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Best cycling destinations in Asia

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Shikoku
Pilgrimage trail, gorges and hot springs
8.1
The Shimanami Kaido links Shikoku to Honshu across six small islands and seven bridges over the Seto Inland Sea. A dedicated blue line marks the 70-kilometer route the entire way. Citrus groves and fishing villages line the islands between each crossing. The Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge, the final crossing, ranks among the world's longest suspension bridges.
Highlights:
  • ♨️ Relax in Dōgo Onsen, Japan’s oldest hot spring
  • 🌊 Admire the whirlpools of Naruto Strait from the Ōnaruto Bridge
  • ⛩️ Complete the 88 Temple Pilgrimage across Shikoku
Hokkaido
Volcanoes, powder snow and fresh seafood
9.3
Wide, quiet roads cross Hokkaido's farmland, passing lavender fields near Furano and Biei each summer. Cyclists can ride for hours without much traffic across the island's open countryside. Dairy farms and rolling hills define much of the scenery along the way. Cooler summer temperatures make Hokkaido a popular escape from the heat elsewhere in Japan.
Highlights:
  • 🚤 Explore historic Otaru Canal and its shops
  • 🏂 Ski or snowboard in world-famous Niseko resorts
  • 💧 Visit the spectacular Shirogane Blue Pond
Karuizawa
Cool highland resort at the foot of Asama
7.5
Karuizawa has drawn cyclists to its cool, forested lanes since becoming Japan's favorite summer resort in the 1880s. Rental shops near the station offer regular and electric bikes for touring the town. Mossy, stone-hedged roads wind past old Western-style summer homes beneath larch and birch trees. A popular loop passes Kumoba Pond, nicknamed Swan Lake.
Highlights:
  • 💧 Visit Shiraito Falls and admire its delicate cascades
  • 🛍️ Shop at Karuizawa Prince Shopping Plaza’s upscale outlets
  • 🚴‍♀️ Cycle through the forested paths of the Kyu-Karuizawa area
Nikko
Tokugawa shrines, waterfalls and hot springs
8.6
Winding mountain roads climb from Nikko's shrines up the switchbacks of Irohazaka toward Lake Chuzenji. Forested slopes turn bright red and orange each autumn along the route. Kegon Falls, near the lake, offers a scenic rest stop after the climb. Cedar-lined avenues near the shrines make for a gentler ride before the mountain roads begin.
Highlights:
  • 💦 Admire the majestic Kegon Falls viewpoint
  • 🌉 Cross the striking vermilion Shinkyo Bridge
  • ⛩️ Visit the ornate Nikko Toshogu Shrine complex
Sri Lanka
Ancient cities, tea hills and surf beaches
7.3
Cyclists climbing into Sri Lanka's hill country pass tea plantations stacked in green terraces up steep slopes. Workers pick leaves by hand along roads that wind past colonial-era towns like Nuwara Eliya. Misty mornings often give way to clear mountain views by midday. Lower routes near the coast offer flatter, easier riding through palm-lined villages.
Highlights:
  • 🚂 Take a scenic train ride through the tea plantations to Ella
  • 🐘 Spot elephants on safari in Minneriya National Park
  • 🪨 Climb Sigiriya Rock Fortress and admire its ancient frescoes
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