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Cycling Kagoshima’s Two Peninsulas By Takashi Niwa
Cycling Kagoshima’s Two Peninsulas 九州最南端・鹿児島の旅 Kagoshima prefecture is the southernmost prefecture on Kyushu Island and the climate there sure feels that way. In late December, rape blossoms start to bloom in a spatte...
Returning to Ishinomaki By Takashi Niwa
石巻でのボランティア Returning to Ishinomaki By Takashi Niwa 私・丹羽隆志は、サイクリングツアーの下見のために、2010年6月に北上川沿いを通って石巻までサイクリングした。今春3月以...
Tohoku Coast to Coast By Takashi Niwa
東北横断ライド 秋田・岩手・宮城 Tohoku Coast to Coast Akita, Iwate and Miyagi 東 北を横断し、日本海から太平洋へと抜ける。日本海側の秋田県では、県内最長の雄物川をさかのぼる。秘湯と...
Chichibu Pilgrimage By Takashi Niwa Translated by Sakae Sugahara
Chichibu is a basin town in western Saitama Prefecture where people come to embark on a pilgrimage to the 34 temples in the area. Visitors have been making the journey here since the Muromachi Period (1336-1573), covering the 100 kilometers it takes t...
Blue Sky Meets Turquoise Sea By Takashi Niwa
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial} The road stretches through sugarcane fields into the horizon of sparkling emerald water. Under the big blue sky, there are no mountains or large forests to hinder y...
A Ride Up and Around Mt. Fuji By Takashi Niwa
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial} Enjoy views of Mt. Fuji that change against different backgrounds as you cycle around the mountain. The climb up to the fifth station takes you to a world above...
A Coast-to-Coast Ride Across Honshu By Takashi Niwa
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Arial; min-height: 14.0px} Starting from the Tokyo outskirts, this ride takes us across the island of Honsh...
#10 Izu Ōshima—Mission to Mars...in Tokyo By Takashi Niwa
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial} p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 14.0px Arial} I used to jokingly say, “Izu Ōshima is like v...
River and Sea – The Shimanto and Uwa Inlets By Takashi Niwa
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 15.0px Arial} Shikoku The Shimanto-gawa (Shimanto River) is one of the last remaining clear rivers in Japan, known for its un-dammed, pristine water a...
The Aso and Takachiho Swing: From a Volcanic Park to a Land of Myths By Takashi Niwa
Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido is famous for amazing views, yet far south, the Aso area rivals its magnificence. From the vast grass fields of Kuju and Aso to the deep gorge in Takachiho, this route tours Oita, Kumamoto and Miya...
Hakkoda and Shimokita Peninsula Loop By Takashi Niwa
Mountains, sea, capes, wilderness, forests and hot springs – this cycling trip is dotted with natural attractions. Moreover, local produce and seafood delicacies are not to be missed. The trip route runs counterclockwise around the central a...
A Journey to Experience the Local Life By Takashi Niwa
Why cycle Japan? What most cyclists, Japanese and foreigners alike, find alluring about cycling this country, even more so than the safety, cleanliness and hospitality, is the constant change. I agree. I often bike overseas, especially in mounta...
Tokyo Great Cycling Tour By Takashi Niwa
There’s no better way to explore a new city than by bicycle. Walking has its merits, but you can’t cover nearly the territory. Yet Tokyo can be a daunting city for even the most hardened traveler, and navigating the maze of streets on t...
Hokuriku: Cycling Around the Noto Peninsula By Takashi Niwa
At Senmaida (one-thousand rice paddies) in Shirayone, the more than 2,000 terraced ride paddies sloping down to the beach will take your breath away. At Cape Rokkouzaki, on the very edge of the Noto Peninsula, spectacular views of the Sea of Japan ...
Lake Biwa Loop – A Journey Back to the Sengoku Era By Takashi Niwa
Lake Biwa Loop – A Journey Back to the Sengoku Era Total Distance: 158.3 km. Best Season: April to November / 4~11月 Lake Biwa (Biwa-ko), is Japan’s largest lake with an area of 670 km. square. There are many fishing ports a...
Shimanami Kaido—An Island Hopping Journey By Takashi Niwa
Shimanami Kaido—An Island Hopping Journey Chugoku/Shikoku Total distance: 161.7 km. Best Season: March to Novembe It feels like flying in the sky when you cross the bridge towering high above the channel. You’ll be awe-struck by the ...