UPDATED July 2, 2026 BY Guest Author IN Journey to the East no comments From Seoul To Sapporo: The Journey We SharedArjuna Boucher-Pertuisot was the Content Creator on the 2026 Journey to the East Cycling Tour.After thousands of kilometres, countless bowls of rice, endless vending machines, ferry crossings, mountain climbs, quiet roads, busy cities, and more than a few well-earned onsen, the Journey to the East has officially reached its final destination: Sapporo, Japan.What began in the energetic streets of Seoul became much more than a cycling tour. It became a moving community between riders, staff, bikes, duffel bags, snack stops, laundry missions, early mornings, tired legs, and unforgettable views. For Sheila Morehouse, the tour was a chance to discover two countries at the perfect speed. The Tour dAfrique helped me confirm that biking is the perfect speed and manner in which to explore a country. Japan and Korea were complete unknowns to me, so this seemed like a great opportunity to learn a lot in a really granular way. For Vince Waite, the journey was also about challenging expectations. I came here to challenge myself with another expedition tour, and to challenge my stereotypes of Japan. And for many riders, that is exactly what the tour became: a chance to move through South Korea and Japan slowly enough to notice the details: one climb, one meal, one ferry, one convenience store stop, and one unexpected conversation at a time.The Challenge of the RoadThe Journey to the East was beautiful, but it was not always gentle. There were long riding days, steep climbs, changing weather, city transfers, ferries, and the daily challenge of waking up and doing it all again. Riders had to adapt constantly.. to new roads, new countries, new food, new routines, and sometimes to legs that were clearly asking for a rest day. But this is also what makes the wins feel even bigger. For Giselle, each day came with its own uncertainty, but also its own reward. Every day I thought I was not sure I would be able to ride every day, let alone complete the hills. Most proud to finish and think of the mountains as only hills.Vince also found himself changing through the climbs. Steep ascents previously created anxiety for me, and I came to look forward to them. That is the magic of a long tour. A climb becomes a hill. A hard day becomes a story. A fear becomes something you know how to ride through. For Sheila, the challenge was not only physical. It was also about letting go a little. Im proud of overcoming some of my Point A to B tendency, choosing love over EFI, and getting up the climbs.Some riders were chasing every kilometre. Some were chasing the experience. Most were trying to find their own balance between the two.The Moments Along the WayThere were plenty of big highlights: arriving in Busan, seeing Mount Fuji on a clear day, cycling through the Japanese countryside, reaching Hokkaido, and finishing near Lake Shikotsu before rolling into Sapporo. But the small moments may be the ones people remember most. A perfect lunch stop. A quiet road through rice fields. A surprise view after a climb. A convenience store snack that saved the energy. A shared table at dinner. A joke that somehow lasted for weeks. A rider overcoming a challenge they were not sure they could complete.When asked about her favourite moments, Sheila did not choose just one. Every downhill was an amazing multi-sensory experience. Every single little kid I played with, every single onsen for better or worse and being able to ride with Vince this time around were all favourite moments. For Vince, one of the best parts of the tour was also one of the simplest. My favourite moment was riding with Sheila and matching our very different styles of riding so that we could stay together. And Giselle found her favourite memories in the shared rhythm of the group. Riding with our tribe through the many gorgeous winding paths, with canopy over the road, lakes, mountains, and gorges. In the end, a tour like this is not remembered as one single highlight. It is remembered as hundreds of little moments that slowly become something much bigger.Two Countries, Many SurprisesSouth Korea and Japan offered two very different but equally memorable chapters. In Korea, riders found smooth bike paths, riverside riding, busy cities, and a cycling culture that made moving through the country feel easy and exciting. Vince remembered Korea for the amazing bike paths, while Giselle was struck by how polite, respectful, and shared the country felt.Japan brought a new rhythm. The tour moved through islands, mountains, forests, fishing towns, rice fields, temples, shrines, hot spring towns, and some truly impressive hotel dinners. One day might include a tough climb in cold weather, and the next might end with riders walking around in the traditional clothing yukata, before a multi-course meal. For Vince, experiencing Japan completely changed the way he viewed the country. Japan has literally broken all my stereotypes. I have found it to be a loving, kind place of magnificent beauty.A Tour Built by PeopleOf course, no tour like this happens by accident. Behind every riding day was a team of staff working early mornings, late evenings, and all the hours in between. Bags had to be moved. Routes had to be pre-checked. Lunch had to be made. Hotels had to be ready. Riders needed answers, support, encouragement, and sometimes just a calm voice saying, Yes, youre going the right way. The staff were at all time the invisible engine behind the journey, but the riders brought the magic.Some brought humour, others their wisdom. Some brought unstoppable climbing legs, others contributed with their excellent snack strategies. And many brought stories from past tours. Together, they created the spirit of the trip. As Sheila put it, one of the things she will miss the most is: Our cool, quirky group riders and staff overeating to try every new food and drink, and the freedom to just ride and explore. Giselle echoed the same feeling: Ill miss the camaraderie and freedom that comes with every day riding. That freedom was everywhere on Journey to the East. It was in the open roads, the daily discoveries, and the rare simplicity of having one main job each day: ride your bike and see what happens.What We Take With UsAt the end of a journey like this, it is easy to talk about the goals achieved: distances we passed, destinations that were reached, and elevation that was climbed. Those numbers matter, but they do not tell the full story. The real story is in the people. It is in the rider who overcame more than they ever thought they would. The friendships built over shared ups and downs. The jokes that only makes sense to the people who lived them. The comfort of miso soup, ramen, onsens, and, as Giselle reminded us, automatic toilets.The Journey to the East was not just about crossing South Korea and Japan by bike. It was about discovering what happens when a group of people commits to moving forward together, one stage at a time. From Seoul to Sapporo, it was one incredible ride.RELATEDTOURJourney to the East While South Korea and Japan are close neighbors, their lands and cultures are completely unique. Cycling across these countries, one after the other... Related Posts:Leave a Comment for "From Seoul To Sapporo: The Journey We Shared" Cancel reply