Bike Tours Japan is owned and operated by Charles and Toshie Olbery.  Charles is from the island of Tasmania, and Toshie is from the centre of Tokyo.

As keen skiers, they met around twenty years ago working in the ski resort of Whistler, in Canada. They arrived in Hokkaido fourteen years ago in pursuit of Hokkaido's famously light powder snow.

When the snow melted in spring they explored the single track trails of the Daisetsuzan National Park on mountain bikes until they could find no more. Charles started building some of his own trails, but found the relentless 'sassa' or 'bamboo grass' too difficult to control. And so, they started to explore the extensive back-roads of Hokkaido instead.

Bike Tours Japan was born from their exploratory nature and pioneering spirit, and finding Japan's best possible roads.  Charles always says that they, "came to Hokkaido for the powder, but stayed for the bitumen."