Bicycle Route

[guest]

I am trying to plan a long distance bicycle trip in Japan. I am interested in the Tokyo-Aomori Japan Sea Coast 850 km route mentioned on OutdoorJapan website. However, while I can find a line drawn from Tokyo to Takasaki to Nigata to Akita to Aomori, I can not seem to find the roads for the route that is suggested as good for bicycles. I don't think the highways are suggested. So I was hoping someone might be able to help.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Bob Richmond

[admin]

Hello Bob!!

I'm sorry for my very very late reply
The standard route from Tokyo to Takasaki to Nigata is Route 17 & 8.
And from Nigata to Akita to Aomori is Route 7.
As these roads are not highway, you can use these roads.
But as you may know, these roads have relatively heavy traffic.
If you have more questions, please do not hesitate to post here again.

[ikeda]

As Hideo says, I also recommend try to avoid main national route as possible as you can.
For example, from Tokyo to Takasaki, you can follow "Scenic Byways part1 NIKKO"<A Href="http://www.japancycling.org/v2/cguide/part1/nikko.shtml" target="_blank">http://www.japancycling.org/v2/cguide/part1/nikko.shtml</A> from Tokyo to Tonegawa-bashi bridge where just next bridge after crossing Shinkansen. Continue to follow Tonegawa River then you can reach Takasaki.
Actually cycle path along the river is sometimes confusing, but still much better than main road.

If I am you, I would not take the coast whole the way from Niigata to Aomori.

Generally speaking, coastal road is narrow, busy and even hard in Japan.
So to enjoy the coast, how about concentrating some part of them.
Ex.) Oga-penninsula in Akita prefecture , Koganezaki-point in Aomori prefecture must be wonderful!

Enjoy your trip!

[J.D.]

I cycled much of the northern Japan Sea coast last year. Compared to other parts of Japan, there is not so much to see. I wouldn't particularly recommend it.

As for Toukyou to Niigata, there is a very good cycling road (30+km) along the Tone River from Isesaki (in Gunma) through Maebashi (east of Takasaki) up to Shibukawa in the north. Route 17 from there is by far the easiest way to go as far as Jouetsu and there is often (but not always) a decent shoulder. You will go thru some tunnels so make sure you turn on your lights.

Try writing the Maebashi City Hall for a copy of their cycling road map:
2-12-1, Ote-Machi, Maebashi City, Gunma 371-8601 Japan
mailadm@city.maebashi.gunma.jp

[Ryano]

Do you think you could take a few minutes to map out this route on Gmaps and send us the link?

<A Href="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/" target="_blank">http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/</A>

[J.D.]

<a href="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=339657">Tone-gawa route</a>
Route from the SE corner of Isesaki along Tone-gawa all the way thru Maebashi to Shibukawa. There is a break of a couple kilometers where you have to be on streets which I have marked as best as I can remember (its been 2 years). When you are on the east side of the river watch out for a big bridge passing overhead with no way to get up to it (past Shikishima Park and there is a golf course on your left). You have to back up a corner or two to find a street that will get you up there. After you cross the big bridge (Joumou-oohashi) take the first right and youll pass an athletics club (not obvious, its not a commercail fitness club). There is a right turn with a steep downhill that curves to the right (I tried to indicate that on the GMap) which will get you back on the cycling road. There may even be a proper bike path now in the section where I show going on the roads because something was under construction 2 years ago.

Alternate route
<a href="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=339688">Hirosegawa>Momonoki-gawa>Tone-gawa</a>
Route from the SE corner of Isesaki up Hirose-gawa then Momonoki-gawa. Its pretty well signed up until you will reach a little dead end then you go onto roads to the Joumou-oohashi. After that you join up with the other route as far as Shibukawa.

Hope this is helpful.

[J.D.]

<a href="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=339657">Tone-gawa route</a>
Route from the SE corner of Isesaki along Tone-gawa all the way thru Maebashi to Shibukawa. There is a break of a couple kilometers where you have to be on streets which I have marked as best as I can remember (its been 2 years). When you are on the east side of the river watch out for a big bridge passing overhead with no way to get up to it (past Shikishima Park and there is a golf course on your left). You have to back up a corner or two to find a street that will get you up there. After you cross the big bridge (Joumou-oohashi) take the first right and youll pass an athletics club (not obvious, its not a commercail fitness club). There is a right turn with a steep downhill that curves to the right (I tried to indicate that on the GMap) which will get you back on the cycling road. There may even be a proper bike path now in the section where I show going on the roads because something was under construction 2 years ago.

Alternate route
<a href="http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=339688">Hirosegawa>Momonoki-gawa>Tone-gawa</a>
Route from the SE corner of Isesaki up Hirose-gawa then Momonoki-gawa. Its pretty well signed up until you will reach a little dead end then you go onto roads to the Joumou-oohashi. After that you join up with the other route as far as Shibukawa.

Hope this is helpful.