The Scenic Route: Cycling 3,700km Solo Across Japan

In the spring of 2026 I quit my job to cycle solo across Japan, south to north, the whole length of the country, on the most scenic route I could find. 64 days and 3,651 km (2,269 mi), from Cape Sata at the southern tip of Kyushu to Cape Soya at the northern tip of Hokkaido, across all four main islands: remote back roads, tall mountains, rugged coastlines, and places I'd never have the chance to come back to. This film documents that journey, April 11 to June 13, 2026. OFFICIAL SCENIC ROUTE WEBSITE I've created a website that contains detailed information about my route and my trip. It has interactive maps, ride recordings, photos from the trip, lists of my favorite hotels and restaurants, tips for riding in Japan, and so much more. Check it out here: https://scenicroute.jhallard.com/ The trip, island by island: Kyushu, by Bicycle: https://jhallard.com/p/kyushu-by-bicycle Shikoku, by Bicycle: https://jhallard.com/p/shikoku-by-bic... Honshu, by Bicycle: https://jhallard.com/p/honshu-by-bicycle Hokkaido: coming soon How I designed the route: https://jhallard.com/p/designing-a-cy... The post I wrote before leaving: https://jhallard.com/p/japan-the-scen... GPX files (RideWithGPS): What I actually rode, day by day: https://ridewithgps.com/collections/9... My planned routes, as I revised them on the road: https://ridewithgps.com/collections/9... FOLLOW ALONG Strava:   / strava   X: https://x.com/john__allard Instagram:   / john__allard   GEAR Bike: Cervélo Áspero-5 Bags: Tailfin Cargo Pack, Tailfin Pannier Cameras: DJI Osmo Action 6, Sony a7 III CHAPTERS 0:00 Intro 1:13 Chapter 1 · Kyushu 12:45 Chapter 2 · Shikoku 26:57 Chapter 3 · Honshu 30:43 Honshu: Into the Alps 37:18 Honshu: The Alps, with friends 50:47 Honshu: The North 1:03:53 Chapter 4 · Hokkaido 1:17:04 Hokkaido: Cape Soya MUSIC Last Chance by junior state / Musicbed.com 🎵 Copyrighted music licensed from Lickd. https://lickd.co Bourée by Jethro Tull, https://t.lickd.co/l/Zqb55q45bk9 🎵 Copyrighted music licensed from Lickd. https://lickd.co Baby Boy by Childish Gambino, https://t.lickd.co/l/joyO9MlKqZY 🎵 Copyrighted music licensed from Lickd. https://lickd.co Jubilee by Jake Xerxes Fussell, https://t.lickd.co/l/zRnBjGPqnNE 🎵 Copyrighted music licensed from Lickd. https://lickd.co Roco Ono by Allah-Las, https://t.lickd.co/l/Y0dKnVKWzrg #Japan #Cycling #BikeTouring #bikepacking #travel