Sports

From May to September, the world’s best cyclists will be putting themselves to the test, competing for the maglia rosa, the malliot jaune and malliot roja in Italy, France and Spain. Seeing the exploits of Mathieu van der Poel, Tadej Pogacar, and Primoz Roglic may put you in mind to get out onto the roads and get some kilometers in the legs, yet traveling to those cycling heartlands is still something of a challenge. But fear not. Whether you love meandering along coastlines, braving the crosswinds of the countryside, or are a glutton for punishment, crying “shut up legs” as the lactate screams at you in the mountains, Japan is an absolute mecca for cyclists. And best of all, unlike the more popular riding destinations of France, Italy and Spain, there is a greater respect for those of us on two wheels (presumably because everyone’s grandmother gets around on a mamachari) which means it is generally a pretty safe pastime. There are so many great places to ride, but here is a taste of what you can find out there. Fuji Five Lakes What could be a more Japanese experience that cycling around the five lakes region, with Mt Fuji…