The people you meet along the way
When I guide, for me, it’s the encounters with people. The riders you meet are often once in a lifetime connections. You may never see them again, and yet for a short time, you get to ride the same roads, feel moved by the same scenery and sit down to meals together.
That makes that time feel incredibly meaningful.
Sometimes, those most memorable moments are unplanned. When you get chatting to a local, and suddenly 30 minutes have passed on the roadside! Or discovering a shared story with someone you only just met.
It’s these unexpected connections with people that constantly remind me why I’m grateful to do this work. I think part of Japan’s charm lies in this closeness people can feel with one another, even across differences in language or culture, so enabling those moments feels like the ultimate privilege.
I see my role specifically, as helping bridge the space between visitors and local communities in a way that ensures tourism is sustainable. Cycling makes that possible.
Riding together, feeling the same wind, seeing the same scenery, is so immensely powerful. When you share that time and space, it creates that understanding that doesn’t necessarily need words.
Travel that leaves a lasting connection
When people ask why Ride Nagano was next for me, it really comes down to one thing. I want more people to see these landscapes. I knew, from the moment I first experienced them, that they were too good to keep to myself!
And then with every guest that tells me ‘I’m so glad I came’, it just motivates me more, to share just how extraordinary Nagano’s nature truly is.
Ultimately, this is not only about Nagano. All across rural Japan, there are hidden treasures that few people know about, with few opportunities for visitors to experience them meaningfully. When I realised just how many places like this existed, waiting to be discovered, I couldn’t sit still any longer!
I believe wholeheartedly that Ride Nagano can pave the way for authentic travel in Japan. By creating cycling journeys beyond those well-known destinations, we can help people discover parts of Japan they never knew existed, or expected to find.
Tourism at its best, should create lasting connections, and that is what we’re here to do.
