We introduce about recommendation cycling route in Spring, Which is ” Tsugaike Scenic Route with Various Blooms”.

Let’s enjoy cycling in Hakuba Village with “Hakuba Cycling Map”!

About HAKUB Cycling Map

[About]

• 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.
• 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

View the route details and Bikemap

Attention: This report is based on cycling in 2019. Please contact the relevant local government for the latest information.

1. JR Hakuba Station ｜ Depart at 10:00

We are aiming for the Tsugaike Kogen in Otari Village, next to Hakuba Village.

Along the way, you will pass the Senkoku Kaido, an old highway of about 150km that connects “Shinshu” Matsumoto Castle to “Echigo no Kuni” Itoigawa.

This road is the historical road where Kenshin Uesugi sent the valuable “salt” to Shingen Takeda, and is called “Shio no Michi (salt road)”.

From JR Hakuba Station, we head north on Route 148, cross the Matsukawa Bridge, and head toward the Matsukawa River Road.

The air in Hakuba village at this time is clear and it feels good to take a deep breath.

2. Matsukawa River Road ｜ Arrive at 10:10

You will arrive at the Matsukawa River Road about 1km from JR Hakuba Station.

The attraction is the powerful Northern Alps!! The road is slightly uphill, but the road is wide and almost no cars pass, so you can enjoy cycling comfortably.

It is about 2km from Matsukawa River Road to Hakuba Ohashi Bridge.

Hakuba Ohashi Bridge is also one of the highlights.

3. Hakuba Ohashi Bridge ｜ Arrive at 10:20

Hakuba Ohashi Bridge is a popular shooting spot in Hakuba Village and is visited by many photographers.

The time is a little different, but if you have the blue sky, the Matsukawa River of emerald color, and the snow-covered Northern Alps, you can enjoy the scenery like this picture.

In addition, you can descend to the riverbed from the south side of Hakuba Bridge.

After enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Northern Alps, we head for Tsugaike Kogen through the salt road.

4. Kirifurinomiya Kirikubo Suwa Shrine ｜ Arrive at 10:30

It is about 2km from Hakuba Ohashi Bridge to Kirifurinomiya Kirikubo Suwa Shrine.

The road is a little complicated, but you will go through a tunnel on the way.

After passing through the tunnel and running for a while, We arrived at Kirifurimiya Kirikubo Suwa Shrine.

At Kirifurimiya Kirikubo Suwa Shrine, a Shinto ritual called “Shichido Festival” is held every year on Respect for the Aged Day in September.

The Shrine is also known for the mask of Shichido.

One of these masks, the Hannya mask, has a sad legend of “Okaru”.

>> Okaru Hole ｜ Hakuba Goryu Tourism Association

In addition, the “Shio no Michi” section of this route is from the road in front of this shrine to the front of Tsugaike Panorama Bridge.

Seven large and small stone Buddha statues are built in front of the shrine, and it is believed that they have the benefit of amulets.

Along the “Shio no Michi”, many stone Buddha statues, stone towers, and historic sites are built in the hope of safe travel, and you can get a glimpse of the depth of faith in the past.

After leaving the shrine, the road ahead is Prefectural Road 433.

5. Kazekiri Jizo Statue｜ Arrival at 10:50

When you enter Prefectural Road 433, you will go up the road along the river.

On the way, there is a steep slope of about 1km.

Prefectural road 433 has a lot of traffic, so be careful when riding.

As you climb up the slope, the mountains of the white Alps spread out in the distance.

Immediately ahead, a Jizo statue stands on the left. This is “Kazekiri Jizo Statue”.

This is a thankful Jizo who protects crops from “Take-Oroshi” (gust of wind from Mt.Shirouma) and pests, and also drives away evil spirits that cause colds and illnesses.

6. Ochikura Nature Park ｜ Arrival at 10:55

Close to Kazekiri Jizo Statue, Ochikura Nature Park is on your left. Admission is free.

Located in the northernmost part of Hakuba Village, this Ochikura Nature Park has a wide range of wetlands.

The best time to enjoy flowers is from mid-April to late April for Eastern skunk cabbage, mid-to-late April for Asian skunk cabbage, and early to mid-May for Ryukinka.

On this day, Asian skunk cabbage and Eastern skunk cabbage were in bloom.

This is Asian skunk cabbage.

And this is “Zazensou (Eastern skunk cabbage)”.

It is said that this name was given because it resembles the appearance of a priest who forms zazen.

While It wasn’t the best time to see it, this is Ryukinka.

It is a pretty yellow small flower.

7. Tsugaike Panorama Bridge ｜ Arrive at 11:35

Immediately after Ochikura Nature Park, the address will change from Hakuba Village to Otari Village.

From here, Prefectural Road 433 becomes a new road and an old road.

“Shio no Michi” is the old road, but we cross the new road, Tsugaike Panorama Bridge, not the old road.

As you can see, the straight Tsugaike Panorama Bridge is downhill and very refleshing!

Also, the expression changes depending on the season, so you can enjoy it no matter how many times you visit.

For example, this photo shows the autumn scenery.

Of course, the view from the bridge is also outstanding! Crossing the Tsugaike Panorama Bridge, the Tsugaike Kogen is just around the corner.

8. Tsugaike Kogen ｜ Arrival at 11:45

Tsugaike Kogen has an old-fashioned cityscape, lined with restaurants and souvenir shops.

“Tsuga-no-yu (Onsen)”, located in the center of the city, is open from 9:00 to 20:00 and costs 700 yen for adults, 500 yen for children, and 500 yen for the elderly person.

We found a cycling enthusiasts!! They seemed to enjoy shooting the scenery of Tsugaike Kogen.

9. Tetsunen-Cherry ｜ Arrival at 12:30

You will enjoy cycling leisurely on beautiful roads. It’s the best part of cycling.

If you turn around, you can see the white mountains of the Alps.

If you go straight on, you will hit Prefectural Road 433 again, and you will see “Tetsunen-Cherry” on your left.

It is a weeping cherry at the foot of Mt. Dengyo, and it is called “Tetsunen-Cherry” after the name of the planter.

10. Single cherry tree of Nodaira ｜ Arrival at 13:10

It’s about 4km from “Tetsunen-Cherry” to Nodaira area.

Please be careful, the road is a steep slope. It ’s very hard unless it ’s an e-BIKE.

If you go up the hill, you can appreciate the very beautiful “Single cherry tree of Nodaira”.

11. Kappa-tei (Restaurant) ｜ Arrival at 13:30

We enjoy cycling about 3km to the Oide area where the old folk house cafe is located.

It is a view from Matsukawa Ohashi. No matter where you look at it, it’s just a magnificent view.

Beyond there, the Oide district is an area that remains the old-fashioned scenery in Hakuba Village.

We are riding through the countryside.

The cute bicycle information boards are installed throughout the village.

Please refer to it as it is installed even in places where the road is complicated.

“the old folk house cafe Kappa-Tei” is located in the Oide district.

As the name suggests, it is a cafe that utilizes an old folk house and has a stylish appearance while giving a sense of history.

You can enjoy Hakuba ingredients and roasted coffee there.

The restaurant has a calm atmosphere with the scent of wood, and there are table seats and tatami seats.

Shinshu Ginjo Pork, Shinshu Salmon, Hakuba Ginjo Pork … All of them are attractive and it is difficult to choose one.

I ordered “Shinshu Ginjo pork and seasonal vegetable lunch plate + drink set” for 1,590 yen.

It was wonderfully delicious!

The owner, Mr. Hirase (left in the photo) is from Hakuba, and his wife (middle in the photo) is from Tokyo and moved to Hakuba.

12. Oide Suspension Bridge and Oide Park ｜ Arrival at 14:30

The “Oide Suspension Bridge” and “Oide Park” in front of Kappa-tei are absolutely must-see spots.

This is the Oide suspension bridge. You must get off the bicycle and walk.

There is also a suspension bridge teahouse.

Cherry blossoms were in full bloom in Oide Park, and it was crowded with many tourists and bicycle riders.

Don’t miss the view from the observatory in the back of the park!

13. Goal at JR Hakuba Station ｜ Arrival at 15:00

It is about 1km from Oide Park to JR Hakuba Station in Goal. We finished at 15:00.

It was a small trip to enjoy the cherry blossoms and the historical road of Hakuba as you wish. I hope you will also enjoy it!

14.This is also a recommended spot

Sobajin Hakuba (Buckwheat Noodle Shop)

A restaurant that is popular in the local area and has delicious soba noodles made with fresh water from Hakuba.

Address: 2126-2 Hokujo, Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi-gun, Nagano Prefecture

TEL: +81-261-72-2055

website

Business hours: 11: 00-15: 00

Regular holiday: Thursday

◎ This facility is Hakuba Village Cycle Station:

Inflator rental, simple tool rental, toilet rental

15. Parking Information

Sunsun Park Hakuba

Address: Kamishiro, Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi-gun, Nagano Prefecture
Capacity: 51 vehicles (including 15 for large vehicles and 2 for cars for handicapped)
Lot Fees: Free
Business hours: 24 hours

Hakuba Cross Country Stadium (Snow Harp)

Address: 3003 Kamishiro, Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi-gun, Nagano Prefecture
TEL: +81-261-75-3934
website
Business hours: 9:00-17:00 (green season), 9:30-16:00 (winter season)
Regular holiday: Please check from the website

Wing 21 (Sports Arena)

Address: 2066 Hokujo, Hakuba-mura, Kitaazumi-gun, Nagano Prefecture
TEL: +81-261-72-8770
website
Business hours: 9: 00-21: 30
Regular holiday: December 29-January 3

[Another Report in HAKUBA]

[Project Supprted by Revitalization Subsidy of Reiwa 2.]

AUTHOR : Takashi KURISU