Cross-Island Coastal Cycle

 Cycling, hiking and sightseeing in breathtaking Tottori.

• Cycle on small and picturesque roads along the stunning Sea of Japan coast.
• Cycling, hiking, and overnight stays on the beautiful, remote, and historic Oki Islands.
• Explore Matsue, a historical city with an original castle and a world-famous museum with Japan’s number one ranking garden.

Join Japan expert and award-winning cycling guide Richard Pearce for a special tour through the San-in region of Japan. San-in is a region of stunning beauty, rich in history and folklore. This region is of spiritual importance to the Japanese. San-in features heavily in Kojiki, the oldest surviving chronicle of the mythical origins of Japan and its gods. The Japanese see San-in as the birthplace of Japan. We follow a route in a famous Kojiki tale of the Deity Ōkuninushi and a white hare, between Inaba and Izumo, today Tottori and Izumo.

Our adventure begins near Tottori City. We start our journey along the San-in coastline on the Sea of Japan to Mount Mitoku, an ancient Buddhist temple complex. Here we visit Sanbutsuji Temple and have tea with the priests. We will spend the night in traditional lodgings in Misasa Onsen, a spa-town famous for the health-restoring properties of its water. 

Our journey continues west to Yonago City, passing through rice fields, pear farms, and fishing villages in the shadow of the stunning Mount Daisen. The following day, we begin cycling from the top of the mountain. As we glide through beech forest and lush pastures, we can enjoy spectacular views over the Sea of Japan and of the majestic mountain itself. At the seashore, we ride along a newly opened coastal cycle path. The path will take us to the Sakaiminato ferry port via Ejima Bridge, the third largest of its kind in the world, and the small islands of Eshima and Daikonjima. 

The next stage of our journey takes us by ferry to the remote Oki Islands, once a place of exile for former emperors, for a two-night stay. Here, we cycle on Nishinoshima and the Dogo Islands and walk the breathtaking Kuniga coastline. 

Back on the mainland, we’ll go to the “power spot” Mihonoseki Shrine, where we can see the morning dances performed by the shrine maidens. We’ll continue ride along the stunning coastline en route to Matsue. We’ll spend the rest of the day exploring Matsue, its impressive, original castle, and the world-famous Adachi Museum. Finally, we continue west along beautiful farm roads to Izumo Taisha, Japan’s oldest Shinto shrine and our goal. 

• Single/ double rooms in hotels or ryokans. Shared room with a member of the same sex in traditional accommodation.
• Total cycling distance: approx. 411 km