About Your Guide

I first arrived in Japan in the summer of 1995. I felt very much at home pretty much immediately despite knowing none of the language and hardly anything of the culture. Between then and 2015 I lived there for 15 years. My children were born there and spent much of their childhood there. This is significant as being the parent of a child in the education system opens doors to foreigners in terms of participating in cultural events that would otherwise have remained closed. I also ran a business there, which meant I had to study the language pretty hard.

Since moving back to the UK in 2015 I have made frequent trips to the place I consider my second home. I am fortunate enough to have work (importing bikes) that keeps me in close touch with my old hometown. As with anywhere, there are frustrations and things you wish were a little different, but I cannot deny that I feel more affiliation with Japan than anywhere else I have lived.

I have wanted to share my love and knowledge of the country for many years. In 2019 we planned a tour and worked out the logistics - and then the pandemic hit. In early 2024 one of our regular customers, who I has discussed the trip with previously, got back in touch and said, "well, are you doing this or not?" That was the catalyst that got it all rolling again.

He got together a group of riders who were happy to be guinea pigs, we dusted off the plans, changed them, changed them a few more times, booked the hotels and ferries, prepared the bikes, sorted out insurance and off we went.

The first trip was a massive success. I have to say a huge thank you to the 9 riders who participated. They kept smiling even when the days in the saddle were longer than planned and when the heavens absolutely opened on us on our ride down into Nagasaki. Fortunately, this hardy bunch didn't mind some very long rides but we have adapted the route now to ensure a little more time is allowed for taking in the sites.

No doubt the trip with evolve over time - we can even design bespoke rides for single groups - but overall it was brilliant. We saw places I had never seen and managed to tick off loads of boxes - mountains, cities, coasts, loads of country roads, cultural places like Nagasaki and shrines.

Can't wait for the next one now.