Akagi Trip organizes the cycling event circling around the foot of Mount Akagi (sorry! The information is only given by Japanese but you can see the map) in October every year. Cycling more than 100 km in a day and lots of ups and downs, it is a challenging event to attract many serious cyclists from all over the country.
Akagi Trip now wants to arrange 1 night 2 days cycling trip that goes around the foot of Mt. Akagi same as that event but at more relaxing pace with e-bikes for people of any fitness levels.
(Gunma prefecture Government building is towering up behind Tonegawa river.)
On a very sunny early spring day in March, we gathered in front of Maebashi station to start 1 night 2 days cycling trip with e-bikes. Day 1's itinerary was 60 km ride to Oigami Onsen. The first 20 km we cycled on nicely maintained dedicated cycling lane along Tonegawa river. We saw Mt. Akagi over Tonegawa river and thought about cycling around this big, beautiful and magnificent mountain. Actually the distance of Mt. Akagi's circumference is 2nd longest after Mt. Fuji in Japan.
After 1.5 hours riding, we arrived at Shiroi-Juku, one of the old post towns along old trails from 17th century. The town was developed and flourished as an important transportation hub so we could still see many old warehouses and traditional wooden houses remaining from those days.
Actually we were a bit behind the schedule and it was already 11:30 a.m., it was a bit too early but we thought it was better eat something before upcoming hill climb, so we decided to eat our lunch.
Yummy! Katsu-Don (Deep fried pork cutlet on top of rice in a bowl), Miso soup, pickled cabbages and soft cream for desert. You don't need to feel guilty as you would do another cycling with hill climb for 40 km 🙂
After leaving Shiroi-Juku, we took quiet country side roads slightly going up. Our guide Kazu carefully chose the route so that we were not annoyed by other traffic and we could enjoy the view from our saddles.
We cycled from 200 meters to 700 meters above sea levels but thank e-bikes (and maybe Katsu-Don!), it was very moderate and gentle hill climb and a very pleasant ride. We took a short break at a look-out terrace where we could see the most famous three mountains in Gunma, Akagi, Haruna, Myogi as well as beautiful Mt. Hotaka. The snow capped white mountains were very solemn. Shinobu gazed the mountains with her breath taken away while Kazu was very happy looking her reaction!
At around 4 pm, we arrived at Sonohara Lake which is one of a group of dams upstream of the Tonegawa River that prevents flooding and diverts water to the Tokyo metropolitan area. The view looking down from the suspension bridge over the dam was grant, I thought it must be even more beautiful in autumn with lots of colorful leaves. I have to come back here for sure!
Finally we arrived at Oigami Onsen , the hot spring resort spread out along a deep ravine created by Katashinagawa river. The history of Oigami Onsen is rather old, there is a legendary story. Long long time ago, when the god of Mt. Akagi fought against the god of Nikko, the god of Mt. Akagi shot an arrow and hot spring water gushed out, so the god soaked in the hot spring to heal his wounds, then the god of Mt. Akagi challenged and defeated the god of Nikko again...
We were not injured nor hurt at all but we stayed and rested our tired body at Gorokaku Ryokan in Oigami Onsen. We also soaked and relaxed at their hot springs. What a perfect combination, bike ride and Onsen was!!! Needless to say we enjoyed their delicious meals and Sake (Japanese wine) as well.
Next morning, we were totally refreshed and started our 2nd day. Before heading to the Mt. Akagi circular route, we decided to detour a bit to visit Fukiware Fall a.k.a. Niagara Falls of the Orient.
Have you been to Niagara Falls? Do you think it's similar to them? Well, it's just 15 minutes by bike, so it's worth to visit there.
Departing Fukiware Fall and we were back to the original route. We were ready for morning exercise hill climb, we had to burn the energy taken from luxury breakfast at Onsen Ryokan this morning. The first hill climb this morning was from 600 meters to 800 meters above sea levels then down hill to 500 meters, Nango no Magariya, which was a reserved old private house with special Japanese traditional design. Look at their beautiful thatched roofs!
They even had a private foot and hand bath.
The second hill climb was a little bit harder than the first one, from 500 meters to 1,000 meters. Again with e-bikes, we could manage to do it while we were a bit worrying watching the number showing the amount of e-bike battery power remaining decrease... But don't worry our e-bikes were so smart they generated electricity while going down the hills!
Although the second day was a bit cloudy and cold, actually we saw the snow remained on the road side, we totally enjoyed the small winding roads in the mountains sometimes riding through the tunnels, cycling along the streams and going down the cider forests etc. etc...
We met up our friend, Peter on the way and continued cycling together to Akagi station, where we took Jomo train back to Maebashi to return our e-bikes, our good travel companions.
(Peter waving his hand, he was cycling with his beloved road racer without e-assist 🙂 )
I will definitely come back to do this tour in another season. I love cycling, I love Onsen!!!
Yukiko
