UPDATE JULY 2026

^{Another update of a story I wrote several years ago for anyone interested in cycling in Japan! I’m not much of a cyclist – I have a great fear of falling off the bike! But on one of my earliest trips to Gifu prefecture, I did an easy cycle ride with Satoyama Experience, based in Hida Furakawa, near Takayama. I’ve now completed nine trips to Japan, and this ride remains one of the highlights.}

^{To keep within budget, MJ and I opted for a group tour with this excellent little Japanese company . But no one else turned up on the day, so it turned out to be like a private one! Hiro, our guide, is no longer with Satoyama – but I’m sure their current guides are wonderful.}

^{You know how some people do something super adventurous for their significant birthdays? Like doing a parachute jump or a sky dive. Like minded, I wanted to do something a bit different and challenging to celebrate my birthday in Japan – so I decided on a bicycle ride in a small rural town and its surrounding countryside in Gifu prefecture. Note that I am a wobbling nervous bike rider – and a week before the ride I fell and fractured my shoulder – so this was challenging! It was a moment of madness that paid off handsomely with a really wonderful experience!}

^{I trawled the net and found a little touring company called Satoyama Experience, based in Furukawa near the popular tourist city of Takayama in Gifu Prefecture. They offered a 2.5 kilometre cycle ride which they assured me by email I could manage! The shoulder, of course, hadn’t been fractured at that point!}

^{The ride was mainly on flat ground, with a few small easy inclines. Hills were something I worried about as Gifu can be quite mountainous! I was very apprehensive, but decided to go for it!}

^{Satoyama Experience were supportive throughout my planning process, providing informative replies in good english to my endless emails querying the pros and cons of undertaking the ride. They have been operating for many years now, and are very professional.}

^{Furukawa is a 20 minute train ride (covered by the Japan Railways Pass) from Takayama. Local trains regularly run between the two towns. You don’t need to book a seat. It’s a country train and doesn’t get very full.}

^{On the day of my ride, MJ and I left Takayama on the 9.40am train, arriving in Furukawa at 9.57. From the tiny town railway station, it was a short 7 minute walk to the Satoyama Experience office where we were warmly welcomed by staff and our guide.}

^{I thought we’d be part of a small group undertaking the ride, but it was raining early on the day we were booked in. We nearly bailed, but decided to go ahead – and it turned out we were the only people who turned up. It felt like a private tour! Fortunately, the rain cleared before we set off on our ride.}

^{The quality of the equipment – bicycles and helmets – was excellent. I was even provided with a little bicycle clip to rein in the bottom on my jeans so they didn’t get caught up in my bike. Our guide Hiro was Mr Personality plus – warm, engaging and full of information for us.}

^{So off we went – exploring ancient streets in Furukawa with its many Edo style buildings – stopping regularly for commentary and explanations from our guide. And being introduced to local people! It was enough of a taste of Furukawa to ensure I would return later for a better exploration by foot. In fact, we have been back several times since as it is a great favourite of ours.}

^{Heading off on country roads near the town, we observed local farms, rice paddies and people going about their every day life. The road traffic was very light, and drivers often gave us a friendly wave. It was relaxing and enjoyable with plenty of rest stops. We enjoyed interactions with locals with the assistance of our guide acting as a translator.}

^{We also enjoyed drinking crystal clear mountain water from a local spring. It came out chilled and tasted so pure.}

^{Another memorable stop was at a local shrine where our guide explained regional customs and religious events. We met a lovely lady here – a local businesswoman who was so excited to meet us. She had a grand daughter about to head for Australia on a working holiday. I didn’t like to tell her that Brisbane – her grand daughter’s destination – was nowhere near Western Australia! The lady had no english, we had no Japanese – only our guide who translated back and forth. But language difficulties are no barrier to a great conversation and encounter!}

^{Then there was morning tea at a little picnic table by a roadside. Our guide pulled out from his backpack a small camp stove, tea, coffee, sugar, milk, water and some locally made Furukawa biscuits. Oishi! Delicious! I particularly loved the ginger flavoured ones!They are made by a company called Inohiro, and their store is close to the Satoyama Experience office. It was at that point that our guide found out it was my birthday.The following day he sent me two packets of the biscuits I adored as a present!}

^{Satoyama has a longer route cycling tour covering 3.5 hours and about 22 kilometres. It also runs town walking tours and other activities, including a walking tour in nearby Takayama. You can find their latest information and prices on their site – http://www.satoyama-experience.com}

^{You can also email them at reservation@satoyama-experience.com}

^{I booked and paid for our cycle rides with the company direct. They have a secure site and I had no trouble with it, apart from my bank going onto alert and contacting me to ensure it was really me sending the money! I have subsequently done a foodie walk with the company and again had no trouble with their booking/payment system.}

^{It is a reputable company and has been operating for many years.}

^{So there you go .. 65 years old with little cycling experience and a fractured shoulder. Easy! Gifu is a favourite prefecture for us, and we’ve returned many times. Hida Furukawa is always a must – for me to buy more of those biscuits – and MJ? He found a fishing shop en route to the biscuit shop! There was a distinct danger that I might have disappeared in the biscuit shop, and he may never have emerged from the fishing shop!}

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