Ride Description:

Ride Fee:

Registration fee = $100 CAD [which will be refunded to those who 1) are not selected for the tour, or 2) who are selected if the funds are not used for tour activities]

Tour fee = 14 Day Tour = 850,000 Japanese yen per person ($7,760 CAD on 11/7/24 or $548 CAD per day)

Tour fee paid in Yen directly to tour company.

Over the Mountains and through the woods we will go. Cycling traditional trade routes and country roads through The Volcanic Mountain range of Daisetsuzan National Park “translated from Japanese as the Playground of the Gods” to the Pacific Ocean and the Japan Sea. This tour features Farm experiences, Ainu Villages, Cultural interaction and local community support.  

We are striving to leave a smaller carbon footprint while on this tour.

We begin our cycling journey in Hokkaido’s capital of Asahikawa. Enjoying a night to meet, greet and get our bikes ready at the fashionable Hoshino resort OMO7 hotel. Leaving the city by crossing a few of the 140 estimated rivers and climbing our way to the Blue Pond and our Shirogane hot spring hotel. We will continue to the breadbasket of the area and Brad’s hometown, Furano for two nights with options for secret hot spring hiking, farm visits and amazing local foods. Lake Kanayama and the traditional Ainu village of Biratori are next on the journey as we descend out of the mountains with pastoral views of thoroughbred horse farms along the Pacific coast. We stop for a night in the bustling port town of Tomakomai and continuing along the coast to the UPOPOY museum celebrating Ainu culture. We will climb the hills near the sea to Noboribetsu and it’s geothermal “Hell Valley”, staying two nights in Hokkaido’s most famous onsen area. We have options for sword making and indigo dyeing experiences in the nearby town of Date. Lake Toya, Mt, Yotei and the rolling hills of the Niseko area provide a stunning backdrop for the next few days of scenic riding. We plan to stay two nights in Niseko to take advantage of the exceptional riding and hiking options including a trip around Mt. Yotei.

 

 

Tour Contractor and Guides:

Tour Contractor is Freewheeling Furano. Our two Cycling Guides are Brad and Paul who guided for the CCCTS 2023 Kyoto Noto Peninsula tour and everyone loved them. Yuki handles Administration/Payments for the company. We could not be in better hands with this talented group of people.

Brad and Yuki

Brad Bennett has been active in the Cycle tour business of Japan for more than thirty years as a guide and advocate for making cycling safer. He and his wife, Yuki Masuko, started “Freewheeling Tours” in 2016 as an extension of Yuki’s original Graphic Design company, SNOW. From 2024, Freewheeling Furano became a Licensed Travel Agency for domestic travel in Japan. Yuki is our ADMIN expert and helps manage payments and reservations. Brad enjoys being a “tour architect” and telling stories. We are fortunate to have Yuki keeping the accounts in line.

www.freewheeling.jp

Shakotan Peninsula Cycling / Hokkaido

https://youtu.be/DHgnSvRY4GI

 

Paul

Paul Taylor has been a resident of Japan for more than thirty years.

He has worked for a range of public and private organizations and most recently for the Washington Post Ltd before retiring in 2018. He has been a group leader for ten years plus with the Cycling charity group, “KIWL”, raising funds for Disaster relief and disadvantaged youth in Japan. Paul’s current “retired life” has him leading VIP cycling tours throughout Japan for “Trek Travel”

www.kiwl.net

www.trektravel.com/tour/cycling/japan/

Accommodation Reservations:

We will stay at a mix of Japanese and Western Hotels with a few more traditional Ryokans that do not have toilets or showers in the room by design. From our guides – “We are especially excited about the amazing fresh food and culinary experiences that the different hotels will offer. Hokkaido has less choice than most areas of Japan due to its lower population. We have visited each location and feel confident that we have the best accommodation for our group in each area.”

Two persons per room at each location. We won’t be able to accommodate single supplement travelers for this tour due to hotel constraints.

*Accommodation subject to change in case of weather or other conditions. 

Riding Conditions:

We will cycle a total of 800 kilometers on protected riverside paths, quiet country roads with a few substantial climbs between mountains. There will be a few main road sections that are the only option. We will encounter a few tunnels (most with sidewalks although a few without) which require special attention. The pavement quality in Hokkaido is slightly rough due to harsh winters. We are recommending our Cross bikes and E-Bikes with gravel style tires for a more comfortable and safer ride on the secret local roads we want to introduce. 

We will enjoy coastal views that could be windy and some seasonal rain although we expect warm days (average 25C) and cool evenings (15C) for our tour. We will ride together with a guide cycling with the group and the support vehicle acting as either the “lead” or the “sweep”. We will take breaks and have meals together. There will be space for 2-3 riders in the support van so you can take a break if you need to. 

Our average day of cycling would be estimated at 70Km with 500-700 meters of possible climbing each day.  

Fee Includes:

• Lodging for 13 nights based on two people sharing a room. 

• GPS routes 

• Food / Meals, Snacks, Drinks but not Alcohol. 

• One Support Vehicles for Gear and 2-3 available seats for riders, if desired. 

• Group Activities or Group Transportation on any day. 

 

Fee Does Not Include:

• Transportation to and from the starting and ending point of the tour. 

• Bike Hire and helmets: Cross Bike ¥52,000 ($469 CAD on 11/7/24) /E-Bike ¥78,000 ($704 CAD on 11/7/24) 

• Navigation aids (maps, Cycle Computers) 

• Visa (not needed for those with Canadian, US, UK, or US passports)

• Medical/Travel Insurance 

• Meals other than mentioned in the itinerary

• Any services not mentioned in the itinerary. 

• Tour Coordinator fee (waived)

Itinerary:

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B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner

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Day 1: Mon 08/25 Asahikawa arrival.
Our first day/night we arrive in Asahikawa with our hotel just 30 min from the airport. We will start with a welcome dinner at the hotel and meeting about the tour. We will get fitted on our bikes, add bags, pedals, computers etc.

Arrival Flight: Asahikawa Airport.

Accommodation: OMO7 Hoshino Resort 

Meals: -/-/D 

Ride: N/A 

Noteworthy: Asahikawa night walk. Otokayama Sake Brewery, 

Hattori Cycle shop, Shugakuso Outdoor Shop.  

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Day 2: Tue 08/26  Asahikawa – Shirogane Onsen  

We will cycle out of Asahikawa with views of Hokkaido’s tallest peak, “Asahidake”, Leaving the city on riverside cycling paths passing by Chiyoda Farms en route to the famous Blue Pond and our stay in Biei (recognized as one of the most beautiful villages in Japan).

Accommodation: Rin Rest in Nature Hotel
Meals: B / L / D 

Ride: 70Km, 630m elevation gain

Noteworthy: Protected city cycling pathways, views of Hokkaido’s tallest peak, “Asahidake”, Leaving the city for the countryside. Lunch at Chiyoda Farm or Picnic. Dinner and Breakfast at Hotel. 

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Day 3: Wed 08/27  Shirogane – Furano

The rolling hills of Biei and Furano are commonly referred to as “The Tuscany of Japan”. We will enjoy a long downhill cruise through Biei with a rustic farm lunch. Brad knows so many good rides that we have to stay in his hometown of the Furano area two nights to fully appreciate the region. 

Accommodation: La Vista Hotel

Meals: B / L / D 

Ride: 75Km, 200m gain

Noteworthy: Lunch at Kaneko Coffee. Breakfast buffet at hotel. Sushi dinner at “Fuku-Sushi”. Patchwork Farms, Rolling Hills. Furano Winery Tour 

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Day 4: Thur 08/28  Furano Highlands Tour 

We continue our journey through farmlands and patchworks of fields with Volcanic mountains in the distance, cycling through Kami-Furano which is the gateway for climbing the Tokachi mountains. We plan to stop by the Goto Sumio Museum for lunch and viewing his paintings of the local mountain views. 

Accommodation: La Vista Hotel

Meals: B / L / D 

Ride: 80Km, 400m gain

Noteworthy:  Breakfast Buffet at Hotel, Goto Museum Lunch…Kodomaya Japanese Restaurant / Tempura/Noodles for dinner (Kodomaya)

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Day 5: Fri 08/29 Furano – Lake Kanayama

We will cycle around the Rokugo Highlands continuing over the challenging Ikutora pass to Minami Furano and Lake Kanayama where we will stay in a Private Log cabin resort.

Accommodation: Larch Hotel Kanayama 

Meals: B / L / D 

Ride: 60Km, 750m gain

Noteworthy: 88 Buddha Statues, Mont Bell store in Minami Furano, Svalbard Cafe catered lunch, first big climb of the tour. French Dinner, Breakfast at Hotel. 

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Day 6: Sat 08/30 Lake Kanayama – Biratori

A longer day in the saddle, we will cycle over the Kanayama pass and downhill and downriver through the stunning Mukawa river gorge through the sister city of Aspen, Colorado, Shimukappu and to the Ainu settlement of Biratori and the healing waters of Yukara Hot Springs. 

Accommodation: Biratori Onsen Yukara 

Meals: B / L / D 

Ride: 80Km, 800m gain

Noteworthy: Authentic Ainu village, Nibutani Ainu Culture. Dinner, Breakfast at Hotel. Lunch in Hidaka (Michinoeki) 

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Day 7: Sun 08/31 Biratori – Tomakomai              

We get our first Pacific Ocean views as we cross marshlands with amazing vistas of seaside ranches for thoroughbred racehorses 

To avoid large trucks, we will take a slightly longer route knowing that our Hot Spring Hotel will be waiting for us when we finish. 

Accommodation: Dormy Inn Onsen Hotel 

Meals: B / L / D 

Ride: 70Km, 150m gain

Noteworthy: Laundry services, Staying downtown. Dinner at local restaurant featuring Wagyu beef. Breakfast at Hotel. Lunch TBD (Mukawa area) 

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Day 8: Mon 09/01 Tomakomai – Noboribetsu

We return to the coastline via a scenic road en route to the National Ainu museum “UPOPOY” We can check the exhibits, walk around the grounds and enjoy lunch here. The last part of the day is a formidable hill climb to “Hells Valley” or “Noboribetsu”. We will be staying two nights at our hotel, which has access to Hokkaido’s largest onsen, fed by natural mineral springs.  

Accommodation: Takimoto ADEX Hotel

Meals: B / L / D 

Ride: 70Km, 300m gain

Noteworthy: Largest natural Onsen in Hokkaido, Whiskey Bar, Walking Paths through the volcanic park. We will have a rest day here with optional nature walks in the morning and afternoon. Dinner, Breakfast Buffet at Hotel. Lunch at UPOPOY museum. 

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Day 9: Tues 09/02 Noboribetsu Hiking and Cultural Day 

A rest day with plenty of options for walking, hiking, bathing and of course some optional shorter cycling courses of the area.Morning and afternoon cultural experiences available. 

Accommodation: Takimoto ADEX Hotel

lMeals: B / L / D 

Ride: 30km (optional course), 300m gain

Noteworthy: Optional Indigo Dyeing, Sword Making experience in Date museum.  (Morning tour and Afternoon tour) Dinner, Breakfast Buffet at Hotel. Lunch in the Hot spring village or in Date. 

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Day 10: Weds 09/03 Noboribetsu – Hotel Lakeside Lake Toya

We will start refreshed from an extra rest day. Cycling along the Pacific Ocean through Muroran passing by the Samurai town of Date where we enter the Lake Toya Caldera near the Showa Shinzan active volcano. 

Accommodation: Hotel Lakeside Lake Toya  

Meals: B / L / D 

Ride: 65km, 350m gain

Noteworthy: Lake Toya Caldera views. Our Hotel is on the lake with nice boardwalks, shops and parks within walking distance. Dinner, Breakfast Buffet at Hotel. Lunch: Date Museum area. 

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Day 11: Thurs 09/04 Lake Toya Tour 

We will cycle around picturesque Lake Toya and plan to have a local Soba lunch. Optional boat tour of the lake.

Accommodation: Hotel Lakeside Lake Toya  

Meals: B / L / D 

Ride: 65km, 300m gain

Noteworthy: Showa Shinzan Volcano tour, Volcano expert guide for short tour. Dinner, Breakfast Buffet at Hotel. Lunch at local Soba restaurant. 

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Day 12: Fri 09/05 Lake Toya – Niseko

Leaving Lake Toya, we climb towards the mountains passing through the beautiful farmlands of Makkari with stunning views of Mt. Yotei, also known as “Ezo Fuji” due to its cinder cone appearance resembling Mt. Fuji. 

Accommodation: SKYE Niseko Hotel 

Meals: B / L / D 

Ride: 70km, 450m gain

Noteworthy: World class ski resort, trendy cafe’s and fancy restaurants. Some of the best cycling around Hokkaido can be found in Niseko (It’s almost as good as Furano) Dinner, Breakfast Buffet at Hotel. Lunch: Makkari picnic 

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Day 13 Sat 09/06 Niseko – Around Mt. Yotei  

We will cycle around Yoteisan for a grand tour of the Niseko area.  Last night dinner party.

Accommodation: SKYE Niseko Hotel 

Meals: B / L / D 

Ride: 60km, 450m gain

Noteworthy: UCI Niseko Classic cycling route. Natural spring water for drinking, Dinner, Breakfast Buffet at Hotel. Lunch in Fukidashi Park (Natural Spring Water Heaven) 

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Day 14: Sun 09/07 Niseko

Saying goodbye to the mountains of Niseko, we return to Chitose Airport by train or Bus transfer.

 

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Registration and Participant Selection:

Registration will be on the CCCTS website on the date shown. A computerized lottery system and waitlist will be utilized in the event that the ride is over- subscribed. A $100 CAD payment is required at the time of registration. The lottery signup will run for 7 days, after which the Ride Leader will review the results.

The selection process will consider the following criteria in evaluating candidates: 

• fitness and riding ability and experience required for the tour,
• a history of demonstrating safe riding practices,
• acceptable social behavior.
• The leader may interview riders or others who know them to verify their suitability for the tour.
• The leader also has the option to prioritize 30% of the tour applicants up to a maximum of 6 people.
• The leader will notify registrants of their selection status. If the ride is not filled to capacity, registration will continue until the closing dates shown.
  • Tour member selection is done primarily by lottery results but the leader will have the final decision on who is accepted or not for the tour.
• After you have been notified you are selected for the tour, the tour fee deposit of 30% of the tour fee will be due on January 30, 2025 date.
• In the event of cancellation – The registration fee is non-refundable. See contractor’s cancellation policies below.  

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Freewheeling Japan Booking Conditions and Terms of Service

Payment Terms

• All payments should be made in YEN – we unfortunately cannot accept any other currencies. This can be done through a WISE account or via bank transfer.
• A deposit of 30% of the full payment is required by January 30, 2025.
• The balance of full payment is required 60 days before departure.

International transfer fees or bank charges may not be deducted from the amount listed on your invoice. These fees are an additional charge that the transferor is responsible for paying. 

Cancellations and Refunds

Cancellations must be made in writing to the Tour Coordinator and to SNOW Inc./Freewheeling Furano  yuki.m@snow-inc.jp 

The following charges will apply:

• 90 – 76 days before departure 10% of the total tour fee  (May 27 – June 10 2025 ) 
• 75 – 59 days before departure 30% of the tour fee  (June 11 – June 27, 2025)
• 58 – 45 days before departure 50% of the tour fee  (June 28 – July 11, 2025)
• 44 – 15 days before departure 80% of the tour fee  (July 12 – August 10, 2025)
• less than 15 days before departure 100% of the tour fee  (August 11, 2025 – arrival)"

Refunds will be made net of bank related fees. 

Bank Transfer Information.  All transfers should be made in YEN, unfortunately other currencies cannot be accepted. 

Beneficiary Name:	Snow Inc
Address:	Dogenzaka Tokyu Bldg. 2F-C, 1-10-8 Dogenzaka Shibuya Tokyo 150-0043
Bank Name	MUFG Bank Ltd
Bank Address	1-4-5 Marunouchi Chiyoda ku, Tokyo, 100-8212
Branch Name	Aoyama
Branch Code	608
Account Number YEN	0098791
SWIFT Code	BOTKJPJTXXX

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Communicable Illness Information:

• The CCCTS Communicable Illness Policy takes into consideration regulations from the Public Health Authority of Canada, BC Centre of Disease Control, and Public Health Ontario.  In the case of illness while on tour, it is expected that all participants will follow the procedures outlined in this policy.  Please refer to https:cccts.org/club-document/communicable-illness / updated March 30, 2024 for details on the club's communicable illness policy.
• CCCTS strongly encourages all participants to be up-to-date on their vaccinations for COVID and all other communicable diseases.
• Everyone should bring 3 Covid test kits with them on the tour and take responsibility for self-testing if they feel ill.

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Air Travel Emissions

A return flight from Vancouver to Hokkaido is approximately 13,800 km and will produce about 2.5 Tonnes of total emissions per person. For comparison, one year of driving a gasoline-powered car produces 2.0 Tonnes of total emissions. For more information on the impact of those emissions on climate change and extreme weather events, see https://cccts.org/club-document/air-travel-emissions-from-cccts-tours/.