This blog is about travelling through Japan on a bicycle. Initially on a foldable bicycle (Brompton) and more recently mostly by road bike (Spezialized)... but also by train, ferry, plane, bus or any other transport, if sea, weather, mountains or the like come between me and my desire to ride.
I have tried to summarise information that could be potentially helpful also for other bicycle travellers through Japan, such as list of bicycle roads, helpful web pages etc.

Sunday 2 July 2017

Toyama/Gifu/Ishikawa/Fukui - possible routes

Kurobe gorge, No cycling, just enjoying the gorge ⇒ 1 - 2 days, 0 km
  • Day 1 - 2: Nagano to Unazuki Onsen 
    • Access: Shinkansen from Nagano to Kurobe Unazukionsen and then on with local train to Unazukionsen Station
    • Bicycle: probably just leave it at a bicycle parking at Kuroba Unazukionsen station 
    • Attractions: 
    • Accommodation: in a ryokan in the valley

Takayama & Hida Furukawa, Limited cycling, or no cycling ⇒ 2 days, 16 km
  • Day 1: Toyama to Takayama ⇒ 1 day, 0 km
    • Access: Train from Toyama, about 2:30 h, often one change of trains
    • Attractions:  Takayama
      • Old town
      • Temples
      • Open air museum
    • Accommodation: Takayama (2 nights?)
  • Day 2: Takayama to Hida Furukawa and back down to Toyama ⇒ 1 day,  16 km

Excursion out to Noto Peninsula

Kurobe Unazukionsen to Fukui ⇒ 4- 5 days, 250 km (2 - 3 days,  125 km, if one starts in Kanazawa) (see also below alternative access to Fukui from Kyoto / Biwako area)
  • Day 1: Kurobe to approx. Tonami ⇒ 1 day, 70 - 80 km
  • Day 2: Tonami to approx. Kanazawa ⇒ 1 day, 60 km (or shorter, some train ride is also possible)
    • See Garmin FUK Kurobe - Fukui
      • Elevation between Tonami and Kanazawa from 50 m to 200m, rest flat
      • Bicycle lane  until Oyabe
    • Attractions: Kanazawa
      • Kanazawa castle
      • Kenrokuen (Park)
      • Temples & Shrines
      • Art Museum
    • Accomodation: Kanazawa
  • Day 3 (or Day 1): Kanazawa to approx. Kaga ⇒ 1 day, 50 - 60 km (or more if Natadera is included)
    • Access: potentially by Shinkansen directly from Kurobe Unazukionsen to Kanazawa and start tour in Kanazawa
    • See Garmin FUK Kurobe - Fukui
      • mainly flat, along the coast. 
      • There is a bicycle lane all the way from Noto peninsula to Kaga
        • This route only takes it from Kanazawa to Kaga.
      • Part of this bike lane is also described here
    • See Garmin ISH Kaga - Natadera for excursion between Komatsu and Kaga to Natadera
      • 26 km Kaga - Natadera - Kaga, but it can be made along the way. 
    • See here for a tour in & around Kaga
    • Attractions: 
      • long bicycle lane along the sea
      • Natadera
      • Onsen area
    • Accommodation: Kaga
  • Day 4 &5 ? (or Day 2 &3 ?): Kaga to Fukui  ⇒ 1 or 2 days, 70 km
  • Access: Kyoto - Fukui, direct train, 1:30 h or Fukui - Lake Biwa, about 1 h

Tsuruga to Fukui 2 days, 140 km 
  • Access: 
    • Kyoto - Tsuruga, 50 min, direct train
    • Nagahama (Lake Biwa) - Tsuruga, 40 min, direct train
    • Alternatively also tour from Fukui to Tsuruga: Kyoto - Fukui, direct train, 1:30 h
  • Tour recommended by KANCycling: http://www.kancycling.com/Echizen/Echizen_Route.html this page also contains suggestions for accommodation and other places to visit along the route. 
Other cycling recommendations

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