Gravel & Craft: A Six-day Bike Tour Nasu - Mashiko

Embark on a 5-night, 6-day cycling tour from Nasu in Nikko National Park to Mashiko, known for its pottery, while exploring the natural beauty of the rural landscapes around the Naka River and meeting artisans who carry on traditional crafts. This tour uses gravel bikes or e-mountain bikes, which allow you to traverse various terrains, including farmlands, forests, riversides, and terraced rice fields, bringing you closer to nature and the local way of life.

During the tour, you'll get a chance to meet master craftsmen of Japanese traditional handicrafts in workshops such as bamboo craft, sake brewing, washi papermaking, indigo dyeing, and Mashiko pottery. The tour is limited to a maximum of 10 participants, allowing for a more private and intimate experience.Cycling through the local areas lets you deeply appreciate the origins of these traditional crafts. Among the destinations are the "Tonoike Sake Brewery" and "Tentaka Sake Brewery," highly acclaimed worldwide, where you can savor their fresh Japanese sake. The tour also delves into Japan's rich food culture, offering encounters with various styles of Japanese cuisine, from kaiseki meals at traditional inns to local delicacies from different regions. After a day of cycling, ease your cycling fatigue in carefully selected unique inns or hotels with hot springs.

By the end of your 6-day journey, you will undoubtedly be enchanted by the profound beauty of nature and tradition that Tochigi Prefecture prides itself on.