Cycling Japan

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I live in Japan and am seeking a cycling partner for training and touring.

I live near Kobe, and tend to ride Rokko Mountain or Kyoto/Nara region. I've done some touring in Fukui and am in November going Nagano riding a few mountains there.

I'm planning a big north to south ride maybe next year, but am just at the beginning sketchboard on that one. Before that, I think about cycling Taiwan in April 2004.

If anyone lives fairly near and is interested in joining in on a weekend ride, or ride with me a few times a week for the fun of it, please drop me a line.

/ Lars
http://www.ljweb.com

Hi Lars!
My name is Bart.
I lived in Osaka together with my wife until November last year. We live in Saitama prefecture now.
Anyway, when we lived in your part of Japan I did some cycling there. If you're interested in cycling in Kanasai perhaps I could help you somehow.
There are many interesting places in Kii peninsula. Last year in October I cycled around the peninsula and I really enjoyed it -
http://noumads.tripod.com/JapanBikeTrips/BikingKansai.html
Also, if you're ever passing through Northern Saitama or Southern Gunma prefectures and are in need of a warm shower or a place to stay feel free to let us know. We live in a very small town, Kamikawa located on the foot of the mountains that extend to Nagano pref.
For more info about our cycling adventures in Japan, see the site - noumads.tripod.com

Bart

Originally posted by Lars Jensen
I live in Japan and am seeking a cycling partner for training and touring.

I live near Kobe, and tend to ride Rokko Mountain or Kyoto/Nara region. I've done some touring in Fukui and am in November going Nagano riding a few mountains there.

I'm planning a big north to south ride maybe next year, but am just at the beginning sketchboard on that one. Before that, I think about cycling Taiwan in April 2004.

If anyone lives fairly near and is interested in joining in on a weekend ride, or ride with me a few times a week for the fun of it, please drop me a line.

/ Lars
http://www.ljweb.com

Hey Bart,

Thank you for your post ! I checked your page and loved the routes shown - especially the one around Kii peninsula - as you mention - looks good, though the route from Osaka to Wakayama, I'll likely try to find an excape inland to avoid traffic. After doing the Echizen Kaigan, I really love riding the coastlines though (just dont do it when a typhoon is approaching - been there, done that)

I've recently done alot of exploring around Nara, with Asuka, Sakurai, Yoshino and areas around that - it's absolutely wonderful.

/ Lars
http://www.ljweb.com

Hello,
As you noticed the site hasn't been finished yet. I just don't have time anymore. I have hundreds of unscanned slides that I would like to place on the site, but that will take a while.

Nara prefecture is very beautiful. Unfortunately, I haven't seen Yoshino during daylight. First time that I was goingthere I had an accident and the second time it was dark.
I really recommend cycling deep into those mountains. They're really beautiful. You can follow a river (I forgot what it's called now) and cycle across the mountains to the ocean. The place called Totsukawa is interesting.

There is also a nice place in Osaka prefecture called Chihayaakasaka mura. It's located on the way to Kongo mountain. The great thing about the village is that there are terrraced rice fields. You can see a part of those fields by the main road, but the most beautiful ones are on the other side of the hill which is on the right hand side, just by the road. There is a high school and the fields are located right behind it.
Also Kongo mountain is an interesting place.

If you still haven't found a cycling partner in Kobe area perhaps you should try this link:
http://www.t3.rim.or.jp/~sayori/MCTC/bbs/minibbs.cgi
It's a message board for cyclists in Japan.
Also you can try this:
http://www.t3.rim.or.jp/~sayori/
This is a website with links for cyclists in Japan and other stuff.

Hopefully, this will help.

If you have any questions, please let me know. I'll be more than happy to help you if I can.
As for your trip to Nagano, when are you leaving and where do you plan to cycle exactly in Nagano?

Bart

Hi Bart,

Whenever one sits down to properly do the ideas one have with website about cycling, I notice the great shots and I end up changing my clothes and going out cycling :) It's nice live with less than 5 minutes to water and mountains.

Actually last time I went near Yoshino - to Takatori - I also had an accident there, though hiking the last bit up a mountain, not cycling. Ended up with a double broken wrist, which is still bothering me.

As for Nagano, I was there 1st to 3rd of November - we cycled from Togari ski area (near Iliyama) to Nakano, up to Manza onsen area, Shiga Kogen and back towards Togari. It brought me over a ~2000m pass and some other hilly areas - it was excellent but I had to quit the highest peaks, as I did ride with a major patch on my wrist (had only got the casting off 4 days before I left). I gathered a minisite with pictures and yet no text at http://cycling.devarea.dk/18.php

I'm going to check out those links you posted, hoping to find a training partner for the winter and upcoming season. Due to a new job, my plans for 2004 has changed into one or maybe two major rides... One certain, being three weeks riding in Switzerland, doing 5 or 6 mountain passes in altitudes to about 2400m. I was hoping to to the "obligatory" Cape Soya to Cape Sata also in 2004, but gotta work my employer good to get 2x 3 weeks off.

Anyways, thanks for the cool info. I absolutely cant wait till the special part for my bike arrives so I can get out on the roads...

/ Lars
http://www.ljweb.com

I just returned from a month in Japan, 2 weeks of it on a bicycle. My route included Shingu city (southeast Kii peninsula) to Wakayama city, plus a portion of Shikoku.

The stretch between Wakayama and the refinery city south of there, Arida I believe it was, I found quite hellish because I could not find an alternative to the main highway, which was heavily used by lots of trucks, cars, lots of tunnels, etc. But south of there the smaller coastal roads are very nice. Gobo to Tanabe also offers few alternatives ot the main route, but there traffic was not so bad.

I took the mountain route between Tanabe and Hongu, which was very nice. Several Onsen around Hongu, one of which, Kawayu, has a good campsite just up the road. I imagine the coastal route around the peninsual would also be nice.

I found the best antidote to tunnels was, when possible, to take the original road that went around the mountain rather than through it. These are often still maintained and very peaceful.

good luck,

Matt
Santa Cruz, CA