Ep.151 Cycling Lake Kussharo & the Bihoro Pass

Ep.151 Cycling Lake Kussharo & the Bihoro Pass

After riding the Shiretoko Pass, the adventure continued in eastern Hokkaido. Having spend the night at the Mashu Onsen Roadside Station, I drove to Ikenoyu Onsen to begin one of the most scenic rides I've ever done. From the very start of the Bihoro Pass the views were incredible and they just kept getting better and better. The panoramas of Lake Kussharo from the top were some of the most gorgeous views I've ever seen from the top of a pass. After rewarding myself with an ice cream and a famous ageimo the the Bihoro Pass Roadside Station the journey continued with a walk around the Wakoto Peninsula, a visit to the lakeside Ainu museum, and a stop at Sunayu to meet the legendary Kusshie before heading home. If you're planning a cycling trip, or just a trip for that matter, to eastern Hokkaido this place is packed with stunning scenery, local discoveries, and another unforgettable ride through Akan-Mashu National Park. Buy Me a Coffee at: buymeacoffee.com/cyclinghokkaido Cycling Hokkaido Podcast Instagram page: www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/

Ep.150 Cycling the Shiretoko Pass

This week on Cycling Hokkaido, I finally take on the legendary Shiretoko Pass. After a 7-hour drive from Ishikari I finally arrived in Utoro at 1:30am. In the morning my first stop was the waterfalls along rte.334 just before Benzai Bay. Then it was off to the climb. Along the way, I met some fantastic people, including one cycling I'd only ever spoken to through Instagram DMs. After getting to the top of the pass, after soaking in the views, it was time to refuel with a delicious bowl of ramen, explore Utoro, and visit Shiretoko Goko before heading to Mashu to rest up for the next day's ride to Lake Kusharo and the Bihoro Pass. Have fun out there folks. Luv ya! Cycle Shikoku's Instagram page: www.instagram.com/cycleshikoku/ Cycle Shikoku's website: www.cycleshikoku.com Cycling Hokkaido's Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/cyclinghokkaido Cycling Hokkaido's Instagram: www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ Hayato Yanagisawa's Instagram' www.instagram.com/yanagisawahayato.1984.8.9/

Ep.149 Mashike, Route 231 & Tunnel Bypass Options

In this episode, I head to Mashike to meet up with a friend who is camping by the coast. Over peanut butter&jelly sandwiches and a Frisbee chuck about, we had a great afternoon. Also in this episode I explore the town's history and what makes Mashike such an interesting destination. I also take a much closer look at Route 231, discussing some of its more challenging tunnels, why they can be intimidating for cyclists, and several alternative routes that let you bypass those maniacal tunnels while still loving Hokkaido's most excellent coastal scenery. If you're thinking of riding this part of the Sea of Japan coast, you'll probably find what you're looking for in this episode. Have fun out there, folks! Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/cyclinghokkaido Cycling Hokkaido podcast Instagram page: www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ Brad Bennet's Website & Instagram: www.freewheeling.jp www.instagram.com/freewheeling.jp/

Ep.148 Ryoma Sakamoto's Footsteps in Urausu, Hokkaido

What does one of Japan's most famous historical figures, Ryoma Sakamoto, have to do with a small town in central Hokkaido? In this episode, we follow the footsteps of Ryoma Sakamoto's family to Urausu and explore the story of the Sakamoto family and the impact they've had on Hokkaido. We also visit Urausu Town Local Museum and Tsurunuma Road Station and Campground. Thank you for listening to the Cycling Hokkaido podcast. Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/cyclinghokkaido Cycling Hokkaido podcast Instagram page: www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ Mizuri Sato and Atelier Sui: www.instagram.com/atelier.sui/ Urausu Town Local Museum: http://www.town.urausu.hokkaido.jp/

Ep.147 An Aunt, a Nephew and a Hokkaido Cycling Adventure

In this episode of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast, Marty is joined by Canadian aunt-and-nephew duo Aerin K. Bowers and Quinn Hoffman. This is a story about family, adventure, and discovering Hokkaido by bicycle. For Quinn, it was his first trip outside of North America. For Aerin it was another chapter in a life already filled with endurance challenges, including swimming the English Channel!! Together they discuss their cycling journey through western Hokkaido, which began with two days of relentless rain but quickly turned into an unforgettable adventure. Along the way they camped their way around the region, experienced the famous Shakotan Blue coastline, encountered a campsite closed due to recent bear activity, rode through Iwanai and Kutchan, enjoyed the incredible views of Mt.Yotei, and dealt with the occasional touring mishap, including a puncture on the ride back to Otaru. After getting back to Otaru, Marty joined them for a day exploring some of the city's hidden treasures before they continued their travels on to Tokyo. Want to support the show? You can do that at: buymeacoffee/cyclinghokkaido Cycling Hokkaido podcasts' Instagram page: www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ Aerin K. Bowers' Instagram page: www.instagram.com/aerinbowers/ Aerin K Bowers website: https://openwaterlife.com Quinn Hoffman's Instagram page: www.instagram.com/quinn.hoffman14