Mountain Bike in Madarao: Get on your bike!
The Madarao Kogen area is home to some spectacular mountain biking. From single track downhills, gravel logging roads, rural agricultural roads and rugged alpine tracks, there is an abundance of variety that will keep riders of all levels entertained. We can connect you with local people to guide you and custom design a tour in the area. Include some amazing cultural experiences such as country restaurants serving local dishes and wonderful hot spring baths and we think that you will come to realize, like us, that the best way to see rural Japan in the green season is to just "get on your bike".
For more information about the best trails, check out here about Madarao's Big Ten Trails
For more information about the best trails, check out here about Madarao's Big Ten Trails
Madarao Old Trails Mountain Bike Club
Madarao Old Trails Mountain Bike Club is a group of Madarao locals who are dedicated to rejuvenating some of the original old trails around Mount Madarao for mountain biking. The Mount Madarao area has a history dating back over 800 years and has numerous traditional roads that still remain today. Most are overgrown and largely unused.
The roads traditionally were used for trade carrying goods such as medicine, salt and charcoal between Nagano and the Japan sea. In the Sengoku Period (1467 - 1615) of Japanese history, known in English as the `Warring States Period`, these roads were used by samurai warlords to transport armies. They were particularly prominent in the Kawanakajima Battles (1553-1564) where the forces of Kai (modern day Nagano and Yamanashi) fought with the forces of Echigo (modern day Niigata).
The roads traditionally were used for trade carrying goods such as medicine, salt and charcoal between Nagano and the Japan sea. In the Sengoku Period (1467 - 1615) of Japanese history, known in English as the `Warring States Period`, these roads were used by samurai warlords to transport armies. They were particularly prominent in the Kawanakajima Battles (1553-1564) where the forces of Kai (modern day Nagano and Yamanashi) fought with the forces of Echigo (modern day Niigata).
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Here are a couple of our favourite mountain bike trails in Madarao.
The Old Cow Trail |
Furusato No Mori Trail |
Get in the Gravel!
There are a lot of back country gravel trails in and around Mount Madarao. Most are public roads. Iiyama City have designated three official gravel routes that can be used by anyone to self-guide through the Madarao Back Country. There are three official routes: 60km, 30km and 25km.
60KM Gravel Route
30KM Gravel Route
25KM Gravel Route
North Nagano Outdoor Sports Mountain Bike Tours
North Nagano Outdoor Sports, as well as doing back country ski and snowboard tours in winter, are also available to take mountain bike tours through the old trails around Mount Madarao. The cost is 5500 yen per person including bike and helmet rental for a half-day tour. Contact Aki Kitamura for more information. They also have e-bikes available from 2021 Green Season.
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Maduro and Grinduro Japan
Madarao has two premier bike races. Maduro is more of a local event that is a warm up event for the main Grinduro Japan that is scheduled for November 2021.
Grinduro is a combination of gravel road race and a mountain bike-style Enduro and people can use mountain bikes or gravel bikes, which are more like a road bike with sturdy mountain bike-style tyres.
But Grinduro is not just a bike race. It’s a celebration of cycling with as much emphasis on the fun as the ride, with excellent food, an impressive display of art and incredible handmade bikes, live music, camping and a festival atmosphere.
In Grinduro Japan, the best trails in Madarao are linked together and each course features a mix of surfaces (smooth pavement, gravel and hard-packed dirt) long climbs and single track descents.
Grinduro is a combination of gravel road race and a mountain bike-style Enduro and people can use mountain bikes or gravel bikes, which are more like a road bike with sturdy mountain bike-style tyres.
But Grinduro is not just a bike race. It’s a celebration of cycling with as much emphasis on the fun as the ride, with excellent food, an impressive display of art and incredible handmade bikes, live music, camping and a festival atmosphere.
In Grinduro Japan, the best trails in Madarao are linked together and each course features a mix of surfaces (smooth pavement, gravel and hard-packed dirt) long climbs and single track descents.
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PHOTO GALLERY
"Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving”
