Yukiguni Uonuma Golden Cycle Route
The Yukiguni Uonuma Golden Cycle Route (GCR) covers 193km and links Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma City and Uonuma City. It is an enticing prospect for its unspoilt landscapes of rice paddies and breathtaking mountains, as well as the chance to immerse in the culture and traditions of the Snow Country.
The route is dotted with road stations, hot spring and local food spots, so enjoy the freedom to hop off the path whenever you wish.
- Difficulty: Easy to Intermediate
- Distance: 193km
- Approximate time required: 13-15hrs
- Elevation gain: 450m
- Starting point: Yaironomori Park
- Finish: Yaironomori Park
1. Cycling map
The GCR is a combination of three routes: the North Uonuma route, the Minamiuonuma route and the Sagurigawa Dam route.
2. Route overview (1) North Uonuma route
This route takes in Uonuma City at the north end of the GCR.
Follow the Tadami Line, called "the world's most romantic railway" and highly regarded for its unspoilt scenery. This is also a region popular among travelers seeking the stunning views unique to the mountain climate.
While there is some vertical drop on the route, this is an easy ride for beginners due to light traffic. Enjoy slow tourism from the saddle as you sample hot springs for day-trippers, the Megurotei designated as an important national cultural property, and Yunotani Michi-no-Eki, where you can sample the regional cuisine.
Distance: 57km
Approximate time required: 4-5hrs
Elevation gain: 160m
Starting point: Yaironomori Park
Finish: Yaironomori Park
3. Route overview (2) Minamiuonuma route
This route takes in Minamiuonuma and Yuzawa at the south end of the GCR.
Here you will find unspoilt landscapes of rice paddies and the vista of the Echigo mountain range. Delight in the beauty of the paddies as they reflect the mountains on the water, and show the green carpet of rice seedlings or the golden glories of ears of rice.
The route takes in the ruins of Sakado Castle where samurai Kagekatsu Uesugi and Kanetsugu Naoe spent their childhoods, Bokushi-dori, a street that recreates the ambiance of Edo post town, and the hot spring resort of Echigo-Yuzawa that was the setting of the famous novel Snow Country. You can enjoy a cycling while seeing these landscapes reminiscent of the old era and tasting some local food.
Distance: 108km
Approximate time required: 7-8hrs
Elevation gain: 450m
Starting point: Yaironomori Park
Finish: Yaironomori Park
4. Route overview (3) Sagurigawa Dam route
This route around Sagurigawa Dam is also used for road races.
It includes a serious hill climb so is recommended if you wish to graduate from beginner status.
The road circling the dam is very hilly and with splendid scenery, this is a very popular place for training and sports camps.
Distance: 35km
Approximate time required: 2-3hrs
Elevation gain: 308m
Starting point: Family Mart Minamiuonuma Fumoto
Finish: Yamachiku Shop
5. Sightseeing spots
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Yaironomori Park
With views across to the Echigo Sanzan Mountains (Mt. Hakkai, Mt. Komagatake, Mt. Nakanodake), this park is located in a corner of the lush green Yairogahara where the Uono and the Mizunashi Rivers converge. There is a museum, restaurant and winery in the park.
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Uonuma no Sato
Based around the renowned sake brewery Hakkaisan, this extensive property has plenty to visit such as the Hakkaisan Yukimuro (Snow Chamber) used to store sake and food, and offering guided tours, a soba noodle restaurant, a sweet shop and a cafe.
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Zenibuchi Park
A Japanese garden park at the base of Mt. Sakado in Minamiuonuma City where samurai Kagekatsu Uesugi and Kanetsugu Naoe spent their childhoods. View an array of blooms according to the season.
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Shakunage Lake (Sagurigawa Dam)
A famous spot for viewing autumn leaves. An outdoor lover's delight, there is an auto campsite and fishing in the vicinity. The "Sagurigawa Dam Curry" served at the Shakunage Visitor Center is a specialty.
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Untoan Temple
The temple where Kagekatsu Uesugi and Kanetsugu Naoe started school. Walking from the red gate to the main hall of the temple, you will find a stone path, with each stone tile bearing a single character from the Lotus Sutra. It is believed that whoever steps firmly on these stone tiles to worship at the temple will enjoy good fortune.
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Daigenta Canyon
You can easily enjoy nature here. It is divided into three areas: the campsite, Lake Daigenta and the Hana-no-Sato flower garden. You can enjoy a barbeque, nature walks or a hands-on workshop in each of the areas.
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Echigo-Yuzawa Station
Gangidori in the station concourse is lined with souvenir shops and food alleys, and you can sample sake from all breweries in the prefecture at Ponshukan. In front of the station's west exit, where the ryokan district is located, there are bike rentals (Snow Country Tourism) and foot baths.
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Yuzawa Folklore History Museum "Yukiguni-kan"
One collection focuses on the lifestyle and history of Yuzawa, the "Snow Country", while another showcases Yasunari Kawabata's novel Snow Country.
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Michi-no-Eki Minami Uonuma Yukiakari
A sightseeing spot where you can enjoy the "food, art, history, and nature" of the Minamiuonuma snow country. In addition to Minamiuonuma souvenirs, there is a restaurant and an outdoor plaza, as well as an art museum.
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Bokushi-dori Street
This thoroughfare recreates the scenery of Shiozawa-juku, the Edo period post town with its gangi undercover passageways unique to Snow Country and has won the Urban Landscape Grand Prize. There are fashionable cafes and souvenir shops with traditional exteriors redolent of the old Snow Country, making it a cozy town that combines new and old.
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Uonuma/Urasa Station Tourist Information Center MYU
A visitor center with every detail about Uonuma and Minamiuonuma. Enjoy coffee, an ice cream or rent a bike here.
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The Megurotei
Built in 1797, this was the home of wealthy farmers who also served as warimotoshoya (government headmen). It is an important national cultural property and has been used as a location for movies and NHK historical drama. In the surrounds is Okutadami Recreation Suhara Park, where you can enjoy nature and history.
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Roadside Station Irihirose
A roadside station located along National Route 252 connecting Niigata and Fukushima prefectures. Offers products unique to Uonuma, such as Kihachi unrefined sake made with Uonuma-grown Koshihikari rice, handmade rice crackers, and seasonal wild mountain vegetables. A beautiful view can be found at Kagamiga-ike Pond, next to the station.
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Yunotani Michi-no-Eki
A roadside station located near the Koide IC on the Kanetsu Expressway (name changing to Uonuma IC from autumn 2024). In addition to selling local specialties from Uonuma, there is also a restaurant where you can taste local dishes such as the famous kenchin-jiru, a vegetable soup with soy sauce.
Giant onigiri rice balls made with Minamiuonuma-grown Koshihikari rice. Bakudan Onigiri-ya (Ponshukan Echigo-Yuzawa)
Bakudan Onigiri-ya is a stall in the Ponshukan souvenir hall at JR Echigo- Yuzawa Station. The giant "bomb rice ball" specialty is made by wrapping a whole cup of rice. Koshihikari rice from the Shiozawa district, which is said to be one of the most delicious Koshihikari. The menu has about 15 fillings that all go well with rice.
6. Useful services
Cycle Stations
A cycle station is a resting spot for an easy break during a ride. Bike racks, toilets and air pumps are available.
Cyclist-friendly accommodation
In order to ensure that cyclists can stay with peace of mind, lodgings that offer services for cyclists are certified as "cyclist-friendly accommodations".
Hotel Sakadojo (292-4 Sakado, Minamiuonuma City) >>
Ryugon(1-6 Sakado, Minamiuonuma City) >>
Hatago Isen Echigo Yuzawa (2455 Yuzawa, Yuzawa-machi, Minamiuonuma-gun) >>
Oyado Inoya(104 Ishiuchi, Minamiuonuma City) >>
Kinseikan GraceCourt Realis(1-12 Sakado, Minamiuonuma City) >>
Mise Inn(2026 Ishiuchi, Minamiuonuma City) >>
Bike rental
Even if you did not bring your bike with you, you can easily rent one. This route has three rental locations along the road.
MUSUBI-BA（Satoyama Minicle, 1F, Muikamachi Station East Exit, Minamiuonuma City） >>
Uonuma/Urasa Station Tourist Information Center MYU（Satoyama Minicle, 2F, Urasa Station, Minamiuonuma City） >>
Snow Country Tourism（Tabichari, Yuzawa Station West Exit, Yuzawa-machi） >>
Cycle repair facilities
These are bike shops apart from cycle stations that will repair your flat tires, broken chains and more.
7. GCR on video
Niigata: Filling up on Koshihikari rice - I just got back from Yukiguni Uonuma Golden Cycle Route! Amutabi 47
I took my road bike to Uonuma, Niigata and came across some incredible roads