 　1. Starting from Kishimojin（the Goddess of Childbirth […]