Japan: River Valleys & Heritage (Bike, Paddle) Reviews

5 Rating 21 Reviews

About Grasshopper Adventures:

For over 20 years, Grasshopper Adventures has led multi-day cycling tours across Asia, covering 14 countries and expanding. Whether you're a casual rider or a passionate enthusiast, their tours cater to all abilities and warmly welcome newcomers to cycle touring.

Passionate, genuine, and undeniably fun, Grasshopper Adventures embodies meaningful adventure travel while ensuring a great time. Their diverse range of trip styles accommodates solo adventurers, couples, families, or private groups.

Crafted with expertise, their tours offer a satisfying blend of physical challenge, cultural immersion, culinary exploration, and slow travel experiences. Over several days, guests are introduced to the authentic and often unseen side of Asia, striking a perfect balance between comfort and excitement.

Refreshing and inspiring, Grasshopper Adventures attracts adventurous travelers seeking genuine cross-cultural connections, purposeful journeys, and unparalleled experiences.

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Phone:

18448743720

Email:

tours@grasshopperadventures.com

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Nancy Palmer

Verified Reviewer

“What a fantastic trip. The route is beautiful and off the beaten path. The food and accommodations were authentic and so enjoyable. Our guides Dave and Reiko were amazing. They thought of everything and then some. It absolutely exceeded my expectations.”

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Hi Nancy - thank you for the wonderful feedback! We’re delighted the route, food, and accommodations all impressed. We’re especially glad Dave and Reiko helped make the trip exceptional. Hope to see you on another Grasshopper excursion soon!

Walter Updegrave

Verified Reviewer

“The word awesome is overused these days, but I had to choose one word to describe the Japan: River Valleys & Heritage tour it would be…awesome. Cycling though remote towns and villages that most tourists never see; taking a scenic ride along a road overlooking the Pacific Ocean with waves crashing below; listening to our cheerful and experienced guides as they imparted insights into Japanese culture during visits to historical sites, Shinto shrines a d Buddhist temples; feasting on a veritable cornucopia of Japanese cuisine; staying at authentic Japanese ryokans complete with onsens (geothermal spring baths); having the freedom to challenge yourself by setting a rigorous pace, or, if you prefer, pedaling along more leisurely. These are just a small sampling of what made this trip…awesome.”

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Hi Walter - thanks for your awesome review;) But really - we love hearing about how much you enjoyed the scenery, culture & history, food, accommodations, onsens, and of course the cycling. Amazing video too! Hope to host you on another awesome adventure soon.

Stuart Bauchner

Verified Reviewer

“During the past 30 years, I’ve taken 20 bike trips with 7 different companies. All of them were great, but this trip was the best.”

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Hi Stuart - wow, such high praise coming from such a seasoned traveler! Thank you so much; we're so happy you had an amazing time and we would be honored to host you on another Grasshopper adventure soon :)

Leonard Gregory

Verified Reviewer

“Extraordinary trip through rural Japan. Our guides were exceptional with not only their knowledge of Japanese but their understanding of Japanese culture and history as well.”

Helpful Report

Hi Leonard - wonderful to hear you had such an exceptional time on our Shikoku tour! We'd love to host you again soon - you'll find that our guides/crew in all locations match the excellence of our team in Japan :)

“The name of this tour undersells an incredible adventure. The tour takes you from the Seto Inland Sea to the Pacific, over mountains, along rushing rivers, through bamboo forests and into remote country towns. It works because of the fantastic guides led by Norm and Reiko, who have sourced unique accommodations in areas far beyond the usual tourist infrastructure. The entire team, including the incomparable Dave and Matt, seemed to enjoy the tour as much as the clients. The non biking activities, from making washi paper to kayaking, were super fun and added a unique dimension. This tour was an extraordinary experience, far surpassing my expectations.”

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Hi Mary - thank you so much for your excellent review! We are thrilled to know that our Shikoku tour in Japan exceeded your expectations thanks to our team, the diverse landscapes, the accommodations, and the off-bike activities as well. Hope to see you on another Grasshopper adventure sooner rather than later!

“Having lived in Japan, we were looking forward to revisiting special places and memories. We had a few trepidations as tour companies many times overlook the specialness of local places and customs. Grasshopper’s River, Valleys & Heritage tour was beyond our highest expectations. The route, the accommodations, the meals and cultural insights were fantastic. The “X” factor was the Grasshopper team, both the pre-ride and tour guide team. Their local knowledge of Japan, cultural sensitivities, their constant availability, and their conscientious focus on their customers was 5+ stars. We’ll be back!!”

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Hi Bill - wow, fantastic to hear our Shikoku tour in Japan exceeded your expectations even as someone so familiar with the country and keen for a unique experience! That's exactly what we're looking to offer. We're already excited to host you on your next ride with us!

“My wife and I have been doing bicycle tours for 20 years. We have done tours with most of the most popular tour operators (Backroads, VBT, Siccilando, etc) in many of the most popular destinations (France, Italy, USA, Croatia, Vietnam/Cambodia, etc). The Grasshopper Japan River Valleys & Heritage Tour was one of our two favourites. Absolutely beautiful countryside, fully paved (almost private!) roads, knowledgable and enjoyable guides, great food and accommodations. What more could you ask?”

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Hi Gary - thank you for such high praise, which is especially meaningful from such a seasoned cycling tour enthusiast! We're thrilled that our Shikoku tour in Japan ranked amongst your favorite bike trips. We hope to see you again soon!

Murray Davis

Verified Reviewer

“Absolutely fabulous tour. This was my 7th Grasshopper tour (2nd in Japan) and I loved every minute of it! Fantastic route, perfectly paced, great accommodation - especially the onsens, food was sensational and our guide (Toto) and driver (Kazu) were sensational. Ebikes were excellent”

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Hi Murray - thank you for your lovely review and photos! We're thrilled that you enjoyed yet another cycling adventure with us and we hope to have the opportunity to host you on your 8th Grasshopper ride soon :)