Japan Alps

May 25-28 - four riding days partly on the Japan Alps bike route as we made our way from Kyoto to Tokyo. 

The day out of Kyoto started with an early steep climb out of town, passing amongst other things this attractive shrine...

...before descending to the shores of Lake Biwa which meant no hills for the rest of the day.

It was nice to be riding again with Juergen and Brigitte Willrodt with whom we have already done three previous TDA trips. A couple of good coffee breaks at lakeside places.. .

The next day we headed into the hills with an immediate 1000 metre climb over the first 18 km - here Ursula going through an attractive village on the way up into the forest.

After the climb, a steep descent out of forest and into valley. The afternoon was only very slightly uphill on average, but it still seemed like a lot of work as we were pretty tired from the morning climb. Some amazing Japanese gardens at homes along the way...   

...and a really attractive cafe that unfortunately had closed only ten minutes before we got there...

Uphill again soon after start the next day, here Ursula and Brigitte already working hard in the sun...

...and a continual climb through the forest, passing shrines along the way...

...and of course the gradient steepened as we neared the top at 40 km after gaining 800 metres. The reward was a very nice coffee stop at a cafe with a great view into the valley below...

It had taken us three-and-a-half hours to gain all that altitude but it was gone in a mere 7 km and maybe 15 minutes of tearing around the sometimes hairpin bends of the road to descend into the valley for lunch. After lunch, another 600 metre climb, the gradient evident here.... 

Agriculture on the way up... we're not sure exactly what's happening here - they are carefully laying out this black plastic covering, and since it appears centered over the neat row holes that you can see on the right, it would appear that it covers whatever is already planted. We thought that black plastic was useful to suppress growth of weeds - that said, we're sure they know what they're doing.

And then our surprise to find the 'Canadian Farm' and speak with its owner whose ex-wife was Canadian from outside Montreal.

Only another hundred metres to climb, then 10 km with one sort-of-surprise (and unwelcome) steep hill to the hotel Fujimi. This was where hopefully we'd get our first glimpse of Mount Fuji. 

The view was another couple-of-hundred metres higher above the hotel. Thankfully they had self-driving golf carts to do the work.

...and we were rewarded with the view of Mt Fuji. 

Time for an onsen, then another good dinner that night. They even had special plates for kids.

Next morning we enjoyed a rapid 10 km descent followed by 50 km of general descent along a valley of mostly level and gradual descent. Mostly farmland with lots of photo opportunities of Mount Fuji. 

After lunch, another 800 metre climb with a very welcome coke and ice cream at almost the top before going into a 3-km descending tunnel and a howling descent towards Lake Kawaguchi which lies immediately to the north of Mount Fuji. Absolutely beautiful (and touristy) place - hotel on the shore of the lake, every room with a view of Mount Fuji. Full credit to TDA for planning (despite the hills we cursed so generously) such a great route.

Tomorrow, May 29, into Tokyo by bus.