Many of our readers have no doubt been bitten by the cycling bug, God help them, and if wheeling around in skin-tight spandex, throwing water bottles at small children and shouting at motorists sounds like your kind of weekend, have we got a treat for you! Of course, to backtrack completely, most cyclists are perfectly sane individuals who like to enjoy a leisurely ride without it turning into an obsession, but if there’s one country you can rely on to take a hobby and take it to extremes, it’s Japan.
Hotel Cycle in Onomichi is one for the major bicycle enthusiast, dare we say the bicycle fanatic. The hotel occupies part of the Onomichi U2 leisure complex in the southern Japanese town, and visitors can pretty much ride where they like; hotel guests can check in while still in the saddle, and park their pride and joy in the room on a stand at the foot of the bed. There’s a cycle-through café selling snacks and sports drinks for the day’s ride. Bike manufacturer Giant has a store and workshop in the U2 complex offering repairs and sales. When you’re properly rested, refreshed and ready to roll the area is suited to the climber specialists, as the Senkoji Hill trail affords stunning views of the bayside town from its lofty vantage point, as well as taking in one of Japan’s oldest temples.
Giant
Photo, Tetsuya Ito/by
Courtesy of DISCOVERLINK Setouchi
ONOMICHI U2
Kog Bar
Photo, Tetsuya Ito/by
Courtesy of DISCOVERLINK Setouchi
ONOMICHI U2
Yard Café
Photo, Tetsuya Ito/by
Courtesy of DISCOVERLINK Setouchi
ONOMICHI U2
Butti Bakery
Photo, Tetsuya Ito/by
Courtesy of DISCOVERLINK Setouchi
ONOMICHI U2
U2shima Shop
Photo, Tetsuya Ito/by
Courtesy of DISCOVERLINK Setouchi
ONOMICHI U2
