Company timeline. As you read down, the year on the left moves forward.
1991Founded
GalapagosCo., Ltd.Tokyo, March
Editing and graphic design for magazines, free papers, proposals and tourism materials, from reporting to page design and the web. This has been our work since the beginning.
2012Business
2015On air
NHK General TV, “Hirumae Hot”
Featured in the segment “By Bicycle: Back Roads and Byways of Saitama.”
2016On air
NHK General TV, “A Bicycle Journey in Saitama, Detours and All”
Appeared on the program.
TV Tokyo, “Ad-machi-ku Tengoku”
Appeared in, and helped film, the episode on Ogose, Saitama.
2020Joint venture · Support
ALPHA CYCLING
Launched as a joint venture of Galapagos. It handles business planning and tour operations for Okumusashi Bike Tours.
Shizuoka City: support for its cycling content project23 routes created and delivered
2021Business
ShikahachiTour de East Japan
A long-distance ride held every spring: about 800 km from Kashima in Ibaraki to Hachinohe in Aomori. Organized by the Shikahachi committee; Galapagos supervises and runs the whole event. In 2025 more than ten riders came from abroad.
2022On air
NHK World, “Cycle Around Japan”
Guide for day two of the episode “Saitama Traditions - Tokyo's Scenic Neighbor.”
2023Support
Saitama Prefecture cycle tourism model project
Planned monitor tours on three courses (Tone, 58 km; Chichibu, two days, 65 km; Arakawa to the old town of Kawagoe, 56 km) and ran them on the day.
Kazo City: support for the KAZOLING cycle train project
Ongoing support for KAZOLING, the city’s cycling brand: tour design, equipment and branding.
Tobu Top Tours: support for Agri Tone Ride
2024Support · Writing
Tokigawa Town: tourism content development
Support for the town’s project to create tourism content that draws inbound visitors and their spending.
Karatsu Adventure TravelKaratsu, Saga
“A journey exploring the food and livelihoods brought by the Sea of Genkai.” Helped build a guided cycling tour business for travelers from Europe, North America and Australia.
Contributor, “Saitama Mountain Pass Guide 90 for Cyclists”
A guidebook published by Yaesu Publishing.
2025Business
Time Travel Cycling
Reservation-only tours for visitors from abroad, drawing out a side of Japan that few have yet seen.
2026Now
To YoriiJanuary
The company moved its base from Tokyo to Yorii, Saitama.
Representative DirectorTakaki Norikane則包高希
Born in 1960 in Mitoyo, Kagawa. Graduated from Waseda University’s School of Letters, Arts and Sciences I. Founded Galapagos in 1991. Since April 2026 he has also served as Yorii Town’s community revitalization cooperator. The company’s work continues.
Profile: a map of connectionsContact
For editing and design, bicycle travel planning, or tourism work with local governments, write to us.
Email usAlso covered by FM NACK5, NHK FM Saitama, TV Saitama, Tokyo Shimbun, Nikkei MJ and Cycle Sports, among others.