May turned out to be a big month for local Japanese riders renting with us!
I did have a few international visitors too, but honestly, the ratio was pretty low compared to Japanese customers.
Turns out, the number of foreign travelers visiting Japan tends to drop a bit once May rolls around.
But you know what? Fewer guests actually meant more time to really connect and chat with each person.
which was pretty awesome.
The customer who left the biggest impression on me this month was someone who joined one of our guided tours.
They found us through an external booking site and reached out.
After chatting about how far they wanted to ride and what kind of sights they were after, we landed on the “Yabitsu Pass & Miyagase Touring Route.”
Fun fact — this route was originally designed with Japanese riders in mind.
So honestly,
I wasn’t 100% sure how well it would go over with an international guest.
But it turned out to be a hit!
One moment that really stuck with me was our stop at a bakery called “Ogino Pan” toward the end of the tour.
This place is an absolute legend among Japanese locals. But here’s the thing — it’s kind of in the middle of nowhere, so you really need a car or a motorcycle to get there. I’ve been a bunch of times and it’s always packed… yet I’ve never once spotted a foreign tourist there. Total hidden gem.
Their signature item is “Age-pan” — deep-fried bread coated in sugar.
If you’re trying to picture it, think somewhere between a donut and… something you’ve never tasted before, honestly. Our guest from the US absolutely loved it, which made me really happy!
We’re still figuring out the perfect mix of scenery, food, and riding experience for our tours — always tweaking and improving as we go.
Everyone’s different — age, riding skills, what they’re looking for — so when you book a tour, don’t be shy, just tell us what you want! We’ll put together something that’s just right for you.
