I stitched all three videos together for one full-length version of our 夏休み (summer break) cycling trip!
We rode from Kanazawa (金沢) in Ishikawa Prefecture to Matsumoto (松本) and back again. It was 430 miles (692km) and 33,192 ft (10,117m) in total over one week, all self-supported.
Zeb wrote a full blog post with detailed descriptions of where we stayed, mileage and elevation of each day, etc.: https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com/blog/the-matsumoto-bike-tour
Part One:
This starts with our first two days of riding from the Kanazawa area to Hida and then to Kanayama (both in Gifu Prefecture) We also stop by the Gujo-Hachiman castle ( 郡上八幡城) in Gero!
Part Two: (starts 12:54)
The trip continues with days 3 & 4 riding from Kanayama (in Gifu Prefecture) along the Nakasendo to Tsumago-Juku (in Nagano Prefecture) and then finally to Matsumoto! We ride along a 7.5 kilometer section of the Nakasendo (中山道) from Magome to Tsumago-juku, which is one of the best preserved and most famous sections. The Nakasendo is one of the 5 routes that was used to connect old Edo to Kyoto in the Edo period. The name means "central mountain route" and there are 69 stations or postal towns along the route. Though it was mountainous, it was one of the most popular ways between the two cities because you didn't have to ford any huge rivers. It runs through the modern-day prefectures of Saitama, Gunma, Nagano, Gifu and Shiga, with a total distance of about 534 km.
Part Three: (starts 26:28)
The final part begins with our rest day exploring Matsumoto, followed by the final two days of riding - including our longest day to get to Shirakawa-go, over 10,000 feet of climbing in 93 miles! We also get to see Matsumoto Castle (松本城), one of only 12 remaining original castles in Japan.
Day 1: Uchinada to Hida (飛騨市) in Gifu Prefecture (岐阜県)75 miles (120km) + 5700’ elevation
Ride and Route info: https://www.strava.com/activities/9630102911
Day 2: Hida to Kanayama (飛騨金山)85 miles/137km + 6700’ elevation
Ride and Route info: https://www.strava.com/activities/9636670621
Day 3: Kanayama (飛騨金山) to Tsumago-Juku (妻籠宿) in Nagano Prefecture 56 miles (90km) + 1555m (5100 feet) elevation
Ride and Route info: https://www.strava.com/activities/9643084738
Day 4: Tsumago-juku to Matsumoto (松本市)64 miles (103km) + 1687m (5534 feet) elevation
Ride and Route info: https://www.strava.com/activities/9649367134
(Day 5 Rest Day)
Day 6: Matsumoto (松本) to Shirakawa-go (白川郷)93 miles (150km) + 10,000’ elevation
Ride and Route info: https://www.strava.com/activities/9663888382
Day 7: Shirakawa-go (白川郷) to Kanazawa (金沢)54 miles (87km) + 5,000’ elevation
Ride and Route info: https://www.strava.com/activities/9669827548
🎙️ Want to keep up with the rest of our adventures? We have a podcast! : https://www.ramblingramsbothams.com
Links for more info:
More about the castle: http://www.gujohachiman.com/kanko/sightseeing_intown_e.html
More about Hida: https://hida.travel/
More about the Kinkotsu Alleyways: https://visitgifu.com/see-do/kinkotsu-alleyways/
More about the Nakasendo: https://www.go-nagano.net/en/trip-idea/id16492
More about Tsumago-Juku: https://www.japan-guide.com/e/e6077.html
More about Matsumoto: https://visitmatsumoto.com/en/
Matsumoto Castle: https://www.matsumoto-castle.jp/eng
More about Shirakawa-go: https://www.vill.shirakawa.lg.jp/en/
More about Gokayama: https://gokayama-info.jp/en/sightseeingspots/gokayama.php
More videos about Japan Cycling here:
Riding from Kanazawa to Shirakawa-go: https://youtu.be/f-j3oMr7LEE
Kanazawa cherry blossom tour on a mamachari bike: https://youtu.be/Xjn89S64iXE
Biking the Highlands of Japan in Nagano: https://youtu.be/gdDsRhyQUPo?si=laJ0etHK0QaQKRdB
Noto Peninsula Cycling Tour: https://youtu.be/AtgQuM1PLaI
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