Testimonials from happy tour participants of Wasabi Cycling Adventures:
First of all, I would like to thank you for giving us the opportunity to experience Japan in such a wonderful way. I have thought about the trip everyday and would like to explore other areas of Japan in the future.
1. I found the routes to be excellent. I liked the spacing of the rest days and the opportunity to do some sightseeing. 2. The accommodations were very good. Having laundry facilities available at each stop is a definite must. You did a great job picking these places. 3. The meals were excellent. Breakfast was different than what most of us would normally have but I felt that was part of the appeal of this trip. We got to experience the Japanese culture through these traditional meals and eating arrangements. 4. The tour met my expectations based on your information and exceeded it in many areas. The only thing that caught me a little off guard was how cool it was in the evening once we got into the mountains. I should have expected it but I misjudged when I saw the temperature range you had provided. I have already referred a friend to your tour and would be glad to act as a reference to other cyclists who think of joining your next tour. BB ******************************** Hi Jim. As you were aware following your cycling tour I was joined by my wife to extend my vacation by touring around Japan. As an adjunct to me staying in Japan, your willingness to transport my bike back to Vancouver was a testament to your generous nature. Every aspect of your tour was ‘ten out ten’. Your attention to fastidious detail in the comprehensive outline you provided to us was second to none. In addition, the time and effort you gave me prior to the trip to answer questions was very much appreciated. The genesis of the cycling schedule and route planning was developed through your previous ‘solo’ cycling trips to Japan. As a result, the cities and hotels you selected on the tour gave us an authentic feel for the true Japanese culture and lifestyle that is, in so many ways, so different to cycling in North America or Europe. This aspect of immersing oneself into a totally different lifestyle is what made this tour so unique and enriching. Where else could one cycle and enjoy ‘onsens’ at both the beginning and end of the day or wear kimonos from the end of the cycling day until the next morning; or enjoy eating rice and sushi for breakfast! It was not until I traveled to some of the larger cities in Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, Hiroshima) that I fully appreciated the wonderful contrast in cycling in rural versus urban areas. Only in the rural areas where we cycled would one get so many varied topographies with little traffic on the road and, most notably, the feel of a smaller family run hotels. Lastly, and as a keen cyclist, I wanted to comment on the structure of the cycling itself. To do approximately 600-700 km’s of cycling over the tour with total elevation of over 8,000 m was challenging and yet rewarding. We were a group of 8 and although I did not know any of the cyclists prior to the trip, I felt through your inclusive and social nature that we gelled very nicely as a group and any difference in cycling experience or abilities was irrelevant. Your concern for our collective wellbeing and road safety was appreciated. As a road cyclist, the only advice that I would provide for future riders is to ensure that they have a granny or bailout gear for some of the longer, steeper climbs. In summary Jim, thanks for an enriching cycling and cultural experience that was unequivocally tremendous value for money. GC |
Your tour was just awesome!!!
I'm positive you will get some Velo Vets and some of my buddies call you. Japan was really special to me. I have been on several cycling tours including Italy and Australia. Your tour was by far the best organized and detailed. In my opinion, you have the Japan cycling tour nailed. The meals could not have been better, a real authentic Japanese cuisine. I just joked about the fish and rice for breakfast, meals were awesome. Accommodation was first class all the way. Routes were perfect. Can't thank you enough for a genuine Japanese bike experience - you did a first class job. The rides we accomplished with a great group made it all the better!!!! Lots of laughs and lots of memories. Thanks Jim!!!!! And the group. DB ************************************ #1 For the time frame allowed on this tour, I thought the route was perfect and very enjoyable. #2 The same for accommodations. In my opinion: excellent. #3 The way this is going, you are on your way to getting an A+. #4 Definitely would recommend this to anyone. That might mean you end up with too many entries and, as we discussed, that might be a problem to manage. Overall : excellent! Thank you Jim, looking forward to Taiwan!? HB ************************************ Thanks Jim, the routes you put together were all great, with really impressive scenery, climbs, and very low traffic. After riding back on the train, you really appreciate how different the experience is by bike, and I think the entire route was worthy of this more intimate experience with the landscape. Congrats on your accomplishment in leading the tour, all your planning was greatly appreciated! JM ************************************ Ditto that. Jim, for me the entire experience was terrific and has set a high bench mark...the strong group, climbs, scenery, food, photos, sites...it will be tough for future tours to repeat. Thank you for 2 unforgettable weeks!! EL *********************************** The variety of destinations, accommodations and routes really made the tour special and difficult to pick favourites. I enjoyed each and everyday in unique ways. But if I had to pick, the town: Nikko for the nice mixture of shrines, temples, shops and eateries. (Kusatsu was a close second, but lost out probably due to not spending enough time there to form a more favourable impression.) The hotel: SL at Kawaba - nothing to do with the trade up to room with Rex from Ed (;-)) but for the style of room being traditional looking but with modern comforts; plus the fabulous meals. The ride (travel day): climb over Shirane for the spectacular views and the fun of visiting the Monkey park. The ride (rest day): to St Cousair winery for the route, scenery, and the venue. But in the final analysis the best thing about each of these was that they were part of the 10 day adventure that you painstakingly put together, and the company of our great group of riders. I have no reservation on your future success with your cycle Japan endeavour. CW |
First of all, thanks very much Jim for an unforgettable experience during the tour this year. The organization of the tour was well done including the initial brochure and the following detailed itinerary of our Japan Cycling 2017 trip. I first found out about Wasabi Cycling Adventures through an email sent to our cycling club, the Vancouver Velo Vets. Three from our group enthusiastically agreed very early in the year that this was a great way to discover Japan and ride with a group of seasoned road cyclists up to the challenge of mountain climbs and long descents. Prior to arriving in Japan, Jim informed us of all the information we would need for our trip. Jim arrived a few days earlier and was able to meet us at the airport to make our short journey to the hotel in Narita quick and easy. The accommodation arranged was excellent throughout our stay in Japan. The length of each day's rides worked out well. We were tired at the end but the scenery and challenge was well worth it. Our rest days were busy either cycling or seeing the sites including taking the train into Tokyo and Nagano. Our group consisted of six cyclists of similar experience and ability so all were satisfied with the pace and distances as well as elevation gain. I can't recall ever laughing so much for that length of time. It was great to have a small group and very easy to include all in our travels, meals and social time. If anyone has concerns regarding traffic or crowds being an issue and would affect your decision to join a cycling adventure in Japan, rest assured that our time in late September and early October presented no problems. The traffic was for the most part light and in some cases only the occasional car would pass and then move safely away from us. The crowds were small at the major shrines and temples we visited and the trains were never too full and in some cases almost empty. This time of year is perfect for cycling and visiting. Kudos, Jim. I had a great time and encourage others to take the leap and go cycle Japan.
KN ************************************** I’m really grateful that we met by chance last spring. The trip was a very good experience. I hope we’ll ride more together, both here and abroad. The routes were excellent. The amount of travel each day was good. Roads were interesting and mostly very good for cycling. As I think about it now, one of the remarkable things was that we had quiet, pleasant routes in and out of busy places such as Narita and Koga. Even going through Numata and Tochigi was fine, even though we were on somewhat busier roads there. I wish it was that pleasant getting out of Vancouver when I’m on a ride. Overall, I was very happy with the accommodation. It was very good, and also a good value for the tour price. I think it’s important to add that I would not have been happier if it had been fancier, but the cost was also more. From the beginning, part of what attracted me to your tour was that it did not seem like it was about pampered, luxury travel. Your balance of price and quality hit the sweet spot for me. As for food, the meals associated with our hotel stays were very good. Japanese breakfasts set you up well for a day of cycling. Lunches were good, and I liked that it wasn’t really necessary to bring ride food, but that I could just eat real food and drink water. I will recommend your tour to friends and our cycling club, and would be happy to do a testimonial or act as a reference. I’d also be interested in doing more trips with you, but probably not on the same route. GM |