1st Annual Tohoku Cycling Festival

July 27-29th, 2012


Join Us!

The festival registration form is here

About the Festival

Location
Oshika Hanto, peninsula northeast of Sendai City.
Main Venue will be Oshika Kazoku Ryokomura Campground (website)

Organized By
Japan Coast to Coast (Japan C2C)
HOPE International Development Agency, Japan (HOPE-JP)

Supported By
NPO Camper

Background
On March 11th, 2011 the city of Ishinomaki and the Oshika Hanto peninsula were devastated by a powerful earthquake and tsunami. The resilient people of Oshika have wasted no time in working to rebuild their seaside towns and industries, but the effort will take years. Many local people are surviving on government-subsidized part-time cleanup work. Japan C2C wishes to show their support by holding the 1st Annual Tohoku Cycling Festival on Oshika.

The event will provide a small amount of employment and revenue for local people but our hope is that, in the long term, it will help put this spectacularly beautiful area on the tourist map and encourage more cyclists to visit the area. You too can show your support by taking part in our planned activities.

There will be long and short-distance mountain and road bike rides, bike maintenance seminars, kids activities, music, and a chance to hear stories from the locals about life in Tohoku before and after the March 11 disaster. Bike and tent rental will be available, but we do request that you bring your own if possible.

Participants under the age of 18 from outside of Oshika are welcome if accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Oshika Kazoku Ryokomura campground

Cost

16,000 yen per person, which includes meals (two morning meals, two evening meals and one lunch), t-shirt, and entry to all rides and events. Accommodation is not included, please select one from the options below.

Accommodation
Please choose from the options a-g below when registering for the festival.

  • Tent
    • Bring Your Own Tent
      1. Small size tent (1-3 people): 2000 yen per site
      2. Large size tent (4-6 people): 3000 yen per site
    • Rental Tent
      1. 5-6 person tent: 4000 yen per site
  • Trailer
    1. 5000 yen: maximum 5 people
  • Shared Cabin
    1. 2000 yen per person. Shared rooms (Male and Female, mostly tatami mat/ some beds)
  • Private Cabin
    1. Cabin A (6 people max): 12,000 yen per cabin
    2. Cabin B (10 people max): 18,000 yen per cabin

- All prices are based on two nights.  There is no discount for late arrivals.
- All accommodation costs are a donation to the campsite for repairs and restoration.
- Only cabins and trailers have electricity.
- Cabins have toilets and bath.
- Those in tents have access to toilets in main building and outdoor showers.
- All participants need to bring their own sleeping bag.

Access

Oshika Kazoku Ryokomura Campground address: Miyagi-ken Ishinomaki-shi Ayukawahama aza Komagamine 1-1

The Tohoku Shinkansen runs to Sendai, but JR train services on the coastal line east of Sendai are still not fully operational. We will keep this page as updated as we can, but do understand that transportation services in the area are subject to change.

Public Transportation

  • JR Sendai Station to JR Ishinomaki Station
    • Highway Bus : Miyako Bus, 1.5-2 hours, 800yen
    • JR train : Sendai – (JR train Tohoku Honsen Line) – Kogota – (JR train Ishinomaki Line) – Ishinomaki
    • JR train and JR bus : Sendai – (JR train Sensaki Line) – Matsushima Kaigan – (JR bus) – Yamoto – (JR train Sensaki Line) – Ishinomaki

      Miyako Bus website | JR Sendai website

      Taking your bike: On JR and JR Bus, you can take your bike if it is in a bag. If it is too big, you have to pay 270yen (JR East website). You cannot take your bike on Miyako Bus

  • Ishinomaki Station to the campground
    • Shuttle : We will run the shuttle bus between Ishinomaki and the campground. (1500yen round trip)
    • Bike ride : about 40 km

By Car: Tohoku Expressway – Sendai Hokubu Road – Sanriku Expressway – Get off at “Ishinomaki Kanan”, then take routes 108, 398, and 2 (7-8 hours, 470km from Tokyo)

Bikes
- A mountain, cross, or road bike is required. “Mama-chari” type bikes are not allowed.
- Rental bikes are available (a helmet is not included).
- We highly recommend you wear a helmet for your safety.
- All cyclists ride at their own risk.

Schedule

(Times are subject to change, but the event will take place place regardless of weather conditions)
Day One (Friday July 27th)

  • Arrive at campground by 17:00 for registration
  • 18:00 Welcome meal/barbeque
  • 19:30 Orientation
  • 20:00 Stories and entertainment from locals

Day Two (Saturday July 28th)

  • 07:30 Breakfast
  • Morning rides of varying lengths along the peninsula coast
  • Cycle to Kurosaki at the southern end of the peninsula (approx 9km)
  • 12:30 Packed lunch
  • A full afternoon of cycling-based activities and events
  • Optional tour of local dairy farm
  • Optional visit to public bath facilities in Ayukawa
  • 18:00 Barbeque and entertainment at campground
  • Hear about local’s experience of the March 11 events
  • Hear about local and volunteer efforts to rebuild Ojika Hanto

Day Three (Sunday July 29th)

  • Optional sunrise ride
  • 07:30 Breakfast
  • Morning rides of varying lengths along the peninsula coast
  • 10:00 Award ceremonies
  • 11:00 Closing ceremony

Join Us!

Register Now!