What is the National Cycle Route?
With a bicycle, you can enjoy riding itself and attractions of the area along the route through cycling tours. Public-private partnerships around Japan are working to create sightseeing areas using bicycles.
The National Cycle Route is a system for the promotion of cycle tourism in which the national government designates routes that meet certain criteria for both software and hardware and publicizes them in Japan and overseas as world-class cycling routes that represent Japan to create new tourism value and contribute to local development through the promotion of cycle tourism that links excellent tourism resources with cycling environments, rest and accommodation functions, information dissemination, and other various efforts.
National cycle route logo
The logo for the national cycle route shows a bicycle represented by the Chinese character “和”(wa), (Meaning peace and
harmony, while also referencing Japan and Japanese culture. The phonetics, “wa” also references the phonetics of the
Chinese character “輪” found in “車輪” (wheel).) The concept behind the logo is peaceful and comfortable cycling and the
connection established between the people encountered by cyclists visiting this area and the things they experience.
Copyrights for the national cycle route logo belong to the Government of Japan.
Requirements for Designation as a National Cycle Route
The following requirements have been established for designation as a National Cycle Route from the perspectives of route establishment, riding environment, hosting environment, information dissemination, and initiative frameworks.
-
Perspectives
Specified Requirements
-
Establishment of Route
Safe and attractive route that is able to contribute to the promotion of cycling tourism
-
Riding Environment
- Environment in which anyone can ride safely and comfortably
- Environment in which anyone can ride with peace of mind, without getting lost
-
Hosting Environment
- “Gateways” for cyclists with bike amenities are accessible via other modes of transport.
- Rest facilities that cyclists can use at any time
- Alternative transport services that allow cyclists to move while carrying their bicycles paralleled with the route
- Accommodation facilities for cyclists to stay overnight with peace of mind
- Facilities and programs to help cyclists to enjoy the charms of the region to the fullest and contribute to regional promotion
- Repair facilities, etc. that can assist cyclists with bicycle trouble
- Systems and facilities for support in an emergency
-
Information Dissemination
Facilities, systems, and the like that offer information that can be easily obtained at any time
-
Initiative Frameworks
The necessary initiative frameworks have been established for maintaining the standard of the cycling environment through public-private partnerships
- 〇 The assessment items and criteria in the requirements for designation include mandatory assessment criteria that must be met by National Cycling Routes.
- 〇 Other recommended assessment criteria have also been established that it is preferred that cycling routes meet to encourage initiatives aimed at further improvement of the cycling environment.
- 〇 It is a basic requirement that all mandatory assessment criteria be met to obtain designation.
Examples of Mandatory Criteria
- ･ The route must be at least 100 km long (excluding cases in which the route is on an island).
- ･ Bicycle riding spaces must be established with the use of nationally standardized shared lane markings installed on the left edge of the vehicle lane, or other types of bikeways, etc.
- ･ Road markings and signs for route navigation must be established.
- ･ A “gateway” to the cycle route must be established at a railway station, etc. This will include bicycle rental facilities, changing rooms, etc.
- ･ Cycle stations must be established approximately every 20 km along the route.
- ･ Accommodation facilities for cyclists must be available close to the route approximately every 60 km.
- ･ Information must be disseminated via websites and other sources in at least Japanese and English.
Examples of Recommended Criteria
- ･ The route should avoid sections with continuous steep inclines.
- ･ There should be train, bus or ferry services that allow cyclists to board with bicycles available.
- ･ Tour guiding, etc. should be conducted (in at least Japanese and English)
- 〇 Additional initiatives for the further improvement of the cycling environment may be set as criteria for designation.