For the Tsumago and Gorge routes, no — the electric motor flattens the climbs, so if you can ride a normal bike on flat ground you'll be fine. The Nakasendo Challenge route has real distance and gradient, so only pick it if you're confident on a bike.

Can I hire a guide for the self-guided routes?

No — the three mapped routes are self-guided rentals only (¥4,000 per bike, up to 4 bikes, one of which fits children), ridden with our route maps. For a guided experience, see the guided tour page: the full-day Kiso River Downhill, an easy ~25 km half course, and a two-hour early-morning tour.

Can I do the routes in reverse, or as a loop?

Yes. The Tsumago and Gorge routes can both be ridden in reverse or as a loop — just tell us your preference when you book and we'll plan the pick-up points around it.

How does the luggage shuttle work?

We move your bags anywhere between Tsumago, Nagiso Station, Kashiwaya, Junikane Station and Nojiri Station — a ¥1,500 base fee per group plus ¥1,500 per bag — so you can ride point-to-point without carrying your pack over a pass.

Can I swim or use the onsen?

On the Natural AC & Onsen route, yes — bring a swimsuit and towel in summer to dive into the Atera river, or use the onsen near the river mouth in colder months.

Where do tours start and end?

Anywhere in the service area — Tsumago, Nagiso (Kashiwaya Guesthouse or the station), Junikane, and Nojiri — and your start and end don't need to be the same.

Can I ride the Kiso River Downhill course self-guided?

No — the full-day Kiso River Downhill is guided only. In a few places a wrong turn drops you onto roads with heavy traffic, so for safety a guide rides the whole 48.9 km route with you, with the support car close behind.

I'm not confident I can ride 50+ km. Can I still do the Kiso River Downhill?

Most likely yes. The 48.9 km course is gentle downhill almost the whole way (from Yabuhara Station at 930 m down to Nagiso Station at 409 m), and on the few uphill stretches the high-powered e-bike does the climbing for you. If you can ride a normal bike 10 km on flat ground, you should reach the finish comfortably.

Can I bail out partway through the Kiso River Downhill?

Yes. The route shadows the JR line the whole way, so if you feel unwell you can take a train from the nearest station. Lock the bike at the station rack and we collect it afterwards.

What happens to the Kiso River Downhill in bad weather?

Rain or snow means we cancel and refund by default. Our e-bikes handle rough conditions well, so if it is light enough not to affect safety or the experience and everyone agrees, we may still run it. If the weather turns mid-ride, we stop there, refund part of the fee, and take the train to the finish.

What about bears on the route?

The Kiso has Asiatic black bears, like the rest of these mountains. We hand you a bear bell and bear spray to carry, the lead guide always rides up front, and we run through a what-to-do-if-you-meet-one briefing before setting off.

How do you handle summer heat and winter cold on the full-day course?

In summer we lend a rashguard, keep you dousing with water, and break to dip in the valley's river pools. In winter we lend cold-weather gear and stop at footbaths and onsen along the way to warm up.

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Column · Self-tour advice · Nagiso, Kiso Valley

The Nakasendo is the doorway — not the valley.

Most travelers pass straight through: walk Magome to Tsumago, sleep once, roll on to Kyoto. But this valley holds far more than one trail. Ask the people who first came here as tourists and ended up moving here for good — me included — and most will name the same two things that hooked them: the river, and cycling. So here's our proposal — day one on foot, day two on wheels. Walk the old road as everyone does; then, instead of leaving at nine, ride down the river, into the gorges, past the post towns the tour buses never reach.

Choose your day

Five routes. All a little off the beaten track.

Open the route map on your phone for turn-by-turn directions between our pick-up points.

One way · Nagiso → Nojiri

Photo coming soon

EasyAll seasons

Train Lovers

All seasons · Easy

The brown line on the map below

The truly old Nakasendo — the road that predates even the Yogawa bypass of around 1761. Paved now, but nearly traffic-free and comfortable. It's also a hidden winter favorite of Japan's railway fans: you ride alongside the JR line, and with luck you'll catch the best shot of the Shinano limited express.

Emerald gorge with clear river and boulders

ModerateSummer & Early Winter

Natural AC & Onsen

Best in Summer & Early Winter · Moderate

The light-blue line on the map below

The Yogawa trail is beautiful, but brutal in summer heat. The opposite bank has rice paddy roads, an easy pass, and a narrow road linking two stunning waterfalls. Grab a rashguard from our gear rental, then dive into the gorge to cool off. There's an onsen at the end of the road — in winter, dive into that instead.

Waterfall shower in the Atera river canyon

HardFor the fit

Nakasendo Challenge

Yogawa-trail crossing · Hard

The pink line on the map below

The Yogawa trail, said to be the most beautiful stretch of the entire Nakasendo. No shops along the way, slightly longer with more elevation than Magome Pass — for confident riders only. We ride the narrow paved road that runs alongside this old route. For those with the legs for it.

Loops around Nagiso

EasySpring & Autumn

Tsumago, Revisited

Best in Spring & Autumn · Easy

The green line on the map below

What used to be a forest-railway line is now a quiet paved road only locals know — running straight into Tsumago. Perfect for anyone who arrived at the post town too late the night before to explore it properly.

Heart-shaped loop · Nagiso → Nakatsugawa → Nagiso

Photo coming soon

HardSpring to Autumn

Sakashita–Magome Challenge

Heart-shaped loop · approx. 55 km · Hard

The red line on the heart map below

Drawn on the map, this loop is a heart. Roll gently downhill from Nagiso through Sakashita all the way to Nakatsugawa, passing Naegi Castle ruins and a local ramen stop on the way. Then turn back northeast, climb through Magome post town and over Magome Pass on the old Nakasendo, dropping into Tsumago and home to Nagiso. Only want the downhill? Leave the bike at Nakatsugawa Station and take the train back — about 30 km, mostly descending.

Find your way

Route maps

The first four courses above are drawn on this map in their own colors (the Sakashita–Magome Challenge has its own map below) — match the line tag on each card to the line on the map. Open it on your phone for turn-by-turn directions between our pick-up points.

Train Lovers Natural AC & Onsen Nakasendo Challenge Tsumago, Revisited

Open the map in Google Maps

Sakashita–Magome Challenge (heart loop)

Open the heart loop in Google Maps

Ready to roll

The routes are free. The bike is the ticket.

Rent an e-bike (¥4,000 per bike, one-way drops welcome), add bear gear or a rashguard from the gear rental, and let the luggage shuttle carry your bags while you ride.

Rent an e-bike