Touring Hokkaido in April - Info Req.

[cycladelic]

I'm hoping someone here can help me with a few questions. My wife and I are flying to Sapporo on April 9th for a 10-day tour of the island - we plan to focus on riding around Daisetsuzan Park. Yes, I know it'll be pretty cold, but...

1. Are cycle helmets mandatory in Japan?

2. What is the best map to buy for the island? ...Bear in mind we'll only go from the airport up to the Park and back.

3. What's it like riding out of the airport - is there a small road or cycle path? (We've booked a hotel in Chitose for our first night's stay)

4. Is Shimano gear any cheaper in Japan?

Many thanks!

 

[Sora]

Hi cycladelic-san,

welcome to TCC!

I'm hoping someone here can help me with a few questions. My wife and I are flying to Sapporo on April 9th for a 10-day tour of the island - we plan to focus on riding around Daisetsuzan Park. Yes, I know it'll be pretty cold, but...

1. Are cycle helmets mandatory in Japan?

No, it isn't modantory. I usually don't wear helmet.

2. What is the best map to buy for the island? ...Bear in mind we'll only go from the airport up to the Park and back.

TOURING MAPPLE 1 (by shobunsha) is best, because you can understand Chinese character! (If you can't, it is still enough informative.) I promise.

=> http://www.e-wadachi.com/howto/map_e.html#TOURING MAPPLE

3. What's it like riding out of the airport - is there a small road or cycle path? (We've booked a hotel in Chitose for our first night's stay)

I don't know the roads around Chitose airport, but I think there is no problem for you to biking around there to hotel.

4. Is Shimano gear any cheaper in Japan?

I don't know exactly, but I don't think so.

What　do you think, guys?

 

[cycladelic]

Many thanks, Sora.
I've taken your advice and just bought that map!

 

[Higuma]

Website...

Here is the official website for the Park - Japanese only but you can always Babel or World Lingo it for a rough translation...

http://www.daisetsuzan.or.jp/index.htm

I live in Sapporo - so if you're looking for a quick tour in the city let me know...

The park is beautiful by the way - my wife and I take a photo trip through there every fall because the leaves are so nice... Very ambitious cycling though as there are some real UPS and some real DOWNS...

Gonna be chilly... still hasn't broken 8 degrees here in the last week or so and there is still a bit of snow around in Sapporo on the side streets - North will be pretty white still I think...

Here is a web-cam page that will give you a small glimpse of some of the sites around Hokkaido... http://www.hbc.jp/sapporo-view.html

Fall is a great time in the park - a few samples from last fall's road trip...

Inside the Park..

Along Route 39 between Asahikawa and the Park at sunset - smoke is from burning rice fields...

Just outside Asahikawa...

My car at the summit in the Park late at night...

As far as the price of Shimano gear - are you talking parts/components or riding apparel ?? I can recommend a few shops around Sapporo for you if you'd like...

Cheers,