CJA 2602 THE SECRETS OF JAPAN

Tokyo, a city where 40 million people live. A bit intimidating, but also relaxed. The view from our hotel is breathtaking! And then, finally, the tour starts! We've all been looking forward to the moment where we meet all the other members of our group. And hearing about all the highlights makes everyone really excited! Our first dinner is typical Japanese: a lot off fish, rice and vegetables and it tastes delicious! A good night sleep will help us with our jetlag and then.... it's riding time!!

The day begins in the futuristic waterfront district of Odaiba, where the skyline of Tokyo slowly comes to life in the early morning light. And then the moment has finally arrived — our very first morning briefing. The masterplan for the day is revealed, together with stories and background information about the highlights waiting ahead of us. Excitement rises, engines start, and off we go. Leaving our hotel behind, we ride out through the city and onto the expressway heading south toward the Pacific coast. As the traffic fades and the urban landscape slowly disappears behind us, the atmosphere changes completely. The roads open up, the air becomes fresher, and suddenly we can smell the salty ocean breeze — a sure sign that we are heading in the right direction. The anticipation for the day ahead continues to build with every kilometer. And then it appears: our first stop, the beautiful island of Enoshima. Surrounded by the relaxed surf culture of the Shonan coast, we take a well-deserved coffee break near the ocean while enjoying the views across Sagami Bay. On clear days, the majestic Mount Fuji rises above the horizon — and guess what? Earlier on the highway we actually caught our very first glimpse of Fuji-san. I have to admit, it only lasted about fifteen minutes, but we saw him completely — and that already felt special. From Enoshima, we continue following the coastline south. The road hugs the Pacific Ocean, leading us past beaches, fishing harbors and small seaside towns. The combination of ocean air, endless sea views and smooth coastal riding creates the perfect introduction to the Izu Peninsula. Eventually, the route turns inland and begins climbing into the mountains toward the legendary Hakone Turnpike. Famous throughout Japan for its flowing curves, this road is a true highlight for motorcycle enthusiasts — even with a speed limit of only 50 km/h. But for our very first day riding on the left-hand side of the road, it is actually the perfect way to start. With every blind corner, the scenery becomes even more spectacular: mountains, forests and dramatic coastline views unfold around us. Well… the snow-covered Mount Fuji would have completed the picture perfectly, but by then he had disappeared behind thick clouds. After all this riding, it is finally time for our first lunch break. We park the motorcycles and take on another adventure: ordering food in Japan for the very first time. And I got to say everybody manages this challenge very well! Well done everyone! After this little cultural adventure, we continue toward the iconic Izu Skyline, one of Japan’s greatest scenic driving roads. Riding high along volcanic ridges, we enjoy endless sweeping corners and breathtaking panoramic views over Suruga Bay, the Pacific Ocean and the dramatic mountains of Izu. And toward the end of the day, we stop at Mount Omuro, the perfectly shaped volcanic cone that has become one of the symbols of the peninsula. Formed more than 4,000 years ago, this impressive volcano offers unforgettable views from its crater rim. Ocean, mountains and the vast beauty of Izu unfold beneath us in every direction. As the sun slowly lowers toward the Pacific, we continue south through winding mountain roads and coastal scenery until we finally arrive at our destination: the beautiful Izu Imaihama Tokyu Hotel. Located directly beside the beach, surrounded by palm trees and the sound of the ocean, the hotel provides the perfect ending to an unforgettable riding day through some of Japan’s most legendary roads and landscapes. That was our kickoff of this Japan Tour - I would say it was not to bad at all Jan and Axel

Waking up and seeing the sun is always nice. Especially when you get to ride great curvy roads in Japan! And how amazing is it to ride on a road that looks like a corkscrew! 3 circles of 360°, only in Japan! From that moment on it's curve after curve, going up and down mountains, having gorgeous views on lakes, the ocean and forests. After lunch we see mount Fuji with its peak couvert in clouds. As way ride up, fog is blowing through the trees and it gives a spooky and magical atmosphere. When we reach the maximum hight of 2400 mtr/7200 ft we can hear the rumbling of the vulcano! Perhaps a once in a lifetime experience! After working our way down the temperature goes from 5°c to 25°c in half an hour. Lovely! Upon arrival at our hotel, as planned, the clouds disappear and we see Mt Fuji in its full glory. What a way to end a perfect riding day!

With the sun on our faces, we set off early this morning on Day 4 of our journey from Yamanakako to Hamamatsu. The weather was perfect, the mood was great — so let’s hit the road! We circled Mt. Fuji from the east along the northern route toward the west, where our first highlight of the day was already waiting for us. We’re talking about the famous Shiraito Waterfalls at the foot of Mount Fuji in Fujinomiya, Shizuoka Prefecture — considered one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Japan. After taking a few photos and enjoying a coffee, we got back on the road heading toward Shizuoka, where we first stopped for lunch before tackling what was by far the curviest route of the tour so far. Shizuoka is one of Japan’s most important agricultural regions. The mild climate, abundant water, and fertile volcanic soil create ideal conditions for strawberries, tomatoes, melons, flowers — basically everything you can imagine. But the real highlight is that Shizuoka is Japan’s largest tea-growing region. And today we got to experience it on incredibly twisty and narrow roads with almost no traffic at all. At times, the route led us through seemingly impenetrable cedar forests, and for whatever reason, the friendly Japanese built an absolute dream of a motorcycle road right through them. So once again: thank you, Japan, for this rollercoaster ride through such unbelievably beautiful nature. At the end of the day, our route brought us down to Hamamatsu. I’d say none of us will forget today’s roads anytime soon. Yes — that was Day 4 of the tour, and it was absolutely top class!!! And tomorrow we continue toward Kumano. And what are we going to experience there!? Well… you’ll have to come back tomorrow to find out. See you tomorrow Jan and Axel

We're so lucky with the weather! It's not just the fact that it's dry but also the temperature is perfect to ride a motorcycle. And, to sail on a ferry! We're crossing the Mikawa bay to Toba. Upon arrival at the other side of the bay there's much less traffic and the roads are winding along the coast. A real highlight is our lunch stop. In a tiny little restaurant our food is prepared by an older couple and we're in the midst of locals. Very authentic! And further it goes on winding roads through dense rainforest. Also this hotel has a great surprise for us. First of all a private hot tub in every room, but also complementary beer! Well deserved!

Our journey continues!!! Today we’re heading to Kyoto – a city where more than 1,000 years of imperial history live in perfect harmony with the modern world of today. But first, let’s talk about our day! After a relaxing night, we got back on the motorcycles under bright blue skies and sunshine. Not long after leaving, our route led us onto Road 311 and then onto Road 371 – one of the absolute riding highlights of the entire day! This incredible road takes you from the coastline deep into the mountains of Wakayama Prefecture along the famous Ryujin-Koya Skyline. Breathtaking mountain scenery, deep valleys, and endless winding roads shaped this unforgettable ride before the route continued further into Mie Prefecture. Honestly, this road alone would already have been a major highlight of the trip – but what would Japan be without its temples and the spiritual world of Buddhism? That’s why we made our lunch stop today in Koyasan. It’s truly incredible to see what has been created there since the year 816 AD. Koyasan feels like its own world – and in many ways, it really is. Even though it’s a well-known destination, there’s absolutely no need to worry about crowds. The entire temple area is so vast and peaceful that you constantly find quiet moments completely alone, fully immersed in the unique Buddhist atmosphere. A true highlight that you definitely should not miss when visiting Japan. Even though we easily could have stayed another hour, the call of the road was stronger – and of course we followed it. We continued down through the valleys, getting closer and closer to Kyoto on unbelievably beautiful and curvy mountain roads. Today was simply perfect motorcycle weather: sunshine, dry roads, stunning landscapes, and the magical temple world of Koyasan – today truly had everything. And now we’ve arrived in Kyoto for two nights. That means tomorrow the motorcycles will get a little break while we explore the old imperial city on foot. Stay tuned to see what adventures tomorrow will bring – and check back soon! Jan & Axel – see you tomorrow

After traveling thrue Japan for almost a week it's time to give our motorcycles a rest and get some exercise. Some are traveling to Hiroshima, others are discovering Kyoto. First stop is the Kennin-Ji temple complex. Build in a time when the emperor of Japan still lived here and therefore the city was the capital. Kõdaiji-temple is our next stop and this complex is one of the biggest in the city. The gardens are in typical Japanese style and the tranquility is affectionate. As it's getting pretty warm we're treating ourselves to a Masha ice-cream. We continue our walking tour through the Geisha quarter. Here are many theatres where the Geishas perform their art. We finish the walk at the Nishiki food market. If you like grilled fish, fruit, meat or deep fried birds you can fet it here.

Welcome to Day 8 — and today it’s finally time to get back on the motorcycles as we continue our journey from Kyoto to Himeji. It’s Saturday morning, and Kyoto is only slowly waking up — which works perfectly for us, because it means less traffic on the way out of the city. After what feels like 30 traffic lights later, we finally leave the urban scenery behind and dive into the dreamy green landscapes of Hyōgo Prefecture. Our route leads us along narrow and winding roads through dense cedar forests, the kind of roads that make motorcycle touring in Japan so unforgettable. Small villages line the route one after another, while the rice farming season is already in full swing. Bright green rice fields stretch across the countryside and give the whole landscape that unmistakable Japanese atmosphere. After a short coffee stop — and of course an ice cream stop — we continue onto Route 372, which takes us all the way to Himeji. Today was not an especially long riding day, because the real highlight is waiting for us at the end of the route. We are talking about the legendary Himeji Castle, the famous samurai castle that can already be seen from far away long before reaching the city itself. So as the day slowly comes to an end, it’s time to park the motorcycles, jump under the shower, and head toward the castle that has dominated the landscape here since 1333. Another incredible day of the journey comes to an end — and tomorrow we continue further toward the west coast of Japan. So then… see you tomorrow. Jan and Axel

Last night we enjoyed one of the many great meals! Japan is known for its sushi, but all the food is really good. It's fresh, healty and prepared with a lot of love. Anyway, another reading and again the weather gods are very happy with us. We soon are riding through forest and along lakes and rivers: gorgeous!! It's unbelievable how beautiful this country is! Coffee stop at a local café where they're selling local strawberries. We're surrounded by ricefields which are also being used by birds and frogs. Lunch in Obama (not related to the former president) at a quaint local restaurant. We continue along the coast to the rainbow line road. Named after 5 lakes who have 5 different colours. The roses that are growing here are also very colourful. And then the view! In a clear day like today it's simply breathtaking! And we bikers can really appreciate a cold beer at the end of a riding day. And that's exactly what Kon-san had prepared! Also white and red wine and snack. Cheers to another great day in colourful Japan!

Today is an extra special day. We're invited to take part in the morning ceremony in the temple of Buddhist monks. Normally this takes place behind closed doors. Very early in the morning we see 120 monks chanting and performing their rituals. There are bells, drums and long verses being sang. Some of the buildings are 800 years old. The impressive trees, and the whole complex breathes serenity. We feel blessed tonhave experienced this and will remember it for the rest of our lifes. Perhaps hard to believe but the day is getting even better! The roads and the nature of today must be some of the best in Japan! And there's even still snow on the mountains. In Shirikawa, bear country..., we admire the wooden houses who have been standing there for centuries. And all being build without any nails. At the Sho artificial lake it's time for another picture stop and water as it's a warm day. Hydrating is something we also do upon arrival at the hotel! Whilst sharing todays adventures we feel as a tight group, enjoying each others company

Today we're going to see the old and the new Japan. The old Japan is Gujō-Hachiman Castle. On top of a mountain peak it has been overlooking the valley for hundreds of years, that used to belong to a local warlord. The new is plastic. Food to be precise. Real life copies of food that is used for display. And with real life we mean real life. It looks so good that you want to take a bite out of it. We visit the store where they make it and sell it. On this tour, every day we're amazed by the variation. A good mix of culture and perfect riding. Today as well: first along wild rivers, valleys, gorges and then snow covered mountains. Again lunch is a celebration. Suchi, tempura and green tea. And as we're almost at the hotel we see the fenomenal waterfall of Hirayu. The cold drinks outside the terrace of our hotel are a very nice treat! That also goes for the dinner! We get to grill our own meat and vegetables. Afeter a long day in the saddle it tastes even better. To finalise this perfect day we do a last nightcap at the campfire and look at the stars

Good morning from Hirayu Today is officially a rest day. And honestly, the idea of simply relaxing in an onsen all day sounded extremely tempting. But there was another option calling our names — a small motorcycle loop right through the heart of the Japanese Alps. And with perfect riding conditions, the decision was made pretty quickly. So we headed out for a beautiful 180 km ride along some of the best and twistiest roads in the region. Our first destination was the historic village of Narai-juku — a former post town along the old Nakasendō trade route connecting Kyoto and Edo. At first glance, that might not sound overly exciting… until you actually arrive there. Narai-juku is considered one of the best-preserved historic villages in all of Japan. Walking between the dark wooden houses, narrow streets, and traditional facades truly feels like stepping back several hundred years in time. The perfect place for a breakfast ice cream, a little walk, and of course a few photos With today’s “history & culture” checkbox officially completed, we dedicated the rest of the day entirely to what we came for: riding motorcycles. Far away from the busy main roads, we found endless tight corners, perfectly paved mountain roads, and breathtaking views across the stunning landscape of the Japanese Alps. This unique combination of peace, almost no traffic, and endless curves is exactly what makes riding in Japan so special. At times the road led us deep through dense forests, then alongside crystal-clear rivers, and later high into the mountains with incredible views of Mount Norikura and Mount Ontake. And moments like these remind you once again why Japan is truly a dream destination for motorcyclists. Well… now the day is slowly coming to an end. The onsen is treating our group well, while Jan and I are already taking a look at tomorrow’s route — because the weather forecast seems quite determined to give us a proper shower. 🌧️ But as I always say: No matter how many weather apps you check — the real weather is what you see when you open the curtain in the morning. You can’t change it anyway, so the best thing to do is simply make the most of it. Whether the forecast is right or not… we’ll find out tomorrow. See you tomorrow Jan & Axel

What a day what a day! Today we had it all, a great adventure. When we started in the morning there was a bit of rain. That turned into grown-up rain. Because we're tough bikers we kept on riding, and had a well deserved wasabi ice-cream at the Wasabi-Farm. Interesting to see how the wasabi plants grows. It needs a lot of water, well today it got exactly that. After lunch the sky cleared up a bit and we could enjoy the beautiful scenery. Then, the highlight of the day and for some the tour: the famous Japanese snow monkeys! Cute, cuddly and chilling in the warm water basin. What a great life these animals have. But so do we, because we got to ride further! Into the mountains we went. The most made it magically. And before we knew it, we were at our hotel where drinks awaited us. Thank you all for a lovely day!

The sound when waking up already tells the whole story: rain. Just like yesterday. Not exactly the soundtrack you hope for when starting a motorcycle day in Japan. But just because everything looks wet doesn’t mean the day is lost. Our route starts in Kusatsu and follows the Japan Romantic Road toward Mount Haruna — a road that today feels more mystical than romantic. The landscape changes constantly: small villages disappear behind drifting mist, forests become darker and denser, and the mountains only reveal themselves for a brief moment before vanishing back into the clouds. With just 10°C showing on the display, the first stop is decided quickly: coffee and tea. Time to warm up, take a breath, and hope the cloud cover eventually starts to break. After we warmed up went back on the bikes - narrow roads here we come - toward Mount Akagi — volcano number two of the day. The road keeps climbing, and with every meter of elevation the atmosphere changes. Down below there are green valleys and scattered fields; higher up, only damp air, dense forest, and that unique feeling when the world suddenly becomes quieter. The road takes us up to 1,694 meters. The view we were hoping for? Unfortunately, none. Just white. But sometimes those are exactly the moments that remind you it’s not always about the destination. Because the road itself was the experience. Between Haruna and Akagi, the region shows its wild side: endless curves, steep slopes, dense mountain forests, and those short windows when the clouds open and reveal the landscape for just a second. It feels like riding through several seasons in a single day. At the top, we stopped for lunch and enjoyed some local cuisine before the most demanding part of the day began. Back down into the valley and straight into a road that felt like it had three times more hairpins than Stelvio Pass — packed into just 13 kilometers. Corner after corner, wrapped in thick fog, sometimes so dense that the world shrank to only a few meters of visible road and endless grey outlines. It was challenging — no question. But those are exactly the moments that stay with you. Looking back at the day, one thing became clear: below roughly 300 meters it stayed mostly dry. But every time the road climbed again, we rode straight back into the clouds. As if the mountains had decided to make their own weather today. Of course, we would have preferred sunshine. But honestly — on such a long journey, only two days of bad weather? We can live with that more than happily. Now we’ve arrived in Nikko — a city with history dating back to the year 766, surrounded by mountains, forests, and centuries of stories. The perfect place to slow down, let the day fade out, and maybe discover a few of its secrets before dinner. And tomorrow? Tomorrow we’re actually heading back toward Tokyo. Crazy how fast time passes when every day feels like an adventure. See you tomorrow, Jan & Axel

The last riding day is always extra special. Especially because we have some really nice highlights today! First one is the last curvy mountain road. Again we admire the rivers, forests and mountains. After saying goodby to the mountains of Japan we arrive at the Motegi twin circuit. And are we lucky! There is a Ferrari challenge race going on! The smell of burned rubber fills our nostrils. In the Honda collection hall we admire the beautiful machines Honda has built over de years. And then it's highway into the gigantic metropolitan Tokyo. It's truly impressive to see the sheer size of this city. And before we know it we're back in our hotel. Everybody made it safe! It was a tour with many many highlights. We've laughed together, discovered the hills, coastline, tempels, cities and villages. Sang songs, enjoyed the great food and drinks and made new friends. Thanks to Rainer, Amelia, Julie, Terry, Vyckie, Dane, André, Jean Marc, Carole, Dave, Gion, Martin, Alison, Brian, Dave, Lesley, John and especially Kon-san! Hope to see you again, stay safe and keep on riding! Axel and Jan