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Ultimate bike routes and cycling getaways

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Shikoku
Pilgrimage trail, gorges and hot springs
8.1
The Shimanami Kaido links Shikoku to Honshu across a chain of small islands. Six suspension bridges carry a dedicated cycling path high above the Seto Inland Sea. Riders can stop on each island for citrus fruit grown along the route. Blue lines painted on the road mark the way for the entire crossing.
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
Bavaria
Alps, castles, beer gardens and old towns
8.6
Routes around Bavaria's Alpine foothills pass beneath castles and past deep glacial lakes. Konigssee's shoreline road offers flat riding framed by towering limestone peaks. Riders can climb into the mountains near Garmisch-Partenkirchen for steeper alpine terrain. Beer gardens along the way make for a common midway stop.
Highlights:
  • 🚗 Drive the scenic Romantic Road through medieval towns
  • 🍺 Join Oktoberfest in Munich and raise a stein with locals
  • 🏰 Explore Neuschwanstein Castle, the fairytale icon of Bavaria
Hokkaido
Volcanoes, powder snow and fresh seafood
9.3
Hokkaido's quiet rural roads roll through farmland framed by distant volcanic peaks. Lavender fields near Furano turn the landscape purple during midsummer. Riders can cover long, empty stretches with little traffic to interrupt the ride. Cool summer temperatures make the island a popular escape from mainland Japan's heat.
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's forested lanes have drawn cyclists to this mountain resort town for over a century. Cool summer temperatures make it a popular escape from Tokyo's heat. Riders can pedal quiet roads shaded by tall larch and birch trees. A dedicated cycling path connects the town to nearby Mount Asama's foothills.
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
Roads near Nikko climb through cedar forest toward mountain lakes and waterfalls. Irohazaka, a famous switchback road, twists sharply up the mountainside in dozens of turns. Riders can pedal past Lake Chuzenji before tackling the steep descent back down. Historic shrines sit just at the base of these forested climbing routes.
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
Roads through Sri Lanka's hill country climb steeply into tea growing regions. Colonial era rail lines wind alongside many of the same mountain routes. Riders can pedal past terraced tea plantations near Ella and Nuwara Eliya. Waterfalls and misty valleys mark much of the higher elevation riding.
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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