Cycling Japan:
A JOURNEY TO EXPERIENCE THE LOCAL LIFE サイクリング̶それは
By Takashi Niwa Translated by Sakae Sugahara
土地の暮らしを感じる旅
ROUTE
Sendai
Yamagata
22
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YAMAGATA PREFECTURE
MINAMI TOHOKU
Zao
IWATE PREFECTURE START! Shiraishi
Yonezawa
Tohoku Panorama Ride
GOAL! Fukushima
南東北：蔵王＆吾妻連峰パノラマサイクリング
FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE
Cycle above the forest line, through volcanic fumes and barren lands. ときに森林限界を越える山岳風景の中をサイクリングする。 噴煙が立ち上り、 草木が生えない不思議な世界が楽しめる
T
he Zao and Azuma mountain ranges lie on the border of Miyagi, Yamagata and Fukushima prefectures. This Tohoku ride offers panoramic views as you go over mountains gaining elevation of 1,560 meters in the Zao Mountains (from Shiroishi-Zao Station to the pass beneath Zao-katta-dake peak), 1,160 meters in the Azuma Mountains (from Yonezawa City to Shirabu-touge pass) and 1,060 meters on the Bandai Azuma Skyline Road (from Urabandai to Joudodaira). You need to be ready for a challenge when you decide to set out on this route. In May, these high elevation roads may still be lined with snow walls, but once the snow melts, it is fun to trek to the crater lakes
located near the peaks of the Zao and Azuma mountains. Note the Zao Highline road leading to Okama Crater Lake near Zao-katta-dake peak is closed for bicycles. You can trek the 1.6 kilometers to the lake or take the Zao-katta lift from the Yamagata side. In between those mountains, the route is spotted with famous spas, such as the 550-year-old Kaminoyama Onsen, and you can enjoy biking through the open fields of farming villages and quaint castle towns such as Yonezawa. The starting point at Shiroishi Zao Station and the finishing point at Fukushima Station are both on the Tohoku Shinkansen line. The route distance is approximately 250 kilometers.
宮
は550年の歴史を誇るかみのやま温泉のほかに名だたる
城、山形、福島の県境に連なる蔵王や吾 妻連 峰を越える大パノラマコース。
獲得標高差は、蔵王（JR東北新幹線新白石駅∼蔵 王刈 田岳直下）は約1,560ｍ、吾妻連峰（米沢∼白布
温泉地も通過し、 米沢などの古い城下町の風情や、 広々 とした農村の風景も、その旅を一層味わい深いものにし てくれるだろう。
峠 ）は約1,160ｍ、磐 梯 吾 妻スカイライン（ 裏 磐 梯∼
スタート：JR東北新幹線白石蔵王駅
浄 土平）は約1,060ｍである。チャレンジ精神をもって
ゴール：JR東北新幹線新福島駅
臨もう。
距離：約250㎞
5月は標高の高いところでは、まだ雪の壁になっている
＊蔵王刈田岳直下の蔵王ハイラインは、自転車通行禁
ところもある。雪が消えたら、蔵王や吾妻のピーク付近
止。お釜へ行くためにはこの区間1.6㎞を徒歩で行くか、
では、お釜（カルデラ）のトレッキングも楽しめる。途中に
山形県側の蔵王刈田リフトを利用する。
Takashi Niwa actively organizes guided tours around the world, from the back alleys of Tokyo to remote villages in Tibet. He has authored many books including “Otona no Tame no Jitensha Nyūmon” (Nihon Keizai Shinbun Shuppansha). His company, Niwa Cycling Tours (www.ncycling.com) has released its 2014 calendar full of images of his tours in Japan and around the world. It is available for purchase (¥1,050 / includes shipping in Japan). You can order at: http://ncycling01.sblo.jp/article/78003609.html 丹羽隆志（にわ たかし） ：にわサイクリングツアーズ（www.ncycling.com） を主宰し、 東京の路地裏からチベットまで、地球上のどこかをガイド。 『大人のための自転車入 門』(日本経済新聞出版社刊)など著書多数。
WAY! GIVEA
Three copies of the 2014 calendar are available to readers who send in photos of cycling in Japan. Send photos to editor@outdoorjapan.com
SPRING 2014
9