Japan self-guided cycling vacation, Noto Peninsula

The Impacts of this Trip

With rapidly-growing numbers of overseas visitors to Japan, we believe it is vital to encourage exploration of rural communities, lessening the crowding at major urban tourist sites and spreading the economic benefits of tourism more widely. We promote travels to often visit the lesser-known (but equally enchanting) areas of the countries we visit, and this helps to spread the economic benefit of tourism more evenly. With a focus on the Noto Peninsula, a hidden destination in Japan, this tour features stays in small, family-run inns, supporting local communities and fostering genuine interaction between local populations and visitors. Encouraging economic activity in the community means that their society and culture can endure, too. This is particularly important for rural areas like Noto, which faced decades of decline and depopulation as younger people moved away to the cities like Osaka. There are now welcome signs that this tide has started to turn. Bringing visitors to rural and remote communities, such as the Noto Peninsula, helps sustain their economic viability.