D1 KYOTO TO ONOMICHI

APRIL 13 After wrapping up the final ride and farewells at the RAPHA Kyoto Summit, keep the adventure rolling with an exclusive RCC experience! Hop on a smooth 3-hour train ride to Onomichi while RAID takes care of your bike, bike case, and bags. Just relax and soak in the scenery! We’ll arrive in time for a delicious dinner, and if you’re up for it, there’s a chance to stretch those legs with a stroll along the iconic Onomichi Temple Walk—25 temples, endless stairs, and breathtaking views to end the day on a high note!

Only in Japan could a themed hotel complex, you don’t even have to step off your pedals — you can ride right into this cavernous space, which includes not just the hotel but a restaurant, a bar, a café, and a bakery, as well as a Giant bike shop and a retail space dedicated to local food, clothing and housewares. The building’s interior still retains some warehouse atmosphere, with its double-height ceiling and its elevated walkways. But the rooms temper their industrial origins with organic warmth, and they’re efficient, as you’d expect, complete with hooks for hanging your bike up out of the way.

O/N Onomichi U2 Hotel

D2 ONOMICHI TO HIROSHIMA
tHE BRIDGES
OF SHIMANAMI KAIDO

90.6 mi / 7,159 Ft
145.8 km / 2,182 m

APRIL 14 Get ready to conquer the legendary Shimanami Kaido! This jaw-dropping route from Onomichi to Imabari is pure Japan—a blend of picture-perfect orange orchards, cozy ryokans, and endless views over the shimmering Seto Sea. This is small-town Japan at its finest, a place where travelers rarely tread, and it’s all waiting for you on this exclusive RCC ride. But we’re not stopping where the others do. This ride is going bigger and bolder with a mountain-charged finish deep into Shikoku, wrapping up in the historic city of Matsuyama.

From there, we’ll hop aboard the Kure Super Jet for an exhilarating 1-hour, 40-minute ferry ride across the Seto Sea to Hiroshima. Glide over the waves and soak in the scenery as we take a well-deserved break before meeting up with the RAID support team and all your gear on the other side. This is the Shimanami Kaido—and beyond—like you’ve never experienced it before!

Tonight, we dive into the vibrant heart of Hiroshima, where we’ll get a taste of the city’s famous post-war creation—okonomiyaki. Known as "Western food for a penny," this savory feast brings together layers of cabbage, noodles, and a sizzling mix of oysters, squid, and more, all cooked right in front of us on a hotplate. And, of course, we’ll have plenty of beer on hand to wash it all down. Kanpai!

The Sheraton Grande Hiroshima Hotel blends sleek style with top-notch comfort, right in the heart of the city. Steps away from Hiroshima Station.

O/N Sheraton Grande Hiroshima Hotel

D3 HIROSHIMA TO HITA

48.2 mi / 6,633 Ft
77.6 km / 2,022 m
*Optional longer afternoon ride

APRIL 15 Breaking in the RAID tradition, today we climb aboard Japan’s famous railway transit: The Shinkasen Bullet Train. We’ll be whisked to Kurume, a principal city of the island of Kyushu, only 1.5 hours away. A quick transfer brings us deep into the mountains outside Kurume. Today’s route begins with a stunning pedal through lush green tea fields, with rolling hills covered in trees to the horizon, replete with tea sampling along the way.

We enjoy a leisurely lunch of homemade buckwheat soba noodles from a hidden cafe that we have been visiting for years. The patriarch of the family has been crafting noodles for nearly 40 years. His wife and three daughters will be our friendly servers, it’s a special afternoon. From here we continue up the Hoshino River before we head up a stunning European alpine climb.

After absorbing the wonders of today’s ride, we disappear into a Japanese Ryokan for the night, and relax in the many hot springs that await our stay as you are enveloped in a sense of the local culture, untouched by time.

O/N Kotohira Onsen Kaya-Usagi

D4 HITA TO OKUNOYU

46 mi / 7,308 Ft
74 km / 2,227 m

APRIL 16 Today’s ride sees us we pedaling through Ōita's enchanting countryside, where every turn of the wheel reveals a new facet of this remarkable region and its culinary treasure—the shiitake mushroom. This region of Ōita produces the most dried shiitake mushrooms in Japan.

We wrap up today’s shorter ride with plenty of time to check and relax at the elegant inn situated in the mountains surrounded by nature. With three types of private-use hot spring baths and several mixed open-air baths allowing you to wash away your soreness.

O/N Kurokawa Onsen Okunoyu Ryokan

D5 OKUNOYU TO ASO

60 mi / 5,942 Ft
96 km / 1,813 m

APRIL 17 Today is our Queen Stage, heading south through the Ōita prefecture, known to many as the “Land of Abundance”. We will be traversing through the Kirishima Mountain Range, a volcanic belt of major peaks that run vertically through the prefecture and contribute to the many hot spring sources that make this region so popular. Ōita has the largest number of hot springs in the entire country! Known for its quiet roads and scenic beauty, 60% of Ōita is covered in dense forests.

This afternoon we spend circling Mount Aso’s barren caldera, then descending back to the lush valley below. The constant smoke plume reminds us of its power and potential, and gazing down into the 20 mile-wide crater gives us a glimpse at the Earth’s origins. This is one of the most visually striking places in Japan, if not the world - its grey, craggy moonscape is covered in small, jagged rocks - like something from a SciFi film set on a distant world.

We’ll spend the night in the shadow of Mount Aso at another ryokan set among tranquil gardens and hot springs. Tonight we visit a small local restaurant where we will dine on some noteworthy regional cuisine this evening.

O/N Sozankyo Ryokan & Onsen

D6 MT ASO TO YUFUIN (OITA)

51.3 mi / 5,796 Ft
79 km / 1,662 m

APRIL 18 Our last day’s journey traverses the scenic Yamanami Highway, considered one of the most scenic byways in Japan, crossing the Kuju mountain range before finishing in Oita. The amazing route takes us from the Tadewara Marshlands through the Chojabaru and Kuju Mountain Ranges with stunning views of sprawling grasslands and steaming, looming volcanoes the entire way.

A wonderful finish to our adventure, we’ll end our ride in the tiny resort village of Yufuin, located on a flat river basin surrounded by mountains. The most prominent feature of Yufuin's skyline? The twin-peaked Mount Yufu, hovering over the town, serving as the backdrop for scenic views. Another natural landmark is Lake Kinrinko, a small lake located at the end of the town’s main walking route.The small lake is located at the end of the town's main walking route. Finally, we’ll finish our stay at a small Ryokan, the Oyado Kaikatei Ryokan - In a leafy area, this warm, relaxed hot spring inn is 12 minutes' walk from Kinrin Lake, a 14-minute walk from Yufuin Floral Village, a country village in the style of England's Cotswold’s. Featuring indoor and outdoor hot spring baths, the understated cottages feature en-suite bathrooms and sitting areas, plus tatami floors and futons.

For those interested in visiting the Comico Art Museum this afternoon, we will make arrangements for you to visit during a private tour. View the works of acclaimed Japanese contemporary artists Yayoi Kusama, Tatsuo Miyajima and Kohei Nawa.

Our team will carefully pack up your bikes, getting them set and ready for tomorrow morning’s transfer.

O/N Oyado Kaikatei Ryokan

D7 YUFUIN TO FUKUOKA (FUK)
or OSAKA (KIX)
(TRANSFER DAY)

APRIL 19 This morning, enjoy a short walk through the village of Yufuin before we embark on our last leg of our journey. Our vehicles will transfer everyone 1h45m to Fukuoka International Airport (FUK) from where you can connect to your international or domestic flight.

Fukuoka International Airport (FUK), which has dozens of international departures daily is the most convenient option. It's 1h45m shuttle from our hotel to Fukuoka. Our vehicles will provide this shuttle early in the morning depending on guest’s flights. You can book your flights as early as 1:00 pm on departure day.

If you are connecting to an international flight departing Osaka (KIX), it’s best that you depart out of Fukuoka International Airport (FUK) to Osaka (KIX)-there are affordable daily 1hr10m flights directly to Osaka (KIX).