Solo Cycling & Temple Stay Wellness Journey in Hiroshima, Japan

The journey opens at Miyajima, where the Great Torii gate floats on the tide in front of Itsukushima Shrine. You'll walk the pine-lined coast and take in the National Treasure buildings before heading to Aki Kokubun-ji, a working temple in the sake-brewing town of Saijo. Here you sleep on futons in a quiet Japanese-style room, join a predawn service, sit in zazen meditation, and blend your own incense sachet — a small ritual meant to match what your body needs that day.

From the temple stillness, the mood shifts. You'll walk Saijo's white-walled brewery street, where red-brick chimneys mark centuries of sake making, then move to Onomichi, a port town of steep lanes and sea views. Your home for two nights is a characterful hotel built into a converted shipping warehouse — cyclists are welcome, and you can wheel your bike straight into your room.

The heart of the trip is the Shimanami Kaido, a 70-kilometer route that hops from island to island over soaring bridges. You'll ride through lemon-scented valleys and coastal roads, stopping at viewpoints and villages as you go. It's world-famous for good reason — the openness and sea breeze are genuinely liberating after days of temple quiet.

The final morning takes you by train to Fukuyama, where you walk among the stone walls and iron-plated keep of its historic castle before boarding the Shinkansen back toward Osaka or Kyoto. The whole loop is designed to fit neatly into a larger Japan trip — it starts just an hour from Kyoto by train.

What's included

- 3 nights accommodation (1 night temple, 2 nights hotel) - Breakfasts on Days 2, 3, and 4 - Dinners on Days 1, 2, and 3 - Shinkansen green car tickets from Shin-Osaka to Hiroshima, and Fukuyama onward - Local train transfers as per itinerary - Bicycle rental for the Shimanami Kaido - Zazen session and predawn service at the temple - Incense sachet crafting workshop - Water, tea, and coffee throughout - Wifi connection at accommodations - Guide services for the included itinerary

What's not included

- International flights - Airport transfers - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Lunches and Day 1 dinner - Additional treatments and activities not listed - Day 3 cycling-day transportation costs (e.g., ferry back to Onomichi) - Round-trip ferry between Onomichi Port and Setoda Port - Admissions: Miyajima ropeway, sake-brewery tastings, Senko-ji Temple, Kosanji Temple Museum, Fukuyama Castle - Coin locker fees - Tips