Road & MTB Nagano Alps Tour | 6-7 Day Summer Escape

Today, we'll ride gorgeous mountain roads to arrive at Kinasa to a traditional shop to stop for tea, coffee, and snacks. Then, for those looking for a longer loop with climbing, we will continue on to Togakushi for a delicious lunch of freshly-prepared soba and udon.

If there are young riders or ninja aficionados in the group, we will stop by at the Kids' Ninja Village for a step back in time. Learn about the history of ninjas before practicing our own skills on the many "ninja challenges" in the park.

Then, choose to ride the loop back, or hop in the car for a quick drive into Hakuba Valley.

When we get back in town, soak in the natural hot-spring waters to reenergize your body. We'll have a traditional kaiseki feast waiting for you, made with local and fresh ingredients. Rest up well for a big day of MTB tomorrow!

After two days on the road, we'll swap out your road bike for a something with nubby tires and suspension! Get equipped with all the appropriate gear for a day (or two) at Iwatake Mountain Bike Park. For the MTB days, it's your choice - you can have one of our guides join you, or we'll help you get ready with bikes, gear, and gondola pass before you go out for the day with just your friends and family. The park's trails are very well-mapped, perfect for both beginners and intermediate riders. There are also other ways to enjoy the outdoors at Iwatake for those who want a day off the saddle. Go for a small hike, grab lunch, sip tea/coffee with a gorgeous view, or hop on the "giant swing" in the center of the park!

Wake up to another soak in Hakuba hot-spring water before we have a kaiseki breakfast and hop on the saddle. We through the valley, past several beautiful lakes, down towards Matsumoto. Along the way, stop to take in the mesmerizing rice fields, enjoy learning about growing wasabi at the famous Daio Wasabi Farm, and ride through the famous Azumino Apple Roads.

Our hotel this evening is located on the outskirts of Matsumoto, along the gentle slopes of Norikura-dake. Enjoy the tranquility and zen of the ofuro bath, and the peaceful nature that surrounds. Get plenty of rest this evening - tomorrow, we will attempt Japan's highest road!

The magic of the mountains truly shines in a place like Norikura. Every single switchback takes you to new heights, and since the final 13km has a ban on private vehicles, we will only share the road with hikers, cyclists, and the occasional park bus that passes. An iconic pass that summits over 2,700m above sea Norikura rivals the greats of Europe's Alps with rugged beauty of Japanese volcanic landscape as far as the eye can see.

Once we reach the pass, there are a few mountain huts available for hot food and drinks. Then, we'll have an optional hike (2 hours) to get to Norikura's highest point at over 3,000m above sea. From there, it's an epic descent back into Matsumoto, where we will have a celebratory dinner and toast to an incredible effort on the bike, as well as an unforgettable week of outdoor adventures in Nagano!

After an epic week of all kinds of bike adventures, we'll head out for one last ride or hike before we share our last lunch together. For those interested we can stop by the historic Matsumoto Castle for sight seeing, and choose from everything from Japanese, to Italian, French, and Indian cuisine for lunch. Then, it's time to head to the train station. From Matsumoto Station, hop on to a direct train to arrive at downtown Tokyo in about 2.5 hours. Until next time - mata ne!