Rail, bike and hike along Japan’s New Golden Route

Think of the all things you miss when you travel in a straight line. Japan’s New Golden Route, also known as the Rainbow Route for its diverse attractions, from mountain and sea landscapes to the unique lifestyle and culture of the region, is a railway odyssey tracing 12 prefectures between Tokyo and Osaka using the Hokuriku Shinkansen line as the main means of travel. It is proof of the maxim that the journey is just as important as the destination. Cutting a scenic swathe around central Honshu, this new tourist trail unlocks a world of outdoor opportunities in lesser known locales, from trekking through jade green rice terraces to cycling in the shade of the Northern Alps. Your ticket to adventure is the 7-day Hokuriku Arch Pass, letting you hop on and off with ease. Be inspired by these ten New Golden Route stops.

Stop 1: Bike through Tokyo’s coolest neighbourhoods

(Nearest Station: Tokyo or Kayabacho Station)

For all its high-energy hustle, Tokyo lends itself to laidback, two-wheeled exploration. Cycling is a wonderful way to slow down and soak up the whirl of street life as you pedal through characterful neighbourhoods. Tokyo Great Cycling Tour offers a range of guided adventures, like discovering the sumo heartland of Ryogoku or navigating the atmospheric backstreets of Kagurazaka, a former Geisha district. Architecture fans can opt for a bike tour of Tokyo’s modern and contemporary marvels, such as Kengo Kuma’s Japan National Stadium, built for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Stop 2: Go hiking on an abandoned railway

(Nearest Station: Karuizawa Station, or Yokokawa Station)

Just over an hour from Tokyo on the Hokuriku Shinkansen, Karuizawa is the gateway to the picturesque Usui Pass that traverses the border mountains of Gunma and Nagano Prefectures. A railway line spanned the pass for over 100 years until 1997; now the disused tracks have become the Abandoned Railway Walk, a one-of-a-kind hike into history. The 11.2km route, which starts from Yokokawa Station and takes around 4-5 hours to complete, crosses the spectacular, 31m-high Megane Bridge and passes through several moss-caked tunnels on its way to the scenic resort town of Karuizawa.

Stop 3: Pedal through picturesque Azumino

(Nearest Station: Hotaka Station)

Overlooked by the magnificent peaks of the Northern Alps, Azumino in Nagano Prefecture is a great place to rent a bike and soak up sublime alpine scenery as you pedal among rice fields, apple orchards and bubbling spring water. On route you’ll encounter wood-panelled sweet shops, retro cafes and antique sellers, and there are special sights like Rokuzan Art Museum and Japan’s biggest wasabi farm all within easy cycling range of Hotaka Station. Choose from a variety of cycle routes for all abilities by visiting Azumino’s official tourism website.

Stop 4: Explore the Tokamachi Rice Terraces

(Nearest Station: Tokamachi Station, Matsudai Station)

The tanada (rice terraces) that climb the gently sloping hills of Niigata Prefecture are a photogenic wonder, mirror-like in spring and autumn, jade green in summer and blanketed in snow each winter. The Tokamachi Tanada Treks cut a swathe through this agricultural wonderland, knitting together rustic villages, cedar forest, wide-open nature and a scattering of modern art installations. Guided multi-day treks are a fine way to immerse yourself in the satoyama way of life, a Japanese term referring to rural spaces where people and nature have long coexisted.

Stop 5: Discover sublime alpine scenery

(Nearest Station: Toyama Station)

Around two hours from Tokyo on the Hokuriku Shinkansen line, Toyama is the jumping off point for the Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route, a unique sightseeing corridor through the Northern Alps which employs a hodgepodge of trains, cable-cars and buses to connect adventurers with spectacular mountain scenery. One highlight among many is Mikurigaike Pond, a high-altitude lake formed by volcanic eruptions 10,000 years ago. Ringed by Japanese stone pines and a habitat for hardy rock ptarmigans (the prefectural bird of Toyama and a special natural treasure), the deep blue lake is a photographer’s dream, and typically covered with snow until well into May.

Stop 6: Village-hop through rural Gifu Prefecture

(Nearest Station: Hidafurukawa Station)

The rural landscapes of northern Gifu Prefecture, in quaint towns like Hida Furukawa, invite visitors to tune in to the rhythms of rural life, savour organic cooking and experience the true meaning of satoyama, Japan’s unique take on countryside living. Hida Satoyama Cycling is a local company offering guided bike tours through the rice fields and rustic villages of this off-the-beaten track region. As well as encountering authentic local life, you’ll learn about harvesting rice, visit a local farmers' market, and quench your thirst from crystal-clear natural springs on route.

Stop 7: Learn how to cook authentic Japanese dishes

(Nearest Station: Kanazawa Station)

The Hokuriku Shinkansen was extended to Kanazawa, the capital of Ishikawa Prefecture, in 2015, meaning it now takes just two and a half hours from Tokyo to reach the gardens, temples, and geisha districts of this culture-rich metropolis. For a taste of the region’s esteemed culinary scene, sign up for an Omi-cho Market Tour & Cooking Class with In Kanazawa House, a cooking school and cultural centre. You’ll visit a bustling seafood market in the company of local expert Naoko Taniguchi, buy seasonal ingredients then learn how to prepare and cook a feast of delicious dishes.

Stop 8: Seek out hidden temples and castles

(Nearest Station: Echizen Ono Station)

Facing the Sea of Japan, Fukui Prefecture hides several lesser-known secrets among its forested hills. Eiheiji Temple, a centre of Zen Buddhism, is an active monastery founded in 1244, while to the south are the emotive remains of Ichijodani Asakura, a castle town laid waste to in the 16th Century. The scenic Heisenji, Eiheiji, Ichijodani Cycling Route links the two sites, along with Echizen-Ono Castle, the centrepiece of the 400-year-old castle town of Ono. Along the way you can stop to taste local specialities like oroshi soba, buckwheat noodles served with grated daikon radish.

Stop 9: Bike around Japan’s largest lake

(Nearest Station: Maibara Station)

Before reaching Kyoto you’re first greeted by the shimmering expanse of Biwa-ko, Japan’s largest freshwater lake with a circumference of 235 kilometres. Handsome castle towns like Hikone and Nagahama line the shore, which is best explored on two wheels along the circular Biwaichi Cycling Route. A few days of leisurely cycling around the lake and you’ll discover sites like the ‘floating hall’ of Ukimido with its temple teetering over the water, tree-lined beaches where you can hire stand-up paddleboards, and even a version of Miyajima’s famous torii gate standing in the water at Shirahige-jinja.

Stop 10: Embark on the Oni (Ogre) Trail in rural Kyoto Prefecture

(Nearest Station: Oe Station)

At the base of the Tango Peninsula in rural Kyoto Prefecture, the Oeyama Mountain Range is a cluster of mist-swathed peaks at the origin of Japanese scnery and ancient legends. The Oni (Ogre) Trail is a relatively new trekking course, making use of ancient roads and mountain trails that creep through the landscape. The Japanese Oni (Ogre) Cultural Museum, at the foot of the Oeyama range, is the place to learn more about Oni and Japanese folklore and history, before embarking on a trail to discover ancient lore and Oni (Ogre) legends! Currently, you can only walk along the Oni (Ogre) Trail on a guided tour. 

Feeling inspired?

For more information on planning your Japanese rail adventure, head to the official New Golden Route website.

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