Feel local people’s daily lives by bike

Travel Reports by gregory patrisse

Note: The opinions and views expressed in this user report are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of japan-guide.com.

August 7, 2014 - Feel local people's daily lives by bike

In the middle of beautiful landscapes, SATOYAMA EXPERIENCE gives you the opportunity to enjoy your trip in Japan by offering you a glimpse of a traditional way of life with a good mean of transport, the bicycle.

If you desire to catch a new experience by coming to Japan, be aware that Tokyo, Osaka or other big cities aren�ft so representative. There are so many places to visit while coming to Japan, maybe far from big cities but which have easy accesses with efficient means of transport like the train or the bus. Moreover, if you have the international driving license, you can rent a car and you will be free to make a big trip around Japan very easily too.

Deep in the Japanese countryside, it is possible to discover a wild and wide landscape called �gsatoyama�h. Located in Gifu Prefecture, Hida-Takayama area is an environment in which humans coexist alongside nature. Cycling there offers such rare glimpses of how the way of living of locals is, which represents the goal of tourists who come to this area. A peaceful countryside including the spectacular Northern Alps, long-running green valleys and stunning views welcome all the people who want to venture inland.

HIDA SATOYAMA CYCLING represents one way to experience the region by offering to people cycling tour. Based in the village of Hida-Furukawa, just to the north of Takayama and after receiving for the fourth year running the top award from TripAdvisor, Satoyama Experience continues to offer cycling routes that attempt to show the way of life of the population here, while also giving them the chance to try with their hand different things like crafting or hiking.

Several tours are available, ranging from a half to a full day, more or less difficult depending on the tour you decided to do. The weather is also an important variable so you need to decide what kind of sceneries you want to see before going here. Cycling tours is held from the end of March to the end of December (because of very heavy snowfall during the winter season).

All the tours can be made in English version and all the guides are very knowledgeable about cycling, history of local life and geography of the area. The majority of them have lived abroad for a long time so there is no problem of communication. Kids and adults are both free to participate to the tours and the mountain bikes come in all sizes so as to satisfy everyone. During the tours, it�fs very easy to rest, stop to visit a temple, talk to the locals and even see beautiful waterfalls. Sometimes, locals even offer some presents (like vegetables) to the guests.

The pace is not so high, in order to let the guests feeling the tranquility and the peaceful atmosphere of the area while acquiring information relative to the local culture. The routes aren�ft so difficult (except if you desire to experience the Ride and Hike course which has strenuous uphill to ride) and follow the valleys in order to see so many beautiful mountain vistas. Like this, elderly people can also easily join the tours if they wish to.

Some people may say that the access to Hida Furukawa is not so easy but if you are well prepared before the departure, it seems really easy�c More information relative to the access are available on their website. The views and the experience that are awaiting you on this place is much better that this kind of problem. May you enjoy your trip in the beautiful satoyama that Hida-Takayama offers you.

More information here :
http://satoyama-experience.com/cycling/

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List of Posts:
2014/08/07 - Feel local people's daily lives by bike
2014/05/23 - Discover the Satoyama - Gifu Province/Hida region