Japan bike tours have seen a surge in popularity, as the active travel market in Japan continues to grow.
Art of Bicycle Trips, a leading bike tour operator in the Asia Pacific region has launched two new offerings in Japan and Taiwan.
The company was already running bike tours in Hokkaido and the Noto Peninsula in Japan. To this stable of offerings, it has now added tours in Kyoto and Shikoku as well.
Since being launched over two years ago, the company’s Japan bike tours have seen a surge in popularity, as the active travel market in Japan continues to grow.
Additionally, the company has also launched an e-bike only tour in Kyoto, considering the destination’s popularity, and the growing trend towards e-bikes among leisure cyclists. Japan is a mountainous country, and e-bikes make tackling climbs a little easier. The demand for e-bike tours is especially high among cyclists aged 60 and above.
Besides Japan, the company has also launched bike tours in Taiwan, focusing especially on the scenic eastern half of the island.
The fast-growing active travel market in Asia
Asia is rapidly emerging as a hub for global active travel, led by biking, hiking, and kayaking adventures. Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand are the most popular destinations at present. However, operators have also seen strong interests among travelers in South Asian destinations, in particular Sri Lanka, Bhutan, and Nepal. These three countries were traditionally positioned in the shadows of the much larger India travel market, but of late have begun to emerge as strong markets on their own.
However, Japan remains the undisputed leader when it comes to active travel in Asia. This is because of several reasons including the diversity and variety of experiences the country offers and the high standard of hospitality infrastructure in place.
The worldwide recognition of Japanese cuisine as being among the finest in the world has also kindled interest in experiential travel in Japan. Three Japanese cities figure in the top 5 when it comes to the list of cities with the most Michelin-starred restaurants. With 203 restaurants on the prestigious list, Tokyo has the most Michelin-starred restaurants in the world, followed by Kyoto at number 2. Osaka places fourth on the list with 106 Michelin-starred restaurants.
Within Japan, Kyoto remains the hot favorite among active travelers because of its reputation as being the cultural capital of Japan. Hokkaido, the northernmost Japanese island, is also emerging as an important active travel destination.
Famous for its fine powder snow which is much prized among winter sports enthusiasts, Hokkaido hosts several ice and snow festivals in the winter. It is also one of the best places in the world for whale watching.
Shikoku, the smallest of Japan’s major islands, is home to the Shimanami Kaido, a stunning 80-km highway running across 5 islands on the Seto Inland Sea that has a dedicated bicycle lane for cyclists. With its spectacular views, the highway is considered one of the best cycling routes in Asia, and is naturally attracting the attention of the global cycling community. Shikoku is also home to a large number of charming Buddhist temples, and is the center of the famous 88 temple pilgrimage.
Tiny Taiwan, hitherto known primarily for its semiconductor prowess and as the home of the Taipei 101 is also increasingly luring cyclists. Not many know that Taiwan is often called the cycling capital of Asia because of its excellent cycling infrastructure and culture. The island is also home to Giant Manufacturing Ltd, the world’s largest bicycle manufacturer.
Taiwan’s beautiful coastline, lively night markets, and unspoiled natural beauty, especially in the eastern half of the island is now increasingly arousing the interest of the global cycling community.
About art of bicycle trips
Art of Bicycle Trips is a boutique travel startup offering cycling and hiking adventures in over 19 destinations across 3 continents as of April 2024.
The company was founded in 2010 in Bangalore in southern India, and retains a strong footprint in Asia, which remains, in a manner of speaking, its home turf.
The company prides itself on the high degree of customization and personalization that it brings to each travel experience.
Each of its guided bike tours comes with expert local guides, high-quality bikes, handpicked hotels, and a support vehicle to accompany guests at all times. In addition to cycling, the company also offers multisport hiking and kayaking tours.
The company is highly rated on major review platforms including Trustpilot and TripAdvisor. It has also been featured in leading international publications such as Forbes, Conde Nast Traveler and Huffpost.
