ESCAPE SUMMIT · JAPANESE ALPS

Welcome to
Takayama.

You’ve arrived in the heart of the Japanese Alps—where ancient roads climb into the clouds, quiet villages hide between the mountains, and every turn reveals something worth chasing.

Over the next few days, we’ll ride hard, eat beautifully, explore deeply and share the kind of moments that stay with you long after the final descent.

The bikes are ready. The mountains are waiting.
高山

RIDE STRUCTURE

Your Shinkansen Group

Each rider will be assigned to KODAMA, HIKARI, or NOZOMI based on the tempo and pace indicated in their rider profile.

Inspired by Japan’s legendary bullet trains, our three ride groups create a smooth rhythm for every day. We’ll use these groups to coordinate breakfast seating, ride departures, guide support, route variations, luggage instructions and daily communications.

MORNING Departure Order
01 KODAMA DEPARTS FIRST
02 HIKARI DEPARTS SECOND
03 NOZOMI DEPARTS THIRD

Breakfast and departure times are listed for easy reference. Staggered departures create a smoother experience for every pace while reducing the number of riders leaving at once.

DAILY SCHEDULE

Breakfast at Hotel Wood

STANDARD EACH RIDING DAY
01
STEADY · SOCIAL · ENDURANCE

KODAMA

BREAKFAST 7:00–7:45 A.M.
BEGIN ROLLING 8:15 A.M.
02
INTERMEDIATE · TEMPO

HIKARI

BREAKFAST 7:45–8:30 A.M.
BEGIN ROLLING 9:00 A.M.
03
ADVANCED · FAST · RACE

NOZOMI

BREAKFAST 8:30–9:15 A.M.
BEGIN ROLLING 9:45 A.M.
!
IMPORTANT

Please attend only your assigned breakfast seating and be fully prepared to ride at your group’s departure time.

01

STEADY · SOCIAL · ENDURANCE

KODAMA

19 RIDERS
+

Designed for steady-paced riders, ranging from a social or recovery pace through a sustained endurance pace.

SOCIAL / RECOVERY 12–14 MPH 19–22 KM/H
ENDURANCE 15–17 MPH 24–27 KM/H

Generally the first group to depart each morning.

02

INTERMEDIATE · TEMPO

HIKARI

18 RIDERS
+

Intended for intermediate riders who are comfortable maintaining a consistent tempo pace throughout the day.

TEMPO 17–19 MPH 27–30 KM/H

Generally the second group to depart each morning.

03

ADVANCED · FAST · RACE

NOZOMI

22 RIDERS
+

Created for advanced riders, ranging from a fast, performance-oriented pace through race pace.

FAST 19–21 MPH 30–34 KM/H
RACE 22+ MPH 35+ KM/H

Generally the third group to depart each morning.

PACE

These ranges are approximate and will vary with terrain and conditions. Your group is an operational identifier and may be adjusted during the trip when appropriate.

BREAKFAST

Breakfast and departure times are listed for easy reference. Staggered departures create a smoother experience for every pace while reducing the number of riders leaving at once.

GROUP SIZES

KODAMA 19 riders HIKARI 18 riders NOZOMI 22 riders
ESCAPE RIDE FORMAT

Signature Stages

The Touring and Passhunter Routes

EXPLORE THE FORMAT +

DEFINE YOUR RIDE

Different lines.
Same destination.

Thirty years of guiding cyclists around the world has taught us one truth: no two riders are the same. That’s why Escape offers two Signature Stages, giving you the freedom to shape your day.

01

FLOW · RHYTHM · EXPLORATION

Touring Route

Flowing roads, manageable gradients and time to absorb the landscape. Finish earlier, explore town, visit a café or settle into an onsen.

MANAGEABLE GRADIENTS SCENIC LINES MORE TIME TO EXPLORE
02

DISTANCE · ELEVATION · SUMMITS

Passhunter Route

More distance, greater elevation and steeper climbs for riders drawn to high roads, mountain passes and vertical gain.

LONGER DISTANCE MORE ELEVATION STEEPER CLIMBS
CP

CONTROL POINTS

Reconnect along the route.

On select days, the Touring and Passhunter routes intersect at designated control points, giving riders a natural place to check in, refill water, access support and regroup before continuing.

TRAVELING PARTNERS

Different rides.
Same finish.

One rider might finish early to explore town, visit a café or enjoy an onsen, while the other continues into the mountains. Whichever line you choose, everyone finishes together—back at the hotel and around the same table.

01 Choose Your Pace

Ride solo or settle naturally into a small group.

02 Follow Your GPS

Navigate independently and shape your own experience.

03 Support Nearby

Vehicles remain available with water, mechanical help, route options and a lift when needed.

THIS IS THE ESCAPE APPROACH.

Different lines. Same destination. We manage the logistics and support quietly in the background, keeping your ride fluid, personal and unforced.
STG 1

ESCAPE SUMMIT · TAKAYAMA

AUG 24

Arrival Day & Shakedown

01
BASE Hotel Wood
RIDE 40.4 KM
CLIMBING 702 M
DINNER 7:15 PM
11:00 AM TO 4:30 PM

SERVICE COURSE

Hotel Wood & FamilyMart

Our mechanics will be available to help unpack and assemble your bike. Pumps, tools and an experienced helping hand will be ready whenever you need them.

TIME TBD RIDE

SHAKEDOWN SPIN

Takayama Shakedown

A short but punchy opening ride through the hills surrounding Takayama, with sustained climbing and several steep pitches.

Explore the route +
DISTANCE 40.4 KM · 25.1 MI
ELEVATION GAIN 702 M · 2,303 FT
MAXIMUM GRADE 16.3 PERCENT
EST. RIDE TIME 2:18 HOURS
Elevation loss 704 m / 2,310 ft Maximum descent –12.1%

This is a challenging 40-kilometre ride with meaningful climbing for the distance. Expect sustained ascents and short, steep pitches—including at least one particularly sharp section.

VIEW THE ROUTE
MIDDAY

FREESTYLE

Lunch on Your Own

Explore Takayama and choose your own spot for lunch before afternoon check-in.

3:00 PM

ARRIVAL

Hotel Wood Check-In

Collect your room key at reception, then visit the Escape Welcome Desk to check in and receive your day bag, cycling kit and a few special goodies.

5:30 PM

MEET

Hotel Wood Lobby

Gather in the Hotel Wood lobby. From here, we’ll take a short walk together through the historic streets of Takayama to ONDO.

7:15 PM

DINNER

Taste of Takayama

Aji No Yohei · Hida Beef Restaurant

We’ll walk together from ONDO to Aji No Yohei for a traditional set-menu dinner featuring Takayama’s legendary Hida beef—celebrated for its exceptional marbling, tenderness and rich flavor.

Vegetarian guests will enjoy a seasonal, locally inspired menu. Discreet place cards will help the restaurant team deliver the correct dishes.

7 Kami-Ninomachi, Takayama, Gifu OPEN MAP ↗
STG 3

ESCAPE SUMMIT · TAKAYAMA

AUG 26

Two Signature Routes · One Extraordinary Day
01
SIGNATURE STAGE TOURING
02
QUEEN STAGE PASSHUNTER
03
START & FINISH Hotel Wood
DISTANCE 159.2 KM
CLIMBING 4,118 M
EST. RIDE TIME 10:17

PASSHUNTER · QUEEN STAGE

Norikura

Takayama → Hida Valley → Norikura Skyline → Nagano → Nomugi Pass → Takayama

A vast, high-altitude loop linking two of central Japan’s most celebrated mountain crossings in one extraordinary day.

Explore the Queen Stage +
DISTANCE 159.2 KM · 98.9 MILES
ELEVATION GAIN 4,118 M · 13,511 FT
MAXIMUM GRADE 16.7 PERCENT
ESTIMATED TIME 10:17 HOURS
FULL GPS ROUTE Norikura Passhunter
VIEW THE ROUTE

THE QUEEN STAGE

Respect the scale of the day.

Starting and finishing at Hotel Wood, the route travels through the Hida Valley before climbing the closed roads of Mt. Norikura—the highest paved road in Japan accessible by bicycle.

After crossing the summit at approximately 2,716 metres, the route descends into Nagano, crosses the historic Nomugi Pass and completes the long journey home to Takayama.

Nearly 100 miles, more than 13,500 feet of climbing and two major mountain passes make this a true Passhunter epic. Success requires patient pacing, disciplined fueling and enough reserve to manage the steep ramps of Nomugi Pass late in the day.

ROUTE BREAKDOWN

Eight defining sectors

01

0–31.6 KM

Takayama to Control Point 1

The day begins quietly, rolling away from Takayama and into the Hida Valley alongside the Kohachiga River. Small farms and family-run cattle operations line the road through the source region of Japan’s prized Hida beef.

The opening sector gradually accumulates approximately 1,242 metres of climbing. Settle into a sustainable rhythm, eat early and resist the temptation to chase the day before the mountains properly begin.

CONTROL POINT 1 · 31.6 KM

Check in with the Escape team, refill your bottles and collect food or additional layers. This is the final SAG-vehicle access before lunch.

BEFORE LEAVING CP1 FULL WATER BOTTLES POCKET FOOD DESCENDING LAYER PERSONAL MEDICATION MECHANICALLY SOUND BIKE
02

31.6–46.9 KM

The Norikura Skyline

Leaving CP1, the road enters the forested slopes of Mt. Norikura and begins climbing with greater intent. Without private vehicles, this section has an extraordinary stillness: a narrow mountain road rising through dense forest toward the alpine landscape.

LENGTH 15.2 KM
AVERAGE 6.6%
ELEVATION 1,050+ M
EST. CLIMB 1:45

As the forest thins, views open across the Japanese Alps. The road rises toward Norikura Pass at approximately 2,716 metres / 8,911 feet.

NORIKURA SUMMIT · 46.9 KM

Take time for photographs, add a layer and prepare carefully for the descent. Toilets, vending machines and limited provisions are available.

03

46.9–60.2 KM

Norikura Summit Descent

The descent begins immediately from the summit, losing approximately 906 metres over 13.2 kilometres.

Control your speed, leave space between riders and anticipate changing temperatures, wind and road conditions. After the long climb, hands and concentration may already be fatigued.

DESCENT CAUTION

Add a layer before descending and ride within your visible stopping distance.

The restricted-road section ends at the Sanbondaki Rest House and gate, where toilets and limited facilities are available.

04

60.2–64.5 KM

Lunch at Kyukamura

After passing through the gate, continue descending approximately 4.4 kilometres to the primary lunch and support stop at Kyukamura Norikura Kogen.

Please remove your shoes before entering the hotel. Sit down, eat properly and use this stop to reset for the second half of the Queen Stage.

WATER REFILLS RIDE NUTRITION EXTRA CLOTHING MECHANICAL SUPPORT PERSONAL BAGS ROUTE OPTIONS
MORE THAN 90 KM REMAIN

The route still contains a technical descent, the full ascent of Nomugi Pass and the long road back to Takayama.

Kyukamura Norikura Kogen 4307 Azumi
Matsumoto, Nagano 390-1520
Japan
05

64.5–86.6 KM

The Lower Mountain Descent

A false summit interrupts the descent with approximately 371 metres of additional climbing before the road plunges toward the valley, losing roughly 940 metres.

TECHNICAL ROAD CONDITIONS

Expect debris, variable pavement, damp patches and deep shadows beneath the forest canopy. Ride within your sightline and avoid following another rider’s wheel too closely.

This is a technical descent, not a race. At approximately 86.6 kilometres, the route reaches the valley floor and turns toward the second major climb.

06

86.6–91.3 KM

Valley Transition

The road briefly eases along the valley at approximately 2–3%. Use these kilometres to lower your heart rate, drink, eat and mentally reset.

The relief is temporary. Nomugi Pass begins at approximately 91.3 kilometres, and its steepest ramps are still ahead.

07

91.3–102.9 KM

Nomugi Pass

Nomugi Pass is the decisive second climb of the Queen Stage. The historic road crosses the border between Nagano Prefecture and the Hida region of Gifu.

LENGTH 11.8 KM
AVERAGE 5.5%
MAXIMUM 10–14%
SUMMIT 1,676 M

Nomugi is irregular, with changing gradients and small descents forcing riders to regain elevation already earned. Preserve enough strength for the sharp final ramps.

CONTROL POINT 3 · NOMUGI SUMMIT

Stop, check in with the Escape team, refill water and take on additional fuel before the final journey to Takayama.

08

102.9–159.2 KM

The Road Home

Although the route trends downward from Nomugi Pass, more than 56 kilometres remain. Rolling terrain, accumulated fatigue and changing conditions can make the closing portion deceptively demanding.

CONTROL POINT 4 · 121.4 KM

A final roadside support stop provides water, nutrition and one last rider check-in.

Keep eating, remain attentive and work together where it makes sense. The finish comes back at Hotel Wood, completing one of the biggest days of the Summit.

RIDER SUPPORT

Control Points & Feed Zones

START Hotel Wood

Departure and final equipment check.

31.6 KM · CP1 Final Vehicle Access

Water, nutrition, clothing and mechanical support.

46.9 KM Norikura Summit

Toilets, vending machines and provisions.

60.2 KM Sanbondaki Gate

Restricted-road exit and toilets.

64.5 KM · CP2 Kyukamura Lunch

Full SAG, food and mechanical support.

102.9 KM · CP3 Nomugi Pass

Summit water, nutrition and SAG support.

121.4 KM · CP4 Roadside Support

Water, nutrition and rider check-in.

159.2 KM Hotel Wood Finish

Queen Stage complete.

THE QUEEN STAGE

Ride patiently.
Fuel consistently.
Preserve something for Nomugi.

Two passes. Nearly 100 miles. One unforgettable day in the Japanese Alps.
 
OPERATIONAL

Apparel & Jersey Sizing

Click to open the searchable sizing directory

60 RECORDS +
T-SHIRT

Standard event T-shirt size

JERSEY

Cycling jersey size and cut

These sizes may differ. Use the specifically labeled size for each item.
FILTER T-SHIRT
60 records shown Click a rider to view both sizes