Okumikawa Cycling — Chiiwa Gorge & Onsen
What makes this tour special
A ride that follows the clear Urenogawa River along quiet local roads no tour bus can reach. Gentle ups and downs, the scenery shifting with the season, and your own pace the whole way.
A designated National Place of Scenic Beauty and Natural Monument in Shinshiro. Lime dissolving from the tuff ceiling has formed stalactites that gave the gorge its name, and the trail leads to Tsūten-mon, a natural gate of stacked boulders you can only reach on foot.
After the riding and the hike, a quiet hot spring tucked into the Okumikawa hills. Sinking into the water with the river below is the proper close to a long, good day.
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Overview
A full day in Okumikawa — cycle along the Urenogawa River to Chiiwa Gorge, hike to its cave and natural stone gate, then end with an onsen in the hills. Pickup, bike, lunch and bath all included.
Okumikawa is the hill country in the northeast of Aichi — about an hour and a half from Nagoya, three or so from Tokyo and Kyoto. It doesn't show up in many guidebooks, and that's rather the point: clear rivers and gorges, hot springs in the hills, small villages where forestry life quietly carries on. We spend a whole day here, on bikes.
The day builds to Chiiwa Gorge in Shinshiro, a designated National Place of Scenic Beauty where stalactites shaped like breasts hang from a tuff ceiling and a natural stone gate called Tsūten-mon waits at the end of the trail. Cars can't get in there anymore — which is exactly why it's worth reaching by bike and on foot. Then, when the legs are done, we soak it all off in an onsen looking out over the valley.
One plan, everything included: we pick you up from Centrair, Nagoya or Toyohashi, sort your bike, feed you lunch, run the hike and the onsen, and get you back by evening. You just bring yourself.
- Good for: active travellers, nature lovers, anyone happy to earn their onsen
- The riding is around 16 km, with about 6 km more on foot in the gorge — best for guests confident on both
- Small groups only: 3 to 10 people (7 or more ride with two staff)
- Please arrange your own bicycle insurance — it's a condition of joining
We collect you from Centrair Airport, Nagoya Station, or Toyohashi Station — whichever suits you. Departure times are confirmed per hub when you book, and the transfer is part of the price.
At the cycling base in Okumikawa we get you on the right bike — cross-bike, e-bike or road-bike, whatever fits the day. Helmet on, a quick route briefing, and we roll out.
We follow the clear water of the Urenogawa River on roads the tour buses never use. Your Japanese guide rides with you, with a translation device on hand for English and Vietnamese guests.
We park the bikes and walk in. The trail leads to Chiiwa, where breast-shaped stalactites hang from a tuff ceiling, and on to Tsūten-mon, a natural stone gate of huge boulders. Lunch is by the sound of the river.
We retrace the route to the valley. The way home runs mostly downhill, so it's an easy, breezy ride.
A hot spring in the Okumikawa hills, with the river valley spread out below. We sink in and let the day's riding melt away — this is how the tour ends.
We drive you back to the hub we picked you up from — Centrair, Nagoya or Toyohashi.
Cancellation Policy
Free cancellation up to a set number of days before the tour. After that, a cancellation fee applies on a sliding scale up to the day of departure.
Questions about this tour?
Ask us anything — dates, pickup, group size or what to bring. We're a registered travel agency and reply in English, Japanese or Vietnamese, usually within one business day.
A few scenes from the day
Photos from our own visits.
Reviews
This experience is brand new, so there are no traveler reviews yet — you could be among the first to try it. We'll share guests' feedback here as it comes in.