06/06/2024
Cardigans.
#野方
DIG Tokyo Tours
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DIG Tokyo Tours specialises in affordable small group, private and family experiences in and around Tokyo.
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DIG Tokyo Tours is a sole operated Tokyo bike tour, street food and walking experience provider, based in the offbeat Tokyo neighbourhoods of Nakano, Koenji and Asagaya. Join me on a local adventure in this mega metropolis I call home.
19/05/2024
Sunday Lunch.
#とんかつとんき #高円寺 #高円寺グルメ
13/05/2024
Bottle Day.
14/04/2024
I'll be cycling Taiwan over the 2024 Golden Week period, Sat April 26th - Mon May 6th.
Email communications will be as usual, if not a bit sporadic, but no rides or walking tours will be taking place over the Japanese holiday period.
Enjoy the festivities and vibrant crowds during the holiday season and I'll be back at it again from May 7th.
Looking forward to seeing you all out on the bikes in the early part of May!
Cheers,
Andy
07/04/2024
A Splash Of Colour.
05/03/2024
Thanks everyone for the support and positive word of mouth throughout the 2023-2024 snow season. It's been an absolute blast getting to know all the families and intrepid travellers passing through Tokyo to and from the mountains.
Just a quick reminder to get in there and secure your spots on the Tokyo West-Side Cycling & Food Tour for the 2024 Tokyo Cherry Blossom Season. Vacancies on the bike tour are filling up fast but there is still scattered availability.
I apologise in advance but I won't have the capacity to operate the Walking and Street Food variant or the Classic Road Bike Tour over this busy period.
If you can't find your ideal date or time be sure to say hello and I'll do my best to squeeze you in somewhere or at the very worst put you on the wait list. Travel plans change and it's not uncommon for individuals and groups to dropout so keep an eye on fresh availability popping up on the booking calendar closer to the travel dates.
So secure your booking, lace up your sneakers, jump on a bike, and let the magic of Tokyo's cherry blossoms unfold around you.
Just make sure you don't miss out on your blooming ride, it'd be great to see you over here in Tokyo!
Andy
28/02/2024
ラーメン。
#ラーメン屋 #ラーメン
06/02/2024
Shoveling.
24/01/2024
Errands.
07/12/2023
Cycling Tokyo in winter? The idea of braving the city's coolest season on a bike might make you question yourself, but there's nothing more refreshing than cycling under blue skies with that the crisp winter air hitting your face as you pedal the streets. It's that perfect time of year when Tokyo has finally dialled down the humidity and turned up the charm and what better way to experience it than on the Tokyo West-Side Walking & Food Tour.
Tokyo's winter is cool but pleasant and nowhere near bone-chilling. In December, you're looking at daytime temperatures averaging from 8-14°C (46-57°F). January keeps things pretty similar, maybe slightly cooler, while February starts to ease things up a bit with daytime highs of 9-13°C (48-55°F).
Don't expect much snow but there is always the possibility of the odd sprinkle here and there. You don't need to dress like you're heading out on an arctic expedition but sensible layers of clothing are definitley the way to go when walking the town or jumping on a bike. Throw on a warm coat, scarf and gloves and you'll be set to ride the neighbourhoods. Indoors and on trains, the Japanese love to crank up the heat, so you might find yourself shedding those layers pretty quickly.
Days get shorter in winter with sunlight disappearing around 4:30pm. But Tokyo in winter has its own vibe, crisp air, cosy izakayas and cool winter illuminations that light up the city to spectacular effect in the evenings.
Embracing the winter chill while cruising down Tokyo's well-maintained roads, bike lanes and riverside bike paths is always exhilarating. And the pit stops for a hot can of coffee, a few local snacks and a warm-comforting bowl of noodles certainly hits the spot along our cycling route.
So, if you're dropping by Tokyo this winter on your way to a ski holiday in Nozawa Onsen, Hakuba or Niseko and contemplating whether to hop on a bike, my advice? Go for it! Bundle up and let the city unveil its winter wonders as you pedal through the charming neighbourhood streets. It's an adventure that promises to leave you with memories as cool as the Tokyo winter breeze!
Limited dates are still available for Christmas and early January bike tours. As always, I still keep a few unpublished spots up my sleeve so please get in touch if a specific cycling tour date or time isn't displayed on the booking calendar.
Enjoy the winter season and as always I look forward to seeing you out on the bikes here in Tokyo,
Andy!
Book your Tokyo winter bike tours here:
https://www.digtokyotours.com/tokyocyclingtours
07/11/2023
Finally managed to crack the 300 mark on Google reviews, thanks purely to the kind and generous support from past guests on my Tokyo bike tours. It's taken a long time to achieve this personal milestone as I've slowly crawled my way up from the dark depts of Google's ranking system when searching for the likes of "cycling tours in Tokyo" and "best Tokyo bike tours"....
The hardest thing for me as a solo bike tour operator and guide has always been online visibility. Reviews, as superficial as they may seem, are extremely helpful in making my services visible to future guests and assist in trying to fill the morning group cycling tours each day.
A review that stuck in my head from the past few weeks for the Tokyo West-Side Cycling and Food Tour was Brigitte's. I liked her detailed and frank insights as they address how turning up late or not being confident on a bicycle when pedalling the streets can impact on everyones enjoyment of the ride.
Brigitte-
"Highly recommend. A very cruisy jaunt (no massive hills, gentle slopes only!) through a gorgeous province where Andy gives you history and info about Japan lifestyle, living, history and food! Value for money and honestly a really fun time scooting around on the exact same bikes as the locals, from the residential backstreets, along the river and through the business district. Stops along they way for snacks and lunch, with Andy providing a full narrative on where you are and what you're eating. He has a wealth of knowledge and is quick to offer suggestions if he has local knowledge that can expand on your holiday itinerary!
Some notes on the experience itself: Allow time to arrive at the meeting spot early. We allowed for an extra 30 mins buffer after we got there, just in case a train was delayed or we got lost. Neither happened to us, but we had to wait for others in our group to arrive which was a bit frustrating!
Book a morning tour. Ours started at 9.30am and it was perfect with less foot traffic to navigate around, and very peaceful! Everything was open after we'd finished so we could explore the town further! On riding - You must be able to ride a basic pushbike (front & rear brake, no gears), as you'll be in amongst pedestrians, other bikes and cars. If you can't balance, steer and brake responsively and confidently, maybe contact Andy for a private ride or a recommendation. I personally hadn't ridden a pushbike for 3 years and managed with no issues.
Andy was a fantastic guide and we're happy to give him top marks all round. Enjoy your tour!"
Thanks again to Brigitte and EVERYONE who has jumped on a bike and ridden along side me on my Tokyo cycling tours over the years.
It's YOUR kind support that keeps the wheels spinning!
Andy.
15/10/2023
Bath Time.
#高円寺
03/10/2023
Tokyo Nights.
21/09/2023
Asagaya Eats.
#阿佐ヶ谷
27/07/2023
Back Cycling Tokyo With The Cool Breeze In September!
I hope everyone's been enjoying the warm start to summer!
After a 3 year hiatus the Koenji Awaodori and Tokyo's vibrant summer festival scene are back in full swing as Japan ever so slowly returns to precovid normality.
I'll be taking a break from bike tours and bike rentals over the hottest month of August this year but will be raring to go again in September once things start to cool down.
All of DIG Tokyo Tours booking calendars are up-to-date so if you can spot the availability from September it's up for grabs and it'd be brilliant to see you over this side of town.
Tokyo West-Side Cycling & Food Tour
Tokyo West-Side Vintage Road Bike Tour
Tokyo West-Side Walking & Street Food Tour
If you're over here in August enjoy the stay! There's always Okutama, Mt Takao and the beaches of Kamakura a short train ride out from central Tokyo if you're looking for an escape from the heat.
Looking forward to to being back on the bikes again and riding the knotted streets of Tokyo in September!
Andy
05/07/2023
Grey.
29/06/2023
"My Short Experience Biking In Japan For The First Time"
I had an absolute blast cycling the streets of West Tokyo with Sonja and Chris the other week on the Tokyo West-Side Cycling & Food Tour.
Sonja wrote this beautiful piece on her instagram account that I've kindly been allowed to share here as it's one of the most beautiful pieces of writing on Tokyo cycling culture and etiquette that I've had the pleasure of reading.
"The silence of twisting roads, squeaky creaky mamacharis, the underbelly of bike prisons, and as Andy puts it “the rhythm of everyday life.” That to me encapsulates my short experience biking in Japan for the first time.
s/o to . It was a dream biking with Andy! The sense of joy he has sharing his passion of biking, made my dream of biking in Japan possible- my sense of joy limitless.
& s/o to for always being a good sport. 💙
I found that the culture around bikes and biking is so much /more/ in Japan than in the United States. It resonates with me. More in the sense of cultural infrastructure. People bike on sidewalks. And it’s OK. People don’t use bells to alert pedestrians. And it’s OK. People don’t always lock up their bikes for simply popping into a konbini for a quick snack. People don’t wear helmets, because cars are not a threat. And that is… hard to believe. The culture is one of caring. Kindness. Not wanting to inconvenience someone else’s day- needlessly.
Everyone rides bikes. Elders, Mothers, Salarymen, Youths going to class. Everyone one and every bike has a place. I want a country, a city, that also believes in that. A city where maybe I don’t have to proudly display a “bike lane uprising” sticker on my helmet, 4 different lights blinking away under my cities lights… anyway-I loved biking in Japan.
New goal: how to get a mamachari bike state side. 🤔🤭"
All the best with your pursuits Sonja and thanks for supporting DIG Tokyo Tours and all the local neighbourhood vendors during you stay here in Asagaya.
Happy riding!
You can read more about Sonja's exceptional talents and endeavours here:
Sonja Lynn Mata- LATINX / Actor / Clown / Playwright
https://www.sonjalynnmata.com/
28/06/2023
A very kind comment left by Christine after her morning out on the bikes with her mates John and Steven on the Tokyo West-Side Cycling and Food Tour-
Andy's tour is perfect for anybody looking to explore a more local, intimate side of Tokyo through food, culture, and (of course) bicycling. Andy is knowledgeable, professional, and very easy to talk to. He did a great job checking in on his guests at various points throughout the tour and sharing interesting historical/cultural anecdotes and tidbits throughout our 3.5 hours together.
My favorite parts of the bike tour included the pit stop at the fishing pond, the view of Koenji from an elevated vantage point, delicious kishimen at the standing noodle bar for lunch, and, funnily enough, the visit to an underground churinjo (bicycle parking lot) before we embarked on foot to Nakano Broadway.
It'd also be remiss of me not to mention the absolute joy of riding a Mamachari...they're fun and have a ton of character! I think this cycling tour is best suited for folks that have at least a casual degree of comfort and ability on the bike (e.g., the ability to maintain control while riding in a straight line + dexterity and confidence turning right and left + avoiding road obstacles like traffic bollards + controlling speed via handbrakes + situational awareness of other riders/people/cars). You definitely don't need to be an avid rider to take this tour.
Outside of my weekly Peloton-ing, I hadn't actually ridden a bike outside in...years! But I felt fine and comfortable on Andy's tour because he's a great communicator and ensures that everyone is well cared for. Riding behind Andy is the best and safest if you're a nervous rider. He does a great job scanning the road, communicating potential obstacles to you, and notifying the group of oncoming traffic.
All in all, an A+++++++++ 10/10 experience. I've already recommended this bike tour to all of my friends who plan to visit Tokyo and will definitely re-book with DIG Tokyo Tours the next time I'm back in town.
Thanks for the all the support Christine and for joining the Tokyo West-Side Cycling & Food Tour!
There's always a bike ready for you all here on your next visit!
Cheers,
Andy
28/06/2023
Hydration.
22/05/2023
駅。
#駅
10/05/2023
ゆ。
#昭和レトロ #昭和
27/03/2023
Papachari 3.1
#パパチャリ #キリンレモン .japan #カーゴバイク #チタンバイク
26/03/2023
Winky! Robot.
21/03/2023
A Bloody Mess.
10/03/2023
島田。
20/02/2023
Evil Eye.
10/02/2023
Tokyo Cherry Blossom Bike Tours: Cycle Under The Neighbourhood Sakura
A huge thanks to everyone who booked one of my Tokyo bike tours over the New Years period and current ski season, it certainly kept me planted on the saddle and out of trouble!
It was difficult to predict how tourism would bounce back when Japan opened its borders to the world back in October but it didn't take too long for first time visitors and annual stalwarts to nestle themselves into the ramen stores, small dive bars and world-class alpine ski resorts once again.
Just a very quick heads up that cycling tours are rapidly filling up for March and April so I suggest booking that Tokyo cherry blossom bike ride now if you've been holding off.
Group cycling tours have all but filled up for March and the first half of April and I'm running low on morning availability for both the Tokyo West-Side Cycling and Food Tour and Tokyo West-Side Classic Road Bike Tour.
I do however have some private afternoon sessions stashed away that aren't currently displayed on my booking calendars. I've kept theses spots deliberately in-reserve to prevent me from burning out, which was pretty close to happening with the high demand for family bike tours in January.
It's not uncommon to receive last minute cancellations, I've just processed two this morning, so please check the availabilities calendar again closer to your desired booking dates or send me an email directly for bike ride availability still not displayed.
I've just finished off piecing together this beautiful 3Rensho (三連勝) road bike for the vintage bike fleet yesterday afternoon that will look right at home under the cherry blossoms which are forecast to be in full bloom in Tokyo March 29th. I was in desperate need of another smaller sized frame for the Vintage Road Bike Tour and this will fill the gap nicely as well as looking quite fitting with its pink and white paint scheme darting along Tokyo's sakura lined cycling paths.
I haven't written a post for a while due to time constraints but being bogged down by snow today, as you can currently see out my window, has been the perfect excuse...
It's been a mild winter here otherwise thankfully, with crisp blue skies, but I'm looking forward to some warmer weather, stunning spring scenery and great company and laughs as always on the bikes!
Don't hold off! Book your March, April and Tokyo Sakura Bike Tours here-
https://www.digtokyotours.com/tokyo-bike-and-food-tour
Cheers,
Andy!
#三連勝
30/01/2023
On The Bone.
#野方
22/12/2022
Churn.
14/12/2022
Money Down.
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DIG Tokyo Tours
Scouring the internet for that perfect bike tour in Tokyo or intimate street food outing can be an overwhelming process.
Will I enjoy the experience? Is the operator reputable? Am I paying for a service that I could easily undertake myself?
DIG Tokyo Tours, a sole operated Tokyo cycling, street food and walking tour provider, sets out to remove these uncertainties by ensuring both you and your travelling companions an unforgettable local experience, unique to any other operator in the city.
From the moment of initial enquiry, to wishing you well with your onward travel, DIG is always by-your-side to ensure your complete satisfaction and enjoyment.
Whether it be:
Each and every DIG local experience is conducted in a safe, professional and friendly manner with your personal well-being and satisfaction as priority one.
So rest assured when choosing DIG Tokyo Tours for your next small-group, family or private Tokyo bike tour or culinary expedition here on the west-side.
