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About HAKUBA Cycling Map
Hakuba Village is a small village with a population of about 8,000, located in the north of Nagano Prefecture, Japan. In 1996, The Nagano Olympic Winter Games were held in Hakuba. Hakuba Village is visited by many skiers from Japan and overseas every year and is famous as a sacred place for winter sports.
Hakuba Village is surrounded by the Northern Alps, and has a wonderful natural environment and a treasure trove of nature that combines the steep mountain beauty with the atmosphere of a satoyama, which can be said to be the original scenery of Shinshu.
The Hakuba Cycling Map introduces recommended 4 cycling courses for beginners to intermediate level cyclists who can fully enjoy the scenery of Hakuba Village.
About Cycling courses in the Map
1.Hakuba’s Best Scenic Spots Route
Hakuba’s Best Scenic Spots Route is for those who want to see famous sights while enjoying Hakuba’s fantastic scenery. if you have energy to spare, go ahead and stroll around Himekawa Genryu Shizen Tanshoen park.
[About]
• Difficulty: Sport bike beginners to sports bike intermediates
• Total Distance: 27.4km
• Duration: 4 hours (including breaks)
• Elevation Gain: 349m
• Calories burned: 700kcal
This route encompasses all of Hakuba’s most attractive sights and is suggested for beginner and intermediate level cyclists. As there are no sharp ascents, you won’t need to exert much energy while riding. If you start from JR Hakuba station, come across Hakuba Olympic Bridge. Then at Iimori Overpass, cross the national road and you will enter the Himekawa Cycling Road along the Hime river. With little traffic, it’s quite comfortable to ride along this stretch of road that goes through fields. There is more than enough to check out in the Sunsun Park Hakuba area as there are numerous stone monuments . At the Himekawa Genryu Shizen Tanshoen park, cross the national road and head back. Go along the narrow road in front of Minami Kamishiro station and you will find Teirinji Temple.
In this temple, you can enjoy Katakuri, or dog tooth violet, and cherry blossoms depending on the time of year. Then go back to the national road and take a break at Michino-eki Hakuba. Don’t miss a wide variety of Oyaki (Japanese dumpling with various fillings) and soft-serve ice cream with seasonal flavors. As the latter half of the course, ride along the Rinkan Route of Hakuba Goryu and head to the Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium. Stroll
around the jump ramp and the downtown of Happo. From Hakuba Ohashi Bridge, slowly make your way down the Matsukawa River Road to get back to JR Hakuba Station.
2.Scenic Short Cycling Route
Scenic Short Cycling Route is Casually ride around Hakuba while enjoying views of the Northern Alps. We suggest you take the ski lift to the top ,which is used in 1996 Nagano Olympic Winter Games, and check out the Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium and views from there.
[About]
• Difficulty: Tourists (rent-a-bicycle) to sports bike beginners
• Total Distance: 9.2km
• Duration: 3 hours (including breaks and sightseeing)
• Elevation Gain: 117m
• Calories burned: 230kcal
This is a short, casual route where beginner level riders can enjoy. Set off from JR Hakuba station, ride along the national road for a while, and take the Matsukawa River Road from the end of the Matsukawa Bridge. Since there is not much traffic and the road is wide, it’s a cyclist-friendly road. Even though it is slightly uphill, you will be at the end of the road before you know it, as you take in the scenery of the Northern Japan Alps. Once you cross over the Hakuba Ohashi Bridge, you’ll arrive at the Nire Pond. This is a pond for fishing that anyone can try for a small fee. If you take the narrow road by the Nire Pond, you’ll enter the Onsen town of Happo, so enjoy strolling around the town. If you continue walking further from the hot spring town, you’ll arrive at the Hakuba Ski Jumping Stadium. It is highly recommended to drop by there as you can learn about the history of the Nagano Olympics and have a first-hand look at the jumping ramp. Then you may want to return to the center of the town and have a break while soaking your feet in the foot bath at Happo-no-yu onsen. Descend the road along Onaragawa River and you’ll come back to the goal of JR Hakuba station.
3.Tsugaike Scenic Route with Various Blooms
Tsugaike Scenic Route with Various Blooms is to enjoy the seasonal wild flowers from Hakuba to Otari Village. With cherry blossomes in in spring. dogthooth violet in summer, and beautiful fall foliage, it’s a amazing all year round.
[About]
• Difficulty: Sport bike beginners to sports bike intermediates
• Total Distance: 23.6km
• Duration: 4 hours (including breaks and sightseeing)
• Elevation Gain: 424m
• Calories burned: 700 kcal
Set off from JR Hakuba station and ride along Matsukawa River Road. While taking in the view of the Northern Japan Alps spreading in front of you, ride up to the Hakuba Ohashi Bridge. Then go downhill a little bit until you pass through a short tunnel. After you pass the Hakuba Iwatake Mountain Resort, you will find the long uphills along the river so hang in there. The Ochikura Nature Park, which is free to enter, you can see white arum and skunk cabbage blooming from April to mid-May. At the end of the long, straight downhill, you will see the magnificent Tsugaike Panorama Bridge. Below the bridge are rice terraces along the traditional semi-natural area, which are quite beautiful. A coffee break at Tsugaike Kogen Resort will be refreshing. Go back a little bit on the same road and head toward JR Shinano Moriue station. When you go uphill at the Nodaira area, you’ll be welcomed by a beautiful cherry tree. As you head back to JR Hakuba station, enjoy the amazing scenery of Oide Park along the Hime river!
4.Rural Scene along the Hime River
Rural Scene along the Hime River, which flowes from south to north of Hakuba Village. If you have a chance to visit Himekawa Genryu Shizen Tanshoen park, leave your bikeand enjoy a little hiking.
[About]
• Difficulty: Tourists (rent-a-bicycle) to sports bike beginners
• Total Distance: 13km (including walking)
• Duration: 3.5 hours (including breaks and walks)
• Elevation Gain: 120m
• Calories burned: 320kcal
This route is quite flat so you can even use a rented bike and it is full of attractions along the way. Start from the Hakuba Sanosaka Tourism Association, drop in at Michino-eki Hakuba, and take the single road through fields, which should be refreshing. The road is pretty wide so you should feel at ease riding. Pass the historic Shimmeisha Shrine and Olympic Memorial Stone Carving Park and you will arrive at Himekawa Genryu Shizen Tanshoen park. Enjoy a walk through this quiet and beautiful space. It is hard to believe that the park is situated right next to a national road. It is meticulously maintained and easy to navigate. After enjoying walking to your heart’s content, head back to the goal of the Hakuba Sanosaka Tourism Association.
AUTHOR : Takashi KURISU
