Tour Duration: 5 days
Price : 490,000yen/person
Departure Location: JR Sapporo Station
The first stop on our cycling and cultural exploration tour is Shikotsu-Toya National Park, which is situated the closest to Sapporo, the capital of Hokkaido. This conveniently located area has many options for scenic riding, some strenuous hills, and explores Noboribetsu, Lake Toya, Niseko, and Otaru, which are some of Hokkaido’s must-see attractions. We travel through the mountainous region of Niseko all the way to the Sea of Japan starting from the Pacific Ocean side of Hokkaido. This tour is ideal for adventurous individuals who are visiting Hokkaido for the first time and enjoy cycling over hilly terrain while learning about our distinctive culture and way of life in between rides.
Day 1 Dip your feet in natural hot springs in Jigokudani, Noboribetsu
At 1pm, you should meet your group at JR Sapporo Station. Once everyone is present, we will have a quick meeting to greet everyone and provide them information about our next 4-day cycling trip. We travel from Sapporo to Lake Toya via Noboribetsu. We arrive at this volcanic hot site with several thermal springs and geysers, which create the most stunning of landscapes, after an hour and a half drive from the city. Before moving on to today’s destination of Lake Toya, we take a leisurely stroll through Jigokudani (Hell Valley) and check out a natural outdoor foot treatment. We enjoy the renowned nighttime fireworks display directly over the lake from our lodging, which is situated right on the lake’s edge.
Day 2 Cycle touring around the lakes and mountains of Shikotsu-Toya National Park
After breakfast, we prepare and outfit everyone’s bikes so they may begin pedaling for the day. We set off directly from our hotel on a lakeside path intended for pedestrians and bicyclists before switching to a calm road that circles Lake Toya. Over 30km/19 miles in circumference, this crater is circled by us by bicycle in a clockwise direction. Since Lake Toya was created by a volcanic explosion, the surrounding areas benefit from thriving horticulture and agriculture, which we will observe while riding in the saddle during the day. Of course, the presence of active volcanoes in this region is a geographical feature.
We go to Mount Showa-shinzan and Mount Usu, which are part of the Toya-Usu UNESCO Global Geopark and are situated on the southern shore of Lake Toya. The observatory on Mount Usu is reached by cable car from the base of Mount Showa-shinzan. On a clear day, we can take in the expansive vista stretching from Lake Toya to Mount Yotei, which is the path we’ll be cycling the next day. We wrap up at the motel at 4 o’clock.
Day 3 Taste the pure spring water and the bounty of the Niseko mountains
We bid Lake Toya farewell this morning and travel north to the Toyoura farming region. We’ll have a clear view of Mount Yotei all morning, also referred to as Ezo Fuji due to its likeness to Mount Fuji. When we reach the Mount Yotei foothills, we will come across a well-liked natural spring water park where locals and guests go to fill their water bottles with the fresh, mineral-rich water from the spring. The part of Niseko that receives the most snow makes it a well-known ski resort and also provides us with the distinctive water, which is proudly recognized as one of “Japan’s 100 Best Spring Waters.” We continue cycling over Mount Yotei’s northern edge and through the world’s potato capital Kutchan Town after our revitalizing stop. We ascend to Konbu Onsen, which is located at the base of Mount Niseko Annupuri, to end the day.
Day 4 Visit the award-winning Nikka whisky distillery in Yoichi Town
Our final and toughest cycling day has three significant climbs. We begin climbing toward Goshiki Onsen on an alpine road that winds through the Niseko slopes from our guesthouse in Konbu Onsen. Just before reaching the top of the pass at 800m/2625ft above sea level, we will have a short break from pedaling and enjoy an hour’s walk around a natural garden of alpine flowers. You may comfortably walk on the route in your everyday walking shoes because it is clearly marked and maintained.
Prior to our descent into Kutchan Town, we then continue on our bikes to go between Mount Iwaonupuri and Mount Niseko Annupuri. Before moving on to Yoichi, our final destination, we stop here for lunch and savor the local delicacy of Udon potato noodles. Before the final climb, we stop for a break in the small village of Akaigawa. Alternatively, you can dismount your bike and continue in the van. We celebrate the end of our ride in Yoichi at the Nikka Distillery Distillery, which was established in 1934 by Masataka Taketsuru, the first Japanese person to work as a whisky apprentice in Scotland. We travel by rail to Otaru, a harbor city, and spend the night there.
Day 5 Sightseeing around the historic town in Sapporo
We depart from our accommodation in Otaru and go by rail to Sapporo. You are free to wander about this historic town, which has a canal and stone warehouses, after breakfast. We bid our goodbyes at the JR Sapporo Station, which is located in the city’s center, around noon after the transfer to Sapporo, which takes about an hour.
