Level during the winter |
Route (altitude of the highest point of the route) |
Note |
| Hors Categorie |
Nissho Pass
(1023m) |
Level during the summer: Advanced
The Nissho Pass is notorious as dangerous route in winter.
The traffic is very dense and many large vehicles pass.
There are many tunnels and snow shelters.
In addition, meteorological condition is really hard there.
The visibility is often gone because of ground blizzard and the temperature sometimes goes down below minus 30 degrees Celsius in a cold morning.
From time to time, cyclists from the mainland of Japan, who do not know well about the Nissho Pass recklessly pass this route in winter.
But we advise not to pass this route in winter unless you are absolutely sure.
|
| Advanced |
Sekihoku Pass
(1045m) |
Level during the summer: Intermediate
The road itself isn't so difficult.
But the traffic is very dense and many large vehicles pass.
And there are some tunnels.
Moreover, as its altitude is high, the meteorological condition is hard.
The temperature can reach minus 30 degrees Celsius in a cold morning.
|
Nakayama Pass
(831m) |
Level during the summer: Intermediate
The road itself isn't so difficult.
But the traffic is very dense and there are tunnels and snow shelters.
Especially the Jozankei Tunnel is long and narrow.
It's not suitable for bikes.
The temperature can reach minus 25 degrees Celsius in a cold morning.
|
Mt.Tokachidake
(1280m) |
Level during the summer: Hors Categorie
This route is really suitable for snow cycling.
Very few cars pass and the snow quality is often very good.
However, as the altitude is high, the temperature sometimes reaches minus 30 degrees Celsius in a cold morning
and the last part of the climb is a little steep (140 per mill) and winding.
So without proper displacement of the centre of gravity, the rear wheel could spin in the climb when you ride standing on the pedals.
Therefore, the last part of the climb might be difficult for beginner.
(cf. Mt.Tokachidake)
|
| Intermadiate |
Mikuni Pass
(1139m) |
Level during the summer: Intermediate
The road itself is suitable for beginner as it's not steep,
the traffic isn't so intense and the road surface is often well snow removed.
But the tunnel at the summit is extremely narrow and you have to prepare for the worst if you pass this tunnel.
Moreover, as its altitude is high and its climate is continental, the temperature can reach below minus 30 degrees Celsius in a cold morning.
So we don't recommend this route for beginners.
|
Mt.Asahidake
(1100m) |
Level during the summer: Intermediate
The road itself is suitable for beginner as it's not steep,
the traffic isn't so intense and the road surface is often well snow removed.
However, as its altitude is high and its climate is continental, the temperature can reach below minus 30 degrees Celsius in a cold morning.
But when the weather is good, this route is suitable for beginners.
(cf. Mt.Asahidake)
|
Kenashi Pass
(648m) |
Level during the summer: Intermediate
There are many corners, the traffic is intermediate and the quality of snow is good, so suitable for snow cycling.
But this region is known for strong snowfall.
From time to time, it snows extremely a lot and the road becomes fresh snow covered making difficult for bikes to pass.
And because of strong snowfall, the visibility often goes down considerably.
The temperature can reach minus 20 degrees Celsius in a cold morning.
(cf. Kenashi Pass 15)
|
Mt.Teine
(560m) |
Level during the summer: Intermediate
In winter, many cyclists train on this mountain.
There are a lot of corners of different radii so the descent is really fun.
Its altitude isn't so high but because of the dense traffic and bad snow removal, the road surface's state is often bad.
So we don't recommend this route for beginners.
The temperature rarely reach minus 20 degrees Celsius even in a cold morning as the Ishikari Bay is close.
(cf. Mt.Teine 8)
|
| Threshold |
Asari Pass
(675m) |
Level during the summer: Intermediate
There is less traffic than the Kenashi Pass and there is no tight corners (except some corners at Otaru side where the snow is melted by road heater).
The road at the Otaru side is often well snow removed (at the Sapporo side, the snow removal is often bad).
For cyclists who want to start riding on winter mountains, this route (especially the Otaru side) is not bad.
The temperature rarely reach minus 20 degrees Celsius even in a cold morning as the Ishikari Bay is close.
(cf. Asari Pass 3)
|
Tohmaru Pass
(610m) |
Level during the summer: Threshold
Very few cars pass, the road isn't steep and there is no tight corner,
so this route is very suitable for cyclists who have never ridden on winter mountains.
But as too few cars pass, the snow on the road is sometimes badly compacted and recently, many snow shelters were constructed.
So sometimes this route is no longer so comfortable.
The temperature can reach minus 20 degrees Celsius in a cold morning.
(cf. Tohmaru Pass)
|
Kobayashi Pass
(300m) |
Level during the summer: Very beginner
The road itself isn't so difficult.
There is no steep part and its altitude isn't so high.
So it seems suitable for very beginners but the traffic is a little dense and the state of snow often becomes bad.
Therefore, we categorised this route in the threshold level.
Its winding parts are short but fun during the downhill.
|
| Very beginner |
Horomi Pass
(284m) |
Level during the summer: Very beginner
The most beloved pass among winter cyclists in Sapporo.
Its altitude isn't high and very few cars pass.
So this route is really suitable for very beginners.
But as the traffic is not dense, the snow on the road is often not well compacted and there is a very short but a little steep part (179 per mill).
In addition, this route is also suitable for practice of drifting as there are several interesting corners in the steep part.
However, there are road heated sections which are annoying for studded tires.
|
In Hokkaido, there are many mountain routes used by cyclists for training.
And their level of difficulty of summer is known among cyclists.
But that of winter isn't the same as that of summer as many factors (like the visibility, traffic, temperature etc.) play important roles in winter.
So we introduce their level of snow seasons on this page.
The routes presented below include some routes we never passed in winter.
