Mountain Bike Tour from Sapporo Including Hoheikyo Onsen and Lunch
Description
This half-day mountain bike tour, perfect for beginners, rewards you with a soak at Hoheikyo Onsen. After a 1.5-hour ride along an easy, paved path through the ‘onsen’ (hot spring) town of Jozankei for a snack, you’ll delight in the pure waters of Hoheikyo's outdoor baths, followed by a curry lunch that's popular among locals. Round-trip transport is included from Sapporo. Numbers are limited to 10 on this small-group tour, ensuring a personalized experience with your expert guide. Please note: This tour is seasonal and runs yearly between April and October. The date is subject to change.
Tour Options
Itinerary
(9:00) Pickup at your staying hotel or Sapporo station In the morning, assemble with your small group and guide at the starting point, approximately one hour after you’re picked up by air-conditioned minivan from Sapporo.
(10:00 ) Arrived Hoheikyo onsen Once you’re fitted with a mountain bike, helmet and gloves, you’ll hear safety precautions and get basic instructions for riding. Then follow your guide on an easy, 1.5-hour ride along a mostly paved road, starting from the upper Toyohira River, whose waters swell from mountain snowmelt into the Jozankei valley. Enjoy views above the river canyon and cross a suspension bridge, departing for Jozankei. It’s a steep, downhill ride to this traditional onsen town, which dates back to 1866 when an ascetic monk opened the spa upon discovering its healing waters. Amid forested banks along the bountiful Toyohira River, watch steam rise up from every angle. Stop to enjoy snacks like onsen manju, a bun stuffed with azuki-bean paste, before departing via a steep uphill route.
(11:40) Return to Hoheikyo onsen, curry lunch and onsen Your 6-mile (10-km) route ends at this natural hot spring, which was ranked as one of the best hot spring day trips by TripAdvisor. Settle into mineral baths indoors or choose from three large outdoor pools, where you’ll have panoramic views of the mountains as you relax against the stones during a 1-hour soak. Hoheikyo is one of Japan's only onsen facilities to use 100-percent pure waters; the pools are fed by continuously flowing hot springs poured directly into the baths from the ground. Afterward, sate your appetite with a lunch of authentic naan bread and Indian curry — Jozankei’s most popular food — at the onsite restaurant.
(14:40) arrived in Sapporo Complete your half-day tour with the return 1-hour drive to Sapporo.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
1.Hotel pickup in central Sapporo city 2.JR Sapporo station (FamilyMart Sapporo-Eki Kitaguchi-ten : Sapporo, Kita Ward, Kita 7 Jo Nishi 4 Chome−１)
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Minimum age is 10 years
- Recommended height is 1.45m (4.75 foot) or taller
- A maximum of 6 people per booking
- Please wear comfortable long sleeve shirts, long pants and shoes suitable for exercising. Jeans are not recommended
- Recommended to bring sunglasses or some kind of eye protection, change of clothes and bath towel. Bath towel can be buy for JPY500(cash)
- Hot spring facility will have body soap, shampoo and conditioner for you to use for free of charge. If you wish to order additional items such as drinks, you will need to pay in Japanese yen. Credit cards cannot be used.
- Please bring your own water (rental bikes have water holder)
- Windbreaker jacket is recommended to bring during spring and fall season
- The mountain bike course may be changed due to road conditions
Reviews(38)
Wonderful bike ride - lunch and onsen soak - highly recommend - Jun very helpful and attentive - great weather
Mr. Jun was an excellent guide for the locat area. We got to explore various places that non local would not have known
Thank you so much for participating in the tour. And thank you again for your valuable comments.
Guide was well prepared and bike ride was very interesting and not difficult. Lots of nice photo opportunities. Onsen and restaurant were also very good. One of our party had small bike fall and scraped her knee. Guide was nice enough to stop on way home at a local drug store for some supplies.
Thank you so much for joining the tour. And thank you again for your valuable comments. I hope the swelling in hers knee goes down.
This was a lovely experience. We were picked up from our hotel and driven to a spot near Jozankai Onsen. We biked into the village, stopping along the way to get a closer look at the Onsen and other points of interest. Then we visited an Onsen that had both an indoor and outdoor section. It was wonderful to sit outside in the warm water. Next was lunch, a delicious curry. Then back to the hotel. A really pleasant day.
Jun was a wonderful host and knowledgeable guide for this experience. The route we went on was very scenic especially during the peak of autumn and seeing all the beautiful shades of the leaves. Would highly reccomend for anyone wanting to visit Jozankei onsen town this is much more stimulating compared to walking around. The bike ride was a tiny bit challenging towards the end but for those who have above average cardio should be a walk in the park!
Great experience for the family to experience Japan and its culture . Cycling is for the family not mountain bikers
Super service. Gentle ride and tour Onsen and lunch was great. Overall good value. Ideal if you want to get out of the city but don’t want anything big
Great activity as a family. We really liked that we could see the mountains outside of Sapporo by bike. The onsen experience was absolutely wonderful and the curry lunch delicious. Thank you, Jun!
Beautiful vistas around jozan-kei. Very friendly and helpful guide. He came to pick me up in Sapporo and brought me back at the end. I had a wonderful time.
Thank you for your joined and wonderful review. I will be able to work from tomorrow.
Fantastic experience from start to finish. Our guide made us feel welcomed and comfortable. The bike ride was a nice gentle pace and the tour of the hot springs resort town interesting. We both enjoyed our first Japanese Onsen experience and the curry was excellent.
Thank you for your wonderful review. Your review has given me energy to continue tomorrow.
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