Coastal Japan: San-in Explorer

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Meet in Tottori

   The meeting point for the tour is Tottori City, the gateway to the San-in region. You'll meet at the hotel by 12:00 hrs. (12:00 PM) for a bike fitting and an easy 27 km warmup ride to the Tottori Sand Dunes, the largest and most visually striking of their kind in Japan. You will also visit the Sand Museum with its impressive sand sculptures.

   In the evening you'll convene for a trip briefing and welcome dinner at a local izakaya restaurant. 

   • 16.8 miles
   • 3.3 ft
     925.2 ft
     921.9 ft
   • Hotel Monarque Tottori (Western style)
   • Dinner

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     Elevation Profile

2. Day 2Tottori City - Misasa Onsen

   Starting from your city hotel, you'll weave your way out of Tottori and within 10 km find yourself riding along the shores of Lake Koyama, a picturesque lagoon with a shrine at its centre. From there, you'll head towards the Sea of Japan but don’t linger on the coast for too long (yet!). Instead, you'll wind through small, quiet country roads that pass through farmlands and forested hills. At 35 km, the day’s major climb begins: a steady 9 km ascent with a 4–5% gradient up to a forest-clad pass.

   After a well-earned breather at the top, you'll enjoy an exhilarating descent to Lake Togo, followed by a flatter stretch to the historic city of Kurayoshi. Here, you'll take a break from cycling for an exclusive temple visit and a stroll through the beautifully preserved warehouse district. From there, it’s just 10 km to Misasa Onsen, home to renowned 'miraculous' hot springs — an ideal place to soak and unwind after an exciting day on the bike!
   

   • 44.1 miles
   • 200.1 ft
     3,297.2 ft
     3,097.1 ft
   • Kiya Ryokan (Japanese style)
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

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     Elevation Profile

3. Day 3Misasa Onsen - Kaike Onsen

   You'll head back to the coast by following the course of the Tenjin River for 20 km. Then veer west, alternating between coast-hugging roads and rural stretches through pear farms and rice fields. Eventually, you will begin to catch glimpses of the towering Mount Daisen, a dormant volcano once referred to as the “Mountain of the Great God” and bearing resemblance to the more well-known Mount Fuji. You'll cycle along the undulating roads on the lower and middle slopes of the volcano, stopping regularly to appreciate the natural beauty of the area and take pictures. Tackling the slopes will involve some gradual as well as steep uphill bursts, though these are always rewarded with refreshing descents downhill. You'll spend the night in the seaside town of Kaike, known for its onsens and seafood! Make sure to catch the sunset at the sandy Kaike Onsen Beach.
   

   • 45.4 miles
   • -203.4 ft
     1,824.1 ft
     2,027.6 ft
   • Bayside Square Kaike Hotel (Japanese style)
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

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     Elevation Profile

4. Day 4Kaike Onsen - Dogo Island

   This morning, you'll transfer approximately 30 minutes from Kaike to the ferry terminal at Shichirui Bay. Here, your bike is loaded onto the ferry before you embark on a relaxing 2.5-hour journey to the Oki Islands. Consisting of 180 islands and inlets, this volcanic archipelago in the Sea of Japan will be your home for the next three days as you explore all four of its inhabited islands.
   
   Your first destination is Dogo Island, the largest of the group, where you'll set out on a fantastic loop ride from your portside hotel. The first half of the route follows the island's stunning east coast, with the road hugging the shoreline, winding through forests, and passing through tunnels beneath the coastal hills. Turning inland, you'll tackle a steady succession of climbs through the heavily forested interior, home to towering ancient Japanese cedars. By the 45 km mark, you'll emerge onto the coastal plains for the return ride to your hotel. This evening, you'll settle in for your first night in one of Japan's most remote and beautiful offshore island groups.

   • 32.3 miles
   • -6.6 ft
     4,101 ft
     4,107.6 ft
   • Hotel Miyabi
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

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     Elevation Profile

5. Day 5Dogo Island Ride - Nakanoshima Island - Chiburi Island

   Today begins with a 1 hour 15 minute ferry ride across the Oki Strait to Nakanoshima, the second of the four inhabited islands you'll explore. Upon disembarking, you'll spend the morning and early afternoon cycling around this stunning island. The ride features a dynamic succession of 1–3 km climbs and descents with mostly gentle to moderate gradients, though a few short pitches creep into double digits.
   
   Your route begins along the east coast, offering lovely views across the bays of Oki's inner islands, before crossing to the sparsely populated west coast, where dense forests of temperate broadleaf and cedar trees line the road. Continuing north, you'll complete the loop back to the pier, riding through the patchwork of rice paddies surrounding Ama Town.
   
   From here, your bike is rolled onto a public inter-island ferry bound for Chiburi Island, the southernmost and smallest of the four inhabited Oki Islands. A short 8 km ride across the island brings you to your hotel, where breathtaking views of the rugged seascape provide the perfect end to the day.

   • 24.2 miles
   • 85.3 ft
     2,811.7 ft
     2,726.4 ft
   • Hotel Chiburino Sato (Japanese Style)
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

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     Elevation Profile

6. Day 6Chiburi Island - Nishinoshima Island - Sakaiminato

   The day begins with a 4 km ride back to the port, where you'll board a ferry to the last of Oki's four inhabited islands: Nishinoshima. After disembarking with your bike, you'll cycle 10 km across the island's rolling countryside to the spectacular Kuniga Coast, renowned for its rugged cliffs, turquoise waters, and dramatic volcanic rock formations.
   
   Leaving your bike behind, you'll follow a coastal trail to the top of the impressive Matengai Cliffs. Rising 257 metres above the Sea of Japan, these towering volcanic cliffs reward you with breathtaking views of the coastline and the surrounding ocean.
   
   After taking in the scenery, you'll ride the 10 km back to the port before boarding the final ferry of the tour for a relaxing 2.5-hour journey back to the Japanese mainland. This evening, you'll stay in Sakaiminato, a bustling maritime city renowned for its rich deep-sea fishing heritage.

   • 14.3 miles
   • -85.3 ft
     1,578.1 ft
     1,663.4 ft
   • Onyado Nono Sakaiminato (Mixed Western/Japanese style)
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

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     Elevation Profile

7. Day 7Sakaiminato - Matsue

   Leaving Sakaiminato, you'll cycle through a landscape nestled between the Sea of Japan to the east and the Nakaumi Inland Sea to the west. The day begins with a ride across the iconic Eshima Bridge to the islands of Eshima and Daikonshima, where you'll visit the beautifully landscaped Yuushien Gardens. This tranquil oasis provides the perfect setting for a peaceful morning break before continuing north along a scenic road that appears to float across the Nakaumi Inland Sea.
   
   From here, you'll cross the peninsula's rolling hills before following a nature-rich coastline. Over the next 35 km, the route rises and falls between a series of scenic headlands jutting into the Sea of Japan, with sheltered bays and traditional fishing villages tucked between them. The final 10 km leads through quiet rural landscapes to the historic city of Matsue on the shores of Lake Shinji.
   
   After dismounting, you'll take a short walk to Matsue Castle, affectionately known as the "Black Castle" and one of only 12 original feudal-era castles remaining in Japan. Perched atop a hill and surrounded by a moat and imposing stone walls, it provides a fitting finale to another memorable day in the saddle.

   • 31.7 miles
   • -3.3 ft
     2,313 ft
     2,316.3 ft
   • Matsue New Urban Hotel (Mixed Western/Japanese style)
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

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     Elevation Profile

8. Day 8Matsue Rural Loop

   With your hotel in Matsue as the base, you've got a fun loop today that covers a large swathe of the forest-covered rolling hills and flat farmlands of the surrounding countryside. For the first 15 km, you'll do some gradual climbing but after that it is all downhill and flat. The highlight of today’s ride is a visit to the Adachi Museum of Art in the lovely village of Hirose. The Adachi Museum is renowned for its integration of Japanese art within meticulously maintained gardens that feature lush greenery, carefully arranged rocks and serene ponds. Truly zen! You’ll spend some time here before circling back to Matsue via roads flanked by extensive farmlands. Back in Matsue the rest of the day is yours to explore more of the city or simply relax.
   

   • 29.2 miles
   • 3.3 ft
     1,824.1 ft
     1,820.9 ft
   • Matsue New Urban Hotel (Mixed Western/Japanese style)
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

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     Elevation Profile

9. Day 9Matsue - Izumo

   Time for the home stretch as you cycle east from Matsue to the coastal city of Izumo. After departing Matsue, you'll ride for 25 km through a tightly packed sequence of small valleys north of Lake Shinki. Expect some sharp bursts up and down complemented by blissful rural surroundings. As you curve around the lake, the roads flatten and you'll skirt along the banks of two rivers - first the Hii and then the Kando – for 30 km before you are greeted, for the last time on tour, by the turquoise waters of the Sea of Japan. The remaining few km take you north along the coast to the endpoint of the day’s ride: Izumo Taisha. This is one of Japan's oldest and most important Shinto Shrines and certainly one of the most impressive due to its grand architecture! You’ll spend some time exploring the beautiful grounds of the shrine and then hop on a local train for a 30 minute journey to your hotel near Izumo Train Station. You’ll enjoy a final dinner together as you celebrate the completion of your San-in cycling exploration.
   

   • 39.1 miles
   • 6.6 ft
     1,463.3 ft
     1,456.7 ft
   • Green Rich Hotel (Western style)
   • Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

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     Elevation Profile

10. Day 10Izumo Departure

    Time to say goodbye! Depending on your onward travel plans, either head to the nearby airport or the train station. Daily flights are available to Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka. Kyoto and Osaka can be reached in half a day by train.
    

    • Breakfast