Cycling Hokkaido

If you're planning cycling trip to Hokkaido, these are five routes you shouldn't miss.In this episode of Cycling Hokkaido, I count down my top five favourite rides on the island - from wild coastal roads to rolling farmland and one of the best mountain passes in Japan.This episode is also a bit of a passport to the podcast. I've previously done full episodes on each of these rides, so if one catches your interest you can find links below to dive deeper into the route, scenery, and ride experience. Top 5 Rides in Hokkaido5. Northwest Coastline & Wakkanai4. Around Mt.Yotei3. The road to Cape Erimo2. The hills of Furano & Biei1. Climbing Mikuni Pass If you've ridden in Hokkaido before, I'd love to hear your top rides too. Links......Northwest Coastline & WakkanaiEp.54 pod.link/1717043158/episode/OTQ5NmQxMTItZjJlZi00ZGQyLWJjOTktODY0MDdjZDM5NmM4Ep.43pod.link/1717043158/episode/MThmOTBmNGYtOGMxZi00YTA5LThmNmItMmFkN2I5MTg3NDFmMt.Yotei ridesEp.108pod.link/1717043158/episode/OGYwYWE4NmItYjFmMy00MjNiLThjNmUtMzEwY2Y5NWI2YWFmThe Road to Cape ErimoEp.51pod.link/1717043158/episode/OTM5NWQ4NDctMDBmMi00YjlmLWI3NTctMTg2MjUzODY4MzI1Furano & Biei ridesEp.37pod.link/1717043158/episode/MjQ3NzU3MTUtNzM0OC00ZjA2LWI1MDAtNjI2OGU1ZGI3MDk1Ep.99pod.link/1717043158/episode/NmQ5MTNmOWItOTQyNy00ODhkLTkyZGItMDE3NDJiYThhOTk3Climbing the Mikuni PassEp.110pod.link/1717043158/episode/MDgzMGM1ZDYtODNiYi00ODBlLWIxOTItNThjZGJkMGE0NzMyEp.111pod.link/1717043158/episode/YTU5NGYyZGQtMWU1Ny00MWJiLWE3OWEtNGUzZGQwYzgyODE3Cycling Hokkaido Instagram page...www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/

The thaw has come to Hokkaido earlier than expected, and the 2026 cycling season is officially underway. March 2nd marked the first ride of the year, with most roads dry and ready to roll...most, not all.In this episode, Marty talks early-season riding, winter BBQs, the annual return of Tundra Swans, and the legacy of Dr. William S. Clark - the man behind Hokkaido's famous "Boys, be ambitious."You can check out the photos from the rides on the Cycling Hokkaido Instagram page......www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/Have fun out there, folks!

In this episode the contrast between modern culture and traditional Japan is very obvious. Furries holding a photo meet and greet day in front of one of Hokkaido's most iconic buildings, Akarenga was quite the sight. The collision of modern subculture and real history made for a most interesting day. So much of Hokkaido's history can be found inside the newly renovated Former Hokkaido Government Building known as Akarenga, from the region's past to where it would like to be in the future. It's definitely worth a visit. Check out this episode of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast. Cycling Hokkaido Instagram page....www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/

In this episode Marty talks about the Hokkaido flag. Most people you'll ever come across have never heard of it and I'm not just talking about travelers, locals seem to know nothing about it. But don't worry folks, I'm here to make sure you know all things Hokkaido and are well informed. So, episode 130 of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast is about the Hokkaido flag and the 2026 Olympic Games. I hope you're having fun out there. Luv ya! Cycling Hokkaido Instagram page.....www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/

The 76th Sapporo Snow Festival was excellent. I love that event and this year it did NOT disappoint. The sculptures were stunning, and I ended up learning more than I expected, from the Jomon era to the history behind Aizu Tsuruga Castle. These days the festival feels more like a rock concert than ever, crowded, loud, and full of energy. In this episode of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast, I take you through the highlights, share what surprised me most, and throw in a few anecdotes that might have you shaking your head. Cycling Hokkaido podcast Instagram page.....www..instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/Aizu Tsuruga Castle YouTube video.....https://youtu.be/HMY60fXzMAQ?si=cPJrjs9nQGUE66khEp.3 Jomon Era Stone Circles in Hokkaidohttps://open.spotify.com/episode/3pb1kSSNEH8HFVayf4LqhM?si=pmxaMnt3Q2GRHJ7LYsUs1QEp.32 Kiusu Earthwork Burial Circleshttps://open.spotify.com/episode/5GGSrbVGDMdNuKURBOqGm1?si=ThTyqZyyRtWAw_xs1fUxGw

That was one wild ride. Heavy snow slammed Hokkaido and travel turned into chaos - especially at Sapporo Station, where cancellations and delays were everywhere. Somehow I still made it to Asahikawa in time for work...and found a much calmer, delicious side of the city waiting there. In this episode:...surviving Sapporo Starion during major snow disruptions...winter travel realities in Hokkaido...food, atmosphere, and impressions of AsahikawaCycling Hokkaido Instagram page....www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/Hokkaido is beautiful but sometimes that beauty bites! Air Bike Tours Instagram page....www.instagram.com/airbiketours/Ep.2 Kamui Kotan.......https://open.spotify.com/episode/62xkxm1TYezSV1jeaRFtV7?si=WgZLikczQ6GGIhhyi317wg&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A6y20TkPg3B02gyfcZBZ473

One of the wildest weekends, came at the hands of the biggest snowstorm in 21 years here in Hokkaido. Here in Ishikari we had two 50+cm snow days in four days, but the 54cm snow day that rocked Sapporo disrupted everything. JR was shut down, buses stopped running, schools closed, people were forced to camp overnight in the airport and underground shopping malls. It's been a wild week here in Sapporo. I suppose the snowiest January in 2 decades will do that. Wherever you are, I hope you managed to stay safe and warm, and have been able to enjoy your Hokkaido vacation.You can see all the pictures and videos on the Cycling Hokkaido podcast Instagram page at.....www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/

In this episode, Marty dives into the Sapporo Snow Festival as it kicks off—then takes a delicious detour into where to find great cheese in Sapporo. He also explores the glory that is Japanese department store basement food floors, from fresh sushi and smoothies to pyramid-shaped watermelons and croissants.There’s also a quick update on life up here in Hokkaido, and how we’re staying active through the winter months.If you like what you hear, hit subscribe, leave a comment, and share the episode with your friends.Want more on the history of the Sapporo Snow Festival? Check out Ep.24 of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast:https://open.spotify.com/episode/0l13YkP9zYhxV43sely?si=pvxK1aldQ8aFlTUbWLNbww&t=212The Cycling Hokkaido Instagram page.....www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/

In life we are all still on our way. Some of the rides we do are such perfect metaphors for life. This episode has some things that I hope resonate with you all. This week Hokkaido sure is playing hardball, eh? Cycling Hokkaido Podcast Instagram page.....www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast//

So last year, our New Year's holiday in Thailand was pretty much destroyed by mechanical problems, this year the holiday was awesome! Bangkok and Koh Phangan are amazing places. In Bangkok we saw some beautiful places and ate some excellent food. On Koh Phangan we chilled out during the day and partied like New Year's deserves. Not only that but there was a lot of life lessons learned along the way. As always, I hope you enjoy and find value in this episode of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast.Ep.71 Happy New Year: Koh Samui, Thailandhttps://open.spotify.com/episode/3YYnPn39Gx4SqUQwJdOkoq?si=cQJDuYiGTYW6GWWBsOXzlACycling Hokkaido podcast Instagram......www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/

Happy New Year!! Up here in Hokkaido New Year's is a bit different than in other places in Japan. The feasting goes on for a few days and starts on December 31st. In much of the rest of Japan, people don't start chowing down until January 1st. In this episode of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast I give you a little glimpse into how New Year's is celebrated up here —what people eat and what they do. I hope you enjoy Ep.123 Rolling Into 2026. Cycling Hokkaido podcast Instagram account......www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/

2025 was a great year, eh! New places were explored, new limits were tested, and I got to meet a whole lot of excellent new people. This year also gave me a much greater appreciation for Ainu culture and history and Hokkaido's history in general. All of that adds so much more meaning to the rides. Through all the rain and over all the hills, it's all of you that keeps me going. Thank you! And folks, I look forward to meeting a whole lot more of you in 2026! Cycling Hokkaido podcast......www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/

Small Podcast, Real Listeners! Folks, thank you all so much for tuning in to the show in 2025. I can't believe the numbers the Cycling Hokkaido podcast's Wrapped 2025 put up. Woo!! We are definitely heading in the right direction. In this episode I'm going to talk about what those numbers actually mean, how the show has grown and why it feels bigger than I ever expected. Thank you all so much for coming along for the ride. And a HUGE thank you to all of you who came on the show over the past year, you are all a part of what boosted the numbers. With any luck, we'll be able to keep that momentum going in 2026. This episode is a thank you to all of you that have tuned in and enjoyed the show. I hope more of you get in touch and we can enjoy going for a spin in Hokkaido. Happy Holidays, Marty!!Cycling Hokkaido Instagram page....www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/

So much happened this week! Life in Japan can be absolutely wild. One minute you might be going along, happy as a clam, the next you're worried if your ceiling is gonna collapse in on you. That's unfortunately a part of life in a country that's prone to earthquakes. But then you have all the great stuff that comes along with living in Sapporo, and one of those things is the annual Sapporo White Illumination in Sapporo. Odori is always a cool place to hang out but this time of year is always beautiful. And how cool was it that we got to hang out with Leslie Kee!?!? That was a most excellent conversation! The world is full of beautiful people! As always, I hope you enjoy this episode of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast. The Cycling Hokkaido podcast Instagram page....www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/

Cycling is obviously coming to an end, is the storm of December 3rd it!? We shall see. I'm seriously hoping for a few more riding days but it looks like this could be it. Having said that, cycling isn't the be all and end all of life here in Hokkaido. There is a ton of great food to be eaten and ton of great people for that food to be shared with! We had some of the best yakitori ever the other night and it had been a long process getting to it. Hahaha!! As always, I hope you enjoy and find value in this episode of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast. Cycling Hokkaido podcast Instagram page....www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/

I can't believe I never knew crows were such stone cold killers! That was a brutal scene we came across in Asari the other day, but at least it was a learning experience. The season is most definitely winding down but we should be able to get a couple more rides in. And according to the study I talk about in this episode, cycling as often as possible could have some very important benefits beyond losing belly fat. As always, I hope you enjoy and find value in this episode. You can find all my cycling pics on the Cycling Hokkaido podcast's Instagram page at.........www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/Here's a link to episode 15 so you don't have to hunt for it.....https://open.spotify.com/episode/2YdMBXV8oDxkrALe3DzFS7?si=GhBsCR67QOebIKZ5JRFpBw&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A6y20TkPg3B02gyfcZBZ473

Winter is upon us! Ishikari got slammed pretty hard, actually really hard for November 18th. I know we have to shovel a lot of snow up here in Ishikari but on November 18th!?!? It seems we're in for a long winter but so be it, let's go! And it looks like many, many of you know about this already, but did you know that chocolate milk might be the best recovery drink out there? I didn't. I've only just learned this. Anyhoo, I hope you enjoy and find value in this episode of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast. Cycling Hokkaido Podcast Instagram page.....www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/

In this episode Marty talks about an injury that took a while to manifest but it's here. You can still ride with biker's elbow but you gotta be careful to not make the injury worse. Like all injured body parts, you have to rest. Also in this episode Marty gets into the topic of why are Japanese bears are so aggressive. Cycling Hokkaido Podcast Instagram.....www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/

Ain't no doubt about it, up here in Hokkaido, fall is my favourite time of year. The temperature is very comfortable, the food is delicious and the colours on the trees are gorgeous. Every year there are a few places I like to get out to see the autumn colours and this year I got to hit them all. Makomanai Park, Jozankei and the Kobayashi Sake Brewery in Kuriyama are the best. Over the past couple of weeks Sapporo's fall colours have been blazing and I hope you've been able to get out and see them. I think you might still have a bit of time to get out there if you haven't yet. As always, I hope you enjoy and find value in this episode of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast. Have fun out there, folks. Here are some links to what I talk about in the show.Cycling Hokkaido Podcast Instagram page....www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/Cycling Hokkaido Ride with GPS.....htttps://ridewithgps.com/trips/348267117https://ridewithgps.com/trips/347185527

Yo folks! This episode is a little bit different. I had 3 guests. Texas Doug, who was my guest on Ep.69 of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast and his lovely wife Hazuki, who was my guest on Ep.77, became the first 2nd timers on the Cycling Hokkaido podcast. Awesome! But what was really cool is that their friend Bryce, Bryce Benton, was back in Japan for a second time this year. His first time in Japan was back in the summer of 2025 and we're lucky to have him back in October. Talking and hanging out with Texans is a most excellent experience! Texans are VERY cool people. As always, I hope you enjoy and find value in this episode of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast. Texas Bryce Benton's Instagram page.....www.instagram.com/bryce__benton/Texas Doug Cox......www.instagram.com/dglscx3/Cycling Hokkaido podcast.....www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/