Continuing from Part 1, here’s the second half of our ride at the Alps Azumino Century Ride 2026, held this May. This time, the return journey from Hakuba features one of the event’s most popular attractions—the Cycle Train. It’s a route that’s sure to delight not only cyclists, but railway enthusiasts as well. Text&Photos_Eigo Shimojo Table of Contents 4. 65 km → 111 km: Cycle Train / JR Hakuba Station → JR Shinano-Oiwake Station5. 120 km: Finish / National Alps Azumino Park (Horigane–Hotaka Area) 4. 65 km → 111 km: Cycle Train / JR Hakuba Station → JR Shinano-Oiwake Station Having ridden about 65 km from the start, I was already more than satisfied. Between the […]

On May 23, I took part in the Alps Azumino Century Ride (AACR), one of Japan’s most popular cycling events. Among the several course options, I chose the Cycle Train Route—a 120 km course that includes approximately 65 km of riding, with the remainder covered by train. As its name suggests, the AACR was inspired by the Honolulu Century Ride. After experiencing the event firsthand, Executive Committee Chair Raita Suzuki—a former Japanese Olympic mountain biker who represented Japan at the Sydney Olympics—returned home determined to create a similar event in his native Nagano. Since 2009, that vision has continued to grow into one of Japan’s premier fun rides. In addition to the cl […]

In this series, the Global Ride editorial team—connecting fun rides around the world—visits the local bike shops where cyclists gather. With an “all roads lead to the local bike shop” mindset, this time we travel to Matsumoto in Nagano Prefecture, approximately 230 kilometers northwest of Nihonbashi, Tokyo. Matsumoto is a historic castle town neighboring Azumino, home to the popular Azumino Century Ride, a cycling event renowned for its scenic routes through lush rice paddies and beneath the peaks of the Japanese Alps. * Read the article about the Azumino Century Ride here! Text_Mayumi Kamura Table of Contents 1. A Castle Town on the Plains2. CLAMP Matsumoto Kura Store — Bringing Together Tr […]