Bicycle trip in Shinetsu

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What is an e-bike?

An e-bike is an electric-assisted sports bicycle.
Even those who don’t feel very strong will make steady progress when they pedal thanks to the powerful electric assist, which not only makes it easy to ride around town and on flat roads, but also makes going uphill or covering long distances simple!
Couples or groups can come and ride together without noticing any difference in strength, enjoying a trip riding without any hesitation.
You can visit places you couldn’t go by car, encountering charming new facets in nature and around town that you’d never notice from your car window, making this the ideal companion on your trip.

What is an e-bike?

Where you can ride e-bikes in the Shin-etsu Highlands area

The Shin-etsu Highlands area is blessed with a vivid abundance of nature, such as beautiful lakes and highlands with a great feeling of freedom, spectacular mountain peaks, and idyllic countryside. The area is also dotted with a great many inspiring sightseeing spots, such as historic buildings and streets. You’ll never tire of the varied scenery as you cycle along, and low traffic volume and few stop lights make for easy riding, so it’s an ideal area for a cycling trip.

Where you can ride e-bikes in the Shin-etsu Highlands area
  • Myoko City Area
  • Shinanomachi Area
  • Iizuna Area
  • Nagano Area

Nagano Area

Nagano City not only has historic streets centered around Zenkoji Temple, but if you go a little farther you will find that the city has many facets, with majestic nature and unspoiled landscapes that are somehow nostalgic.
To the east of this area blessed with a variety of country roads, city streets, and mountains to enjoy is the highest point on the national highway, Yamanouchi-machi’s Shibu Pass, and to the west is the stunning scenery of the North Alps, making this a convenient spot for cyclists setting out to see the attractions.

Nagano Area

Myoko City Area

Myoko City in Niigata Prefecture lies on the plain at the foot of Mt. Myoko, one of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains, with beautiful nature as one of its charms. You can enjoy vast rural landscapes that change with the seasons and an up-and-down course with maximum altitude difference of 1,800 meters. And with the difficulty of the continuing uphill climb to Sasagamine Highland, there are a variety of courses for intermediate and advanced riders. There is also a wealth of spots to visit along the way, such as the footbath at Akakura Hot Spring, Imori Pond, and Naena Waterfall.

Myoko City Area

Shinanomachi Area

Shinanomachi Area

With its back to Mt. Myoko in the north, Shinanomachi Town is a highland area surrounded by the five famous peaks called “Hokushin Five Peaks.” Out in the brisk highland air, you can thoroughly enjoy a round tour on the shores of beautiful Lake Nojiri, stunning mountain scenery and idyllic countryside, and there are plenty of cafes to provide rest stops. In addition, there are many monuments to haiku poet Kobayashi Issa and related spots in this town where he lived until he was 15 and in his last years, so you can enjoy a sense of history as you’re cycling.

Shinanomachi Area

Iizuna Area

As you gaze at the scenery overflowing with a sense of freedom from the interwoven apple orchards, vineyards, and fields, stop by some local farm stands stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables, or take a break in “St. Cousair” winery surrounded by vineyard, or “Iizuna Connect EAST” with a cafe and a cider factory. The town is an area where you can enjoy eating and drinking. We suggest eating soba noodles while you enjoy the view from Yokotei, which was used as a location in films.

Iizuna Area

Types of e-bike

TYPE
Type and
special features
cross typeWith a sporty look, these are great for riding uphill or over long distances
RENTAL
Locations where
they can be rented
  • Iizuna Town Tourism Association
  • Iizuna Kogen tourist information center
  • Shinanomachi Town tourist information center
  • Myoko Kogen tourist information center
  • Togakushi Tourism Association
TYPE
Type and
special features
mountain bikeThe tires are thick, making them great for a steady ride even on very bumpy roads
RENTAL
Locations where
they can be rented
  • Iizuna Kogen tourist information center
  • Soba restaurant Kinasa
  • Myoko Kogen tourist information center
  • Togakushi Tourism Association
TYPE
Type and
special features
mini velo
(small-wheel bicycle)Since the small frame makes them highly maneuverable, these are great for riding around town
RENTAL
Locations where
they can be rented
  • Iizuna Kogen tourist information center

Rental fee

Rental location Price Number of
bikes
Iizuna Kogen tourist
information center		 Adults \3,400/day, \2,000/half day
Under junior high school \2,600/day, \1,500/half day		 15bikes
Togakushi Tourism
Association		 \5,000/day, \3,000/half day (height restrictions apply) 11bikes
Soba restaurant Kinasa
inside Tabi no Eki Kinasa		 Adults \3,500/day, \2,000/half day
Under junior high school \2,500/day, \1,500/half day		 2bikes
Shinanomachi Town
tourist information center		 Cross type \1,000/hour, \3,000/4 hours, \4,000/day
City type \500/hour, \1,500/4 hours, \2,000/day		 9bikes
Iizuna Town Tourism
Association		 \3,000/day, \2,000/up to 4 hours
(additional \500 deposit)		 2bikes
Myoko Kogen tourist
information center		 \2,000/half day (4 hours), \3,000/day (8 hours) 3bikes

Course Introduction

The Shin-etsu Highlands area has a variety of courses that will allow everyone to enjoy cycling, from beginners who want to ride down cycling roads without a care to advanced riders who want a full-fledged course.
We will introduce some model cycling courses grouped by level to match your strength and experience level, so you are exposed to the areas’ charms as you enjoy cycling.

Beginner Level

Cycling to Fully Experience Lake Nojiri Course

The Lake Nojiri Shore Road around the lake makes riding easy, and even the ups and downs are no problem on an e-bike.
Enjoy the photogenic lake as you stop off at a cafe or bakery by the shore for a rest, getting your fill of both nature and delicious food.

  • Approx. 20km
  • Approx. 2hr
  • Shinanomachi Area

Comfortable View of the Hokushin Five Peaks Cycling Course

As you ride along a comparatively easy road, you can see tranquil countryside and the majestic tableau of mountains, filling you with a sense of freedom of both body and mind!
There are also famous Shinshu soba noodle shops and historic spots on this well-rounded course.

  • Approx. 10km
  • Approx. 1hr
  • Shinanomachi Area

Chikuma River Cycling Road —Togura Kamiyamada Hot Spring Course

Riding out of Nagano City limits, fully enjoy the peaceful river and mountain scenery from the cycling road along the Chikuma River before coming to the retro hot spring town.
And you can relieve your tired feet in the Kara-Koro Footbath (free of charge) that flows directly from the hot spring source.

  • Approx. 50.8km
  • Approx. 2hr30min
  • Nagano Area

Chikuma River Cycling Road —Sakaki Chikuma River Rose Park Course

Head to a park where about 2,300 rose bushes in about 330 varieties bloom in May and June. With a pleasant breeze from the river, the Chikuma River Cycling Road covers quite a distance, but the road is flat and easy to ride and it’s easy to stop off at the Togura Kamiyamada Hot Spring, too.

  • Approx. 62.2km
  • Approx. 3hr
  • Nagano Area

Intermediate Level

Rice Terrace and
Alps Viewing Course

In the area around Obasute Station you can enjoy a view chosen as both one of “Japan’s Three Best Train Window Views” and “100 Terraced Rice Fields of Japan,” as well as see the Japan Alps and the “Ashinojiri Dosojin” stone deity that appeared in the Nagano Winter Olympics opening ceremony in this packed course.

  • Approx. 88.3km
  • Approx. 4hr50min
  • Nagano Area

Tankakyo and
Lone Cherry Trees Course

As you ride a circuit around the stunning scenery of Tankakyo, famed for the vast sea of peach blossoms from about 1,500 peach trees, and travel around to lone cherry trees in 3 spots in Nagano City and Iizuna Town, take a nice long rest at Daizahoshi Pond on a highland and thoroughly enjoy all spring’s charm.

  • Approx. 50km
  • Approx. 3hr
  • Nagano Area・Iizuna Area

The Foot of Mt. Myoko Course

Gaze at majestic Mt. Myoko and stop by Akakura Hot Spring and the Michi-no-Eki rest stop on the way to your goal of Joetsu Myoko Station. There’s something nostalgic about the rural landscape spreading at the foot of the mountain, which you cut across on this gentle downhill run.

  • Approx. 42.5km
  • Approx. 4hr
  • Myoko City Area

Advanced Level

Nagano City Autumn
Leaves Course

Ride through the Nakajo area and Ogawa Village in the tranquil and beautiful mountain solitudes, enjoying the historic atmosphere of Togakushi Shrine and a full-fledged mountain course that travels around to Nagano City’s famed spot for autumn leaves in Kinasa’s Daibo Pass, as well as Togakushi’s Kagami Pond.

  • Approx. 97.2km
  • Approx. 5hr20min
  • Nagano Area・Iizuna Area

Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park Shin-etsu Five Highlands Course

Starting in the Madarao Highlands, this is a high-level route that takes an up-and-down course to five highland areas. Each highland area has an abundance of nature, hot springs, and delicious foods to satisfy those who want everything.

  • Approx. 114.2km
  • Approx. 8hr30min
  • Myoko City Area

Sea-to-Summit Myoko/
Lake Nojiri Course

Enjoy seeing nature in Myoko-Togakushi Renzan National Park as his hard route takes you to Mt. Myoko, distinctive for its caldera, and Mt. Hiuchi, the northernmost range of rock ptarmigans in Japan. Conquer two of the 100 Famous Japanese Mountains surrounded by breathtaking vistas.

  • Approx. 22.7km
  • Approx. 2hr30min
  • Myoko City Area