Slide out of the guidebook. Go play like a local.
There's a whole valley the day-trippers never see — hidden gorges, old forest railways, river pools you can dive into. We know the way. Hop on a quiet e-bike and come find it with us.
Most people pass through the Kiso Valley. The good stuff is just off the main road.
Nagiso sits on the old Nakasendo post road, halfway between Kyoto and Tokyo. Everyone stops, takes a photo of the post town, and leaves. But a few minutes off the route there are emerald gorges, forgotten railway paths, and swimming holes that only the people who live here know about.
We're not a tour bus. We're locals who'll lend you a bike, ride alongside you, and show you our favorite corners of the valley — at a pace where you can actually feel the place.
Three routes. All a little off the beaten track.
Every ride is a half day, 10:00–16:00. Pick by season and how hard you want to push.
EasySpring & AutumnTsumago, Revisited
What used to be a forest-railway line is now a quiet paved road only locals know — running straight into Tsumago. Perfect for anyone who arrived at the post town too late the night before to explore it properly.
ModerateSummer & Early WinterNatural AC & Onsen
The Yogawa trail is beautiful, but brutal in summer heat. The opposite bank has rice paddy roads, an easy pass, and a narrow road linking two stunning waterfalls. Borrow a rashguard for free, then dive into the gorge to cool off. There's an onsen at the end of the road — in winter, dive into that instead.
HardFor the fitNakasendo Challenge
The Yogawa trail, said to be the most beautiful stretch of the entire Nakasendo. No shops along the way, slightly longer with more elevation than Magome Pass — for confident riders only. We ride the narrow paved road that runs alongside this old route. For those with the legs for it.
E-Bike Rental
Self-guided with our route maps. ¥4,000 for one bike, ¥8,000 for two. Up to 2 bikes.
Add a Local Guide
Add a local guide to your rental for the whole half day. So it's ¥13,000 with one bike, ¥17,000 with two — up to 2 guests.
Luggage Shuttle
For bike riders: we move your bags between Nagiso Stn ↔ Kashiwaya ↔ Nojiri Stn. Ride light.
Help us launch — ¥7,000 off any guided tour.
We're just getting started. If you're happy to be photographed during the ride and share your feedback afterwards, we'll take ¥7,000 off — so a guided tour is just ¥6,000 with one bike or ¥10,000 with two. Photos may be used on our website and social media. Limited-time launch offer.
Route maps
Riding the e-bike-only option? Here are the routes we've mapped out. Open any of them on your phone for turn-by-turn directions between our pick-up points.
Fat-tire e-bikes that flatten the hills.
Our MOVE fat-tire electric bikes handle gravel, riverbanks, and mountain road with ease. The motor does the climbing — you just steer and look around.
- Powerful pedal-assist for the passes
- Fat tires grip gravel and forest tracks
- Helmet, lock and lights included
- Sized to you before you set off
Out here, your guide is the first responder — and Yakkun's trained for it.
Yakkun is certified in Wilderness First Aid by Wilderness Medical Associates International — the same training that expedition crews and mountain-rescue teams rely on. Deep in the valley an ambulance can be a long way off, so he's trained to be the help until it arrives.
- Adult CPR and AED use
- Clearing an obstructed airway
- Controlling severe bleeding (hemorrhage control)
The Kiso River Downhill — the most comfortable 50 km in the world.
54.5 km, Narai-juku to Nagiso Station, almost all of it downhill. You set off from the headwaters of the Kiso River, 997 m up, and follow the water as it grows from a mountain stream into a full river — rolling past eight of the Kiso road's old post towns (everything but Niekawa, Magome and Tsumago) on one long and gentle descent. Breakfast in Narai, lunch in Kiso-Fukushima, a coffee stop at Nojiri Station, and a finish line at Nagiso as the light goes long. Every metre has been ridden and re-ridden by a local guide to find the most beautiful, the most comfortable, and the safest line down the valley — and two guides ride with every group, one setting the line up front and one sweeping at the back.
How the day runs
- Narai-juku 997 mBreakfast in the post town, then roll out
- Kiso-FukushimaLunch, roughly the halfway mark
- Nojiri StationA coffee stop to stretch the legs
- Nagiso Station 409 mFinish line as the light goes long
One price for the whole day — two guides and every e-bike included. ¥80,000 is the base for a group of four; each rider more or fewer moves the total by 15% (¥12,000).
- 2 riders¥56,000
- 3 riders¥68,000
- 4 riders¥80,000
- 5 riders¥92,000
- 6 riders¥104,000
This full-day course is arranged personally — message us on WhatsApp to pick a date.
Meet your guides
Two of these five ride with you on the day — a lead guide up front and a sweep at the back.
Three years on the road bike and already a hill climber to be reckoned with — she and her husband Kazuhide completed the Kiso-ichi loop (150 km, 2,000 m of climbing) in a single day.
Ten years of road cycling, and the man who pulled his wife Yu into the road-bike world in the first place. An office worker by day whose riding has topped 10,000 km in a single year.
A craftsman of Kiso-hinoki wooden barrels — and a road cyclist who used to commute by bike to his workshop in Agematsu. He knows the roads of Kiso down to the last bend.
A lawyer by trade and a tour guide who knows Kiso so deeply he has even published a paper on the old Kiso Road. Fully fluent in English.
The organizer of this service. He toured Kiso by bicycle, then walked away from his Tokyo salaryman career to move here on his own. Manager of Kashiwaya Guesthouse and certified in Wilderness First Aid (WFA).
The full 54.5 km line, Narai to Nagiso. Open the route in Google Maps →
Before you commit
Can I ride this one self-guided?
No — this course is guided only. In a few places, one wrong turn drops you onto roads with heavy traffic. To keep the day safe, two guides ride the whole route with you — one up front, one at the back.
I'm not sure I can ride 50+ km.
54.5 km sounds like an expert distance, we know. But it's gentle downhill almost the entire way, and on the few uphill stretches the high-powered e-bike does the climbing for you. If you can ride a normal bike 10 km on flat ground, you'll reach the finish smiling. This is your chance to surprise yourself.
Can I bail out partway?
Yes. The route shadows the JR line the whole way, so if you're not feeling well you can step off and take a train from the nearest station. Just lock the bike at the station rack and we'll collect it afterwards.
What happens in bad weather?
Rain or snow means we cancel and refund by default. Our e-bikes handle rough conditions well, though — so if it's light enough not to affect safety or the experience, and everyone's happy to ride, we may still run it. If the weather turns mid-ride, we stop there, refund part of the fee, and take the train to the finish.
What about bears?
Like everywhere in these mountains, the Kiso has Asiatic black bears. We hand you a bear bell and bear spray to carry, your lead guide always rides up front, and we run through a what-to-do-if-you-meet-one briefing before we set off.
How do you handle summer heat and winter cold?
In summer we lend you a rashguard, keep you dousing with water, and break to dip in the valley's river pools. In winter we lend cold-weather gear and stop at footbaths and onsen along the way to warm back up.
A 60-second how-to
New to e-bikes? Here's a quick look at how to handle them safely on our roads. Worth a watch before you arrive.
Show up. We've got the rest.
Fat-Tire E-Bike
Charged, sized to you, with helmet, lock and lights.
Local Guide
On the guided routes — someone who actually rides these roads.
Luggage Shuttle
Bags moved between the stations and Kashiwaya, free.
Waterproof Gear
Rashguards, life jackets, and bear bells — free to borrow.
Heavy rain? Switch to a calligraphy session.
Mountain weather does what it wants. If a downpour makes riding unsafe, we move the day indoors — to a quiet room at Kashiwaya guesthouse for a hands-on Japanese calligraphy (shodo) experience. Brush, ink, washi paper, and a character to take home.
While I'm still working toward my calligraphy certification, this plan is offered at 80% off the standard price.
Book in under two minutes.
Pick a date and route below. Pay securely by card — your spot is confirmed instantly, and we'll email directions to Kashiwaya.
Prefer to talk to a human? Call or text 090-3839-2354 or email us.
Good to know
Do I need to be fit?
For the Tsumago and Gorge routes, no — the electric motor flattens the climbs, so if you can ride a normal bike on flat ground, you'll be fine. The Challengers route is a different story: it has real distance and gradient, so only pick it if you're confident on a bike.
What's the difference between guided and e-bike only?
Guided means a local rides with you the whole route, bikes included (¥13,000 for one bike, ¥17,000 for two, up to 2 guests). E-bike only is just the rental (¥4,000 per bike, ¥8,000 for two) — you explore on your own with our route maps. Both include the free luggage shuttle.
Can I do the routes in reverse, or as a loop?
Yes. The Tsumago and Gorge routes can both be ridden in reverse or as a loop — just let us know your preference when you book and the guide will plan around it.
How does the luggage shuttle work?
We move your bags between Nagiso Station, Kashiwaya, and Nojiri Station, free with every booking. So you can ride point-to-point without carrying your pack over a pass.
Can I swim or use the onsen?
On the Gorge & Onsen route, yes — bring a swimsuit and towel in summer to dive into the Atera river, or use the onsen near the river mouth in colder months.
Where do we start & end?
You can pick from three points, and your start and end don't need to be the same: ① Kashiwaya Guesthouse, ② Nagiso Station, or ③ Nojiri Station.