Scenic e-Bike Tour in Kiyosato

Staff Journal

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An e-Bike is far from your average bicycle. With its motorized assistance features, tackling those uphill slopes will be a piece of cake.

▲Enjoying the view of Mt. Fuji on our e-Bikes

Yatsugatake Outdoor Activities

Yatsugatake Outdoor Activities（External Link） is based in Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture. They offer a series of different outdoor activities you can enjoy all throughout the different seasons, such as: kayaking, trekking, e-bikes, bonfires, and more. What makes them really stand out from the others, is their wide variety of beginner-friendly, guided tours that are both “active” and “scenic.” No gear? No problem. Helmets are provided, and additional gear like rainwear is available to rent for separate fees.

1st Pit Stop - Seisen-Ryo

After a quick crash course on how to operate the e-Bikes provided for us, we were ready to head out. Our cycling course took us along several scenic pit stops, with the first being at “Seisen-Ryo.” We were greeted by the fluffy, brown jersey cows that produce the delicious jersey milk used to make the famous ice cream that the area is known for. The jersey cows wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the generous development efforts of Dr. Paul Rusch, an important historical figure revered as the “father of Kiyosato.”

▲Jersey cows and ice cream

2nd Pit Stop - Higashizawa Bridge

The route to our next stop was a little steep, so I made sure to take full advantage of my e-Bike’s electric assistance. Before I knew it, we had arrived at an observation deck with a spectacular view of “Higashizawa Bridge.” As we gazed up at the Yatsugatake Mountains looming over the candy apple-colored arch bridge, our guide began to tell us an interesting folk tale about the prefecture’s beloved peaks. According to the story, thousands of years ago, the Yatsugatake Mountains were originally one large mountain that towered over the almighty Mt. Fuji. Then, the green-eyed monster provoked the goddess of Mt. Fuji to crush her rival down into the 8 peaks we know today, acquiring the proud title of “Tallest Mountain in Japan.”

▲Yatsugatake Mountains and the Higashizawa Bridge

As someone who gets tired easily, I was initially worried that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the cycling speeds of my companions. Though to my surprise, the distance felt just right. Plus, I was able to rely on my e-Bike to give me a boost whenever I felt like I needed it. On top of that, our guide was extremely thoughtful, offering to take breaks as needed and carrying anything extra we brought with us. The e-Bike tour turned out to be an overall, wonderful experience—one that I will never forget.