Let’s ride the Kibi plain together!
Ride along the Kibiji bike path with your native-born local guide for 3 to 3.5 hours.
This mostly flat 16km route visits official national treasure and iconic landmarks including a Buddhist Temple, a Shinto Shrine and burial mounds. Beyond the monuments, you’ll experience the "real" Japan. As your local friend, I’d like to help you see the Kibi Plain as an insider, not just a tourist. Along the way, you might see local farmers tending their rice paddies, discover local wisdom behind the scenery and taste the seasonal fresh produce at a farmers' market.
Your ride will be safe, insightful, and customized to your pace with a certified cycling guide. People who generally don’t cycle, need not worry. Many inexperienced cyclists have commented how easy the ride was due to the mostly flat terrain. Our tour is offered every day as a private tour. If you have 3 hours to spare, you can enjoy cycling through the stunning rural Kibiji landscape.
Where we meet:
Araki Rent-a-Cycle, located on the ground floor of the three-story orange building (marked with a bicycle sign) right by the Soja Station East Exit rotary. 1 minute walk from JR Soja Station.
Where we end:
Uedo Rent-a-Cycle, close next to JR Bizen-Ichinomiya Station.
What bicycle you ride:
You can choose your bike with our rental bikes except tandem bike.
In case you upgrade from a city bike to another bike, there will be an upgrade charge.
When we start:
When you apply, you can request it between 9am. and 1pm.
Itinerary
1.We’ll cycle 16 kms on the Kibiji Bike Path
The bike path is the flattest route of the official 8 cycling routes designated and recommended by the Okayama Prefectural Government, making it a safe haven for cyclists of all levels and ages. This 16km dedicated path is separated from car traffic, winding through rice paddies and historic landmarks.
2.Local farmer’s market
A hidden gem cherished by the neighborhood, where I shop for my own family. You can see and buy seasonal fruits and vegetables harvested right in this area, offering a true glimpse into our daily rural life.
3.Bitchu Kokubunji Temple
Discover the spiritual heart of the region and its iconic Five-Story Pagoda. I will explain the ancient architectural techniques used in this pagoda—marvels of engineering that are still integrated into modern Japanese buildings today to withstand the elements.
4.Tsukuriyama Burial Mound
Explore a massive 1,500-year-old burial mound, deeply connected to Japan’s most famous folklore, "Momotaro" (The Peach Boy). As your private guide, I can customize this experience: we can climb to the top for a panoramic view and/or visit a nearby hidden mound to see an authentic ancient stone sarcophagus inside.
5.Kibitsu Shrine
Visit this National Treasure built 600 years ago, dedicated to the real-life inspiration behind the Momotaro legend. I will reveal the deep historical links between this sacred shrine, the ancient burial mounds you’ve just seen, and the surrounding rice fields that have sustained this community for centuries.
About the tour guide:
Hello! My name is Hidetaka Araki.
I was born and raised in Kibiji, and I currently work for my family business, Araki Rent-a-Cycle.
Every day, I have the pleasure of serving customers who come to our rental bike shop from all over the world and maintain all our bicycles in perfect
condition.
Over the past year, I guided over a hundred people from abroad across Kibi Plain. My customers often tell me they had a great time and it became one of the highlights of their trip. At the same
time, I also enjoy cycling with them.
My goal is simple: to make sure you have the safest, most enjoyable and most memorable cycling experience possible. So, I can always adjust the itinerary along the way, depending on your interests, your physical strength, and the season you come.
Please don't worry about my English! I'm still learning, so please speak a little slowly to me. I am very much looking forward to riding with you!
Let's explore Kibi Plain together!
Qualifications:
Japan Cycle Tourism Association Certified Cycling Tour Guide, Bicycle Safety Mechanic
Guide price per person:
(Included in the price: Guide, Rental city bike, helmet and rain jacket, Liability insurance)
※We accept only cash
※Prices shown are for 2026 only and are subject to change.
・1person：￥25,000
・2people：￥15,000
・3people：￥11,000
・4people：￥9,000
An e-bike or sports bike option is available for an additional fee of ￥1,300.
Consent
Please be sure to read and agree to the following before applying.
Please make sure that your travel companions are aware of this as well.
1. Alcohol Drinking: The participants agree not to drink alcohol before or during the tour. If any participant is found to have drunk alcohol, the tour will be canceled and no refund of the tour fee will be given.
2. Helmet Requirement: The participants agree to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle during the tour.
3. Prohibition on Earphones: The participants agree not to wear earphones or headphones while riding a bicycle during the tour.
4. Release of Liability: For any injuries sustained during the tour, the participant shall be responsible for filing a claim with their own personal travel insurance provider. The participants acknowledge and agree that the organizer is not liable for any fatal accidents, injuries and damages caused to the Participant or any third party in connection with the tour, except for liability covered by the Insurance which organizer have bought. Participants further agree not to hold the organizer and any other participants responsible for any such incidents and not to make any claims or calls for responsibility against them.
【Insurance which organizer have bought】
The insurance offers those compensations below. And please understand that in any accidents, organizer doesn’t cover more than this insurance offer.
Following insurance amount will be paid for the damage from unforeseen accidents during the tour.
Injury Compensation：Death or severe disability (classes 1-4): Up to 500,000 JPY
Liability Compensation：Up to 100,000,000 JPY
※Insurance payments
will be made in compliance with the insurance company's guidelines.
※Damage to objects will not be covered by this insurance.
5. Cancellation Policy
In the case of cancellation by the participant reason:
Cancel on the day before tour = 50% of the tour charge
Cancel on the day of the tour =100% of the tour charge
If participant wishes to cancel their reservation due to rain forecast, please notify the organizer by 8am. of the tour day. In this case, no cancellation fee will be charged.
6. Unavoidable circumstances
Organizer may cancel the tour if organizer think it unsafe due to unforeseen circumstances like bad weather or natural disasters.
7. Photos taken during the tour
The photos taken by organizer during the tour might be uploaded to their website or SNS.
Please let us know in advance if you don’t wish to be publicized.
8. Privacy policy:
Organizer are working hard protecting participant’s personal information. Your information provided to us upon your applying will only be used for emergency contact and applying insurance.
【Inquiries about guide tour】
When you make a reservation, please send the following information
(1) Names of all applicants
(2) What date you want to join
(3) What time you plan to arrive at Araki Rent-a-Cycle in Soja
(4) What kind of bike you want to use
(5) Does everyone who applies for the tour agree with the consent to the above
(6) Do all participants have basic cycling competency skills