Eight hundred kilometres, shrine to shrine.
800 km · 7 stages · 10 daysApril 25 – May 4, 2027
What is SHIKAHACHI
The “Tour de East Japan — Kashima to Hachinohe 800km”, nicknamed SHIKAHACHI, started in 2014. From Kashima Jingū Shrine in Ibaraki, riders cycle 800 km up the Pacific coast through Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate to Kabushima Shrine in Hachinohe, Aomori, over seven riding days.
2027 — Confirmed · applications open soon
Tour de East Japan returns in 2027 — 800 km from Kashima to Hachinohe, April 25 to May 4. The same route as last year, with new dates. Apply by December 31 for the early-bird price.
Kashima Jingū
Kaname-ishithe keystone
Behind the inner sanctuary of Kashima Jingu sits the Kaname-ishi, the keystone. Only about 30 cm of it shows above the gravel, though the stone beneath is said to be enormous: when Lord Mitsukuni of Mito had it dug around for seven days and seven nights, the hole had closed over again by morning, and no one ever saw the whole of it. The same tradition holds that the stone pins down Namazu, the great catfish of earthquake lore, kept there by Takemikazuchi, the deity of Kashima. Carrying that prayer together from Kashima, along the Sanriku coast, to Kabushima: that is the story we have written into SHIKAHACHI.
Seven stages up the Pacific coast
The Jōban Arc
Interval TourSightseeing days · Sendai, Matsushima, Hiraizumi, IshinomakiChūson-ji, Hiraizumi
Matsushima Bay
A tea break
Date Masamune statue, Sendai
The Sanriku Arc
Select a stage to see its route, sights and distances in detail.
4 photos ↓
Takemikazuchi and the great catfish
A stone relief beside the Kaname-ishi at Kashima Jingū: the shrine's deity pinning down Namazu, the catfish of earthquake lore.
A day on the road
The final day
May 4 · Sanriku Arc, Stage 4 · Kuji → Hachinohe · 70 km
- 7:00Breakfast
- 8:30Depart Kuji Grand Hotel
- 10:30Ohno Dam
- 11:00Hirono Makiba Observatory
2026 · 10:38
2026 · 10:42 - 12:00Lunch at Uniques — sea urchin bowl
- 13:30Tanesashi Beach
2026 · 13:02 - 14:00Finish at Kabushima ShrineEveryone regroups 600 m out and rides the last stretch together.
2026 · 14:04 - 14:00Blessing ceremony at the shrine (optional)
- 19:00Closing party in Hachinohe’s bar district
From the 2027 Travel Guide v1.0 (draft). Times and stops may change.
Photos: the same stage, May 5, 2026, with the time each was taken.
Choose how you ride
Self-Guided Tour
Ride the route at your own pace. No guide rides with you — where you stop and how far you push each day is up to you.
Guided Tour
A guide leads the way and a support car rides alongside. Limited to 10 riders.
Support Pack — included in every plan
- GPX route data
- Baggage transport
- Emergency support
Support & safety
A support car carries your baggage and reaches you in an emergency. A mechanic joins key stages. Guided riders are led on quieter recommended roads; self-guided riders set their own pace.
Riders’ voices
I loved everything about the Shikahachi 800. The ride was very well organised, with great attention to every detail. The ride was a beautiful blend of fantastic cycling, great company, delicious food and cultural richness.
This was a very safe, well-run multi-day ride, staying in very good hotels with excellent food.
I had an unreal time on this ride, indulging in the local cuisine, local customs and also some nostalgia.
Ways to join
Plans & pricing
| Early-bird | Self-Guided Tour | Guided Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Full Tour | ¥60,000From 1 January 2027: ¥66,000 | ¥150,000From 1 January 2027: ¥165,000 |
| Jōban Arc | ¥26,500From 1 January 2027: ¥29,000 | ¥72,000From 1 January 2027: ¥79,000 |
| Sanriku Arc | ¥35,000From 1 January 2027: ¥38,500 | ¥95,000From 1 January 2027: ¥105,000 |
| Single Stage | ¥10,000From 1 January 2027: ¥11,000 | ¥25,000From 1 January 2027: ¥27,500 |
| Interval Tour (optional)April 28–30 · Sendai, Matsushima, Hiraizumi | Price to be announced (accommodation included) | |
Early-bird prices: the prices shown apply to applications made by 31 December 2026. Applications from 1 January 2027 are at the regular price (about 10% higher). Applications open soon, and we will publish an estimate of accommodation costs shortly.
※ Cycling plan prices do not include insurance, accommodation, facility fees or meals.
Common questions
Joining
What's the difference between self-guided and guided?+
Self-guided riders set their own departure time and pace using the GPX route data we provide. Guided tours are led by our staff at a leisurely pace, with the option of shorter routes.
Can I join just a single stage or one arc?+
Yes. You can ride the full tour, a single arc (Jōban or Sanriku), or one stage. Pricing differs for each.
Bikes & gear
Are bike rentals available?+
Yes, with advance notice. Inventory is limited, so please request a rental as early as possible.
Fees
What is included in the fee?+
The participation fee plus a Support Pack covering GPX route data, baggage transport, and emergency support. Insurance, lodging, facility fees, and meals are not included.
Management Structure
- Organizer
- Shikahachi Executive Committee
- Executive Committee Chairman
- Shigeru Okada (CEO, OZ Project, Inc)
- Supervisor and Operator
- ALPHA CYCLING / Time Travel Cycling (Japan)
- Contact
- Tel. 0493-59-8220
- Location
- 646-1, Iwadono, Higashimatsuyama, Saitama
- Official Support
- Kashima City, Hachinohe City, Sanriku DMO Center
- Collaborators
- STA Travel, Inc. / UNITED SPORTS, Inc.
Eight hundred kilometres, shrine to shrine.
800 km · 7 stages · 10 days · April 25 – May 4, 2027