Cycle through the best of Hokkaido’s high country roads
The Daisetsuzan National Park is home to vast birch and conifer forests that feel a world away from the hustle of your usual ride to work.
Discover the majestic mountains, lush forests, and thermal springs of Daisetsuzan National Park on two wheels on this multi day guided cycling tour.
This guided cycling tour takes place in and around Daisetsuzan National Park, the largest national park in Japan. Located in the centre of Hokkaido, the Daisetsuzan mountain range features truly dramatic and stunning landscapes, and has a fascinating abundance of both flora and fauna. There is no better place to connect with the spirit of Hokkaido than here! Starting from Shirogane Onsen at the base of active volcano Mt. Tokachi, this guided cycling tour covers approximately 360 km over 7 days through seriously breathtaking landscapes. Pedal your way through an unforgettable journey.
We operate this tour in partnership with Cycling Japan.
The Daisetsuzan National Park is home to vast birch and conifer forests that feel a world away from the hustle of your usual ride to work.
The patchwork of farmland dotted with occasional trees gives the Biei and Furano area the nickname of Japan's Tuscany.
With nights in Shirogane Onsen, Nukabira Onsen and Sounkyo Onsen, there is plenty of opportunity to soak in rejuvenating natural hot springs - perfect for those tired legs.
The road up to Mikuni pass winds up above the tree tops, giving you expansive views along a valley with little sign of humans - a truly wild corner of Hokkaido.
Feast on fresh local produce and some of Japan's best dining. Despite all the cycling you will struggle to lose weight!
We meet at 5:00 pm at our hotel in Shirogane Onsen, nestled at the foot of Mt. Tokachi, an active volcano. We prepare ourselves for our upcoming adventure by going through the tour details and getting fitted for our bikes.
Early arrivals can explore the beautiful Shirahige Waterfall and the Biei River (known locally as the Blue River) in the village. There's also a lovely 2 km forested trail leading to Fudo Waterfall (Fudonotaki) for those wanting to stretch their legs before dinner.
We begin with a scenic downhill ride along a birch-lined road towards Biei town, known for its stunning landscape of rolling hills and vast crop fields that remind visitors of Tuscany. The gently rolling terrain offers perfect cycling conditions as we warm up our legs.
During our journey, we visit some of Biei's famous landmarks, including Shikisai-no-Oka Flower Park and the iconic solitary trees perched atop hills. After lunch, we explore a local lavender farm before continuing to our accommodation in Furano.
We begin by cycling through flat farmland from Furano before gradually climbing into the mountains alongside the Sorachi River.
Our journey takes us to Lake Kanayama, where we enjoy cycling along the lakeshore and take a rest stop accompanied by birdsong. At the eastern end of the lake, we stop at a Roadside Station for lunch to fuel up for the afternoon's cycling.
The day's highlight is conquering Karikachi Pass, rewarding us with magnificent views across the vast Tokachi Plains.
We cycle through the hills on the edge of the Tokachi Plains, stopping for morning tea at a local Roadside Station. Our journey continues across farmland to Shirakaba Pass, where we enter Daisetsuzan National Park. After reaching Lake Shikaribetsu at 810 m above sea level, we enjoy lunch by the water.
The afternoon takes us along the lakeshore and down to Lake Nukabira at 525 m. Our day ends at a historic hotel renovated into a modern Japanese-style inn, where we can soak in the outdoor onsen beneath starlit skies.
Today we tackle Mikuni Pass, the highest National Road in Hokkaido at an elevation of 1,139 m. We ride along a White Birch-lined road from Lake Nukabira, with several bridges offering expansive valley views. After lunch at a scenic lookout overlooking the Kumaneshiri mountain range, we enjoy a rewarding 24 km downhill ride to Sounkyo Gorge.
The final 10 km is by van due to narrow tunnels. We stay in Sounkyo Onsen, a hot spring resort village, where we can explore the stunning gorge with its waterfalls cascading down columnar rock faces. The day ends with a relaxing soak in the healing hot spring waters.
We bid farewell to Daisetsuzan National Park and cycle towards Asahikawa City along the Ishikari River, Hokkaido's longest river at 268 km in length. The route follows a flat, purpose-built cycling road beside the river, taking us directly to the city centre.
To celebrate our journey's end, we visit a local sake brewery, where we learn about the brewing process and sample their award-winning sake. The region's excellent rice production and high-quality spring water make it ideal for sake brewing.
After a final breakfast together, our cycling adventure comes to an end. We say our goodbyes at our conveniently located hotel near JR Asahikawa Station, with easy access to trains to Sapporo and shuttle buses to Asahikawa Airport.
“Love the overall experience.”
The cycling tour was very well organised. The guides were very friendly and approachable. The routes selected were very nice for cycling and exceeded my expectations. In addition, the lodgings were very comfortable and nice too. Meals were very nice.
Love the overall experience.
We cycle from accommodation to accommodation on most days of this tour. We will provide a vehicle to support cyclists and carry water, snacks and any other items needed for cycling. You will load your luggage into the support vehicle, so you only need to carry daily necessities when you ride. If you need to stop cycling at any point during the day, you are welcome to take a rest in the support vehicle. Please be aware that the number of seats may be limited depending on the number of people and the vehicle we use.