The second installment of a cycling journey tracing the landscapes of Katsushika Hokusai’s Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji (in fact, forty-six works in total) by one of Japan’s most celebrated ukiyo-e artists. In the previous article, we introduced a cycling route around Fuji City in Shizuoka Prefecture, located at the very foot of Mount Fuji. This time, our journey skips over Kanagawa and Tokyo from Shizuoka, landing in Chiba Prefecture.The main highlight is “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” the iconic face of “Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji.” To capture both the seas off Kanagawa and Mount Fuji together, the perspective must come either from above Tokyo Bay or from the Chiba side. In this cycl […]

The Ororon Line is a breathtaking coastal route in northern Hokkaido along the Sea of Japan. Stretching all the way from Otaru to Wakkanai, its highlight lies in Route 106 between Teshio and Wakkanai. To the left, Mt. Rishiri rises majestically from the sea; to the right, the vast Sarobetsu Plain extends endlessly. With few sharp bends, the road runs straight toward the horizon, offering an exhilarating ride. This time, we’ll take on that very core section by bicycle. Text&Photo_Hokokara Table of Contents 1. Horonobe Station on the Sōya Main Line, reached from JR Asahikawa Station2. The starting point of the cycling route: Teshio Town3. The Monument of the 45th Parallel North4. Parking s […]

The Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji was created by Katsushika Hokusai, a ukiyo-e artist of the late Edo period. As many will know, it is an ambitious series of woodblock prints capturing Mount Fuji in its myriad expressions, which change dramatically depending on the viewpoint and the time of day. In addition to the thirty-six prints indicated by the title, a further ten were later added—likely inspired by the popular Fuji worship (Fujikō) movements among the common people—bringing the total to forty-six works. In August 2025, I am in the midst of a journey to visit all forty-six of these landscapes under my own power.In this installment, I focus on three of them—The New Fields at Ōno in Suru […]

On the second day of our ride exploring Wakayama’s sea and mountains, we chose an early departure at 6:30 a.m., taking into account the ferry schedule for our return trip. It was a ride to be enjoyed only during the cool morning hours before the sun unleashed its full intensity. In contrast to the deep greens of Day 1, today awaited an encounter with Wakayama’s proud azure seascapes. Text_Ryuji IsePhoto_Tatz Shimizu Day 2: Spectacular Coastal Route — Along the Ria Coastline and to the White Limestone Cliffs Route OverviewStarting Point: Haman no IeRoute: Head north along the coastline toward Shirasaki → descend inland southward toward Mihama Town → Kii Hinomisaki Lighthouse → follow the coas […]

I live in Ehime, and Kojima-kun lives in Kochi. We’re both married and often find ourselves caught up in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. “Let’s take a little break for once”—this casual remark sparked the beginning of our 3-day, 2-night cycling adventure. Our destination of choice was Wakayama Prefecture, known for both its easy access from Shikoku and its stunning natural landscapes on the Kii Peninsula. On Day 1, we planned a mountainous route from Aridagawa Town up to the cool Oishi Highlands. Day 2 would take us along the spectacular ria coastline of Hidaka and Shirasaki. It was an ambitious itinerary, packed with the best of Wakayama’s mountains and sea. Thanks to the Nank […]

From Long Rides to Off-Road—and Sometimes Even Casual Ride?Hi, I’m Ontama Negitoro.While most of my posts focus on off-road adventures and long-distance rides, I also have a soft spot for leisurely pottering around town, blending in with the cityscape on two wheels. This time, I’m heading to the Osaka-Kansai Expo—happening right in my hometown—by share bike!Believe it or not, you can actually access the Expo venue by bicycle. Fellow cyclists, after reading this article, you’ll be all set to ride there too! I’m planning to ride my bike all the way to Yumeshima, the site of the Osaka-Kansai Expo.(Please note: If you’re using your own bike, you’ll need to reserve a parking space by […]

A tour of forest path, Shrine & Temple trails and Kamo riverside roads in southern and eastern Kyoto Days: 4hoursDistance:20km Itinerary Eastern Kyoto is the most tourist-dense area, and is also known as hell. However, that is only the famous spots. Just 500m away, there are quiet, historical paths. Unlike the “commercial” Kyoto where 99% of the people gather, the real history of Kyoto remains there. The only tool to access it is an E-Bike.Of course, we will visit the famous spots. But the real value of this tour is to experience with all five senses the beautiful roads that many foreigners don’t know about, but really want to see.＊This feature is presented in collabora […]

The Tour de France, a 23-day journey that circles France by bike in the peak of summer, is finally heading into its decisive final stages. This is the second part of a two-part series reporting on cycling in France directly from the ground. This time, we dive into a hands-on investigation of renting a performance road bike—seriously planning as if we were going to ride ourselves.Is it easy and reliable to arrange a rental? How much does it actually cost? And what should you keep in mind if you really end up riding in France? The route I planned is the finish of Stage 16: Mont Ventoux. There’s no doubt this mountain will play a major role in determining the overall winner. Let’s take on this […]