Category: Nagano

• Cycling: Tenryu, Southeast Nagano

  

  Every now and then I get a strong desire to head out to Chausuyama (茶臼山), Urugi (売木), and Tenryu (天龍) in southeast Nagano, bordering Aichi and Shizuoka prefectures. I never quite know what draws me out there but the isolation (relative to Japan) is a big factor.   The area has the wonderful Tenryu River […]

  Sean

  September 10, 2019

  Aichi, Camping, Cycling, Nagano, Shizuoka

  Adventure, アウトドア, キャンプ, Camping, Cycling, explorejapan, 茶臼山, fromwhereiride, Japan, Minami Alps, mountains, Nagoya, outsideisfree, Photography, RideTenryu, tenryu, touring, visitjapanjp, wymtm, 南アルプス, 名古屋, 売木, 天竜川, 愛知県, 星空

• Cycling: Nagano Rindo Ride

  

  Probably my favourite road in Japan these days. Deep in the Nagano mountains but within reach of Nagoya. While riding we came across a Japanese serow (kamoshika/カモシカ) in the forest. There’s something wonderful and magical about these forest dwellers, especially if you can make eye contact. Stay adventurous, stay keen, and keep exploring. Ridden with Zac […]

  Sean

  July 15, 2019

  Cycling, Japan, Mountain Biking, Nagano

  Adventure, adventurecycling, カモシカ, マウンテンバイク, Cycling, Japan, Japanese serow, kamoshika, Mountain Biking, mountains, outdoor adventure, outsideisfree, serow

• Cycling & Hiking: Mt. Norikura – Bike and Hike to 3026m

  

  Mt. Norikura (乗鞍) is considered a right of passage for many cyclists in Japan. It’s the highest road in the country and only bicycles, taxis, and official buses are allowed up. It’s sometimes called Japan’s version of Alpe d’ Huez with plenty of switchbacks, 1200m of elevation gain from the Norikura Heights car park, and […]

  Sean

  October 14, 2018

  Bike Packing, Cycling, Gifu, Hiking, Japan, Mt. Norikura, Nagano

  Bike Packing, bikepackingjapan, cyclejapan, Cycling, cyclingjapan, fromwhereiride, Gifu, Hiking, Japan, Japanese Alps, Microadventures, mountains, Mt. Norikura, Nagano, Norikura, outsideisfree, 乗鞍

• Bike Packing: Matsumoto – Hafudake – Kusatsu

  

  One of the benefits of living in central Japan is that most places are within a reasonable distance in relation to cycling and bike packing, and with the JR Chuo line (中央線) running from Tokyo (東京) to Nagoya (名古屋) around the Minami Alps it doesn’t take much time and effort to get out into the […]

  Sean

  October 25, 2016

  Bike Packing, Cycling, Gunma, Japan, Japanese Alps, Microadventures, Nagano

  Adventure, adventure cycling, Bike Packing, Central Japan, Cycling, 群馬県, 長野県, Gunma, Hafudake, Japan, Japanese Alps, Kusatsu, Microadventures, mountains, Nagano, Nagoya, Onsen, touring, Type II adventure

• Cycling, Camping: Nomugi Pass & Mt. Norikura

  

  It’s no secret among cyclists in Japan that Mt. Norikura (乗鞍岳) is the highest road passable by bicycle in the country. Some call it the Japanese Alpe d’Huez but I think comparing mountains is somewhat silly. All mountains differ, and all mountains have the potential to change character within minutes. Most road bike cyclists start […]

  Sean

  August 31, 2016

  Bike Packing, Cycling, Gifu, Japan, Mt. Norikura, Nagano

  Bike Packing, Camping, Central Japan, Cycling, cyclingjapan, 野麦峠, Gifu, Japan, Japanese Alps, Matsumoto, Mt. Norikura, Nagano, Nomugi Pass, touring, 乗鞍岳

• Bike Packing: Kasugai – Gero – Matsumoto

  

  The good thing about living in central Japan is that you are only a few hours away from the Japanese Alps. The bad thing is that these mountains make planning a bicycle route pretty difficult at times. The Minami Alps in particular are tricky to navigate from the Tokai area. This means that, for the […]

  Sean

  August 31, 2016

  Bike Packing, Cycling, Gifu, Japan, Mt. Ontake, Nagano

  Bike Packing, bikepackingjapan, Central Japan, Cycling, cyclingjapan, 長野県, Gero, Gifu, Japa, Matsumoto, Mt. Ontake, Nagano, Nagoya, touring, Utsukushigahara