28km
Distance
1 day(s)
Time
360m
Ascent
308m
Highest point
2/10
Difficulty
100%
Paved
This hidden gem of a cycle road, the Shikotsu-ko to Chitose cycling road (or bike path, cycle path, whatever you call it in your country), is one of the most consistently forest-enveloped of any cycling road in Hokkaido. If you've ever cycled on the beautiful separated cycle paths in The Netherlands, you'll think that you've done a spacial warp; this cycle path is entirely separate from the main road, and passes through very pleasant forest.
Last updated Oct 26, 2018
Need to know details
Location
This cycleway links Chitose City and Lake Shikotsu, about 50km south of Sapporo City.
General notes
Most cyclists will probably start from the Chitose end, but it is possible to link this cycle road up with the Sapporo-Shikotsu-ko ‘cycle road’ (which is actually just a sidewalk next to the main road) to create a nice long day trip. An equally appealing option might be to make it a day trip from Chitose to the lake and back again, with a nice swim in the middle; Lake Shikotsu is undoubtedly one of the cleanest lakes in Japan. What you see floating on the surface of the lake is natural pumice; Lake Shikotsu is a volcanic lake. Below are some other Hokkaido Wilds route guides that utilize this cycleway.
Route markers
The cycleway is well-marked.
Route Timing
The route is all uphill on the way from Chitose to the Lake, so bank on between 2-3 hours to the lake, and about 2 hours on the way back to Chitose.
Physical maps
Explore the official Japan topomaps online for the area around Chitose-Shikotsu Cycleway here. Follow these instructions to print out the area you would like as a hardcopy.
Weather forecast
Windy.com weather forecast for Chitose-Shikotsu Cycleway
Other resources
Onsen nearby
Shikotsu Village is home to a number of excellent onsen. Lake Shikotsu Kyuka-no-Mura (支笏湖休暇の村, here) is the cheapest, but we recommend the very up-market Mizu-no-Uta onsen (水の歌, here). An onsen on its own here is about 1,000yen, so their 2,000yen buffet lunch and onsen set is a pretty good deal. So consider booking ahead and treating yourself (NOTE: The price indicated on the Japanese page is 2,000yen, on the English page it says 3,240yen…we’ve only ever paid 2,000yen).
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As with each ski touring, cycle touring, and hiking route guide published on hokkaidowilds.org, should you choose to follow the information on this page, do so at your own risk. Prior to setting out check current local weather, conditions, and land/road/track closures. While traveling, obey all public and private land use restrictions and rules, carry proper safety and navigational equipment, and of course, follow leave-no-trace procedures. The information found herein is simply a planning resource to be used as a point of inspiration in conjunction with your own due-diligence. In spite of the fact that this information, associated GPS track (GPX, KML and maps), and all information was prepared under diligent research by the specified contributor and/or contributors, the accuracy of such and judgement of the author is not guaranteed. hokkaidowilds.org, its partners, associates, and contributors are in no way liable for personal injury, damage to personal property, or any other such situation that might happen to individuals following the information contained in this post.
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Comments | Queries | Reports
Done this route up to Chitose-Shikotsu Cycleway? Thinking of doing it? Please post any feedback or queries here. Thanks!
1 thought on “Chitose-Shikotsu Cycleway”
Hey I've never been to Hokaido. Wow. I never thought it was so beautiful there.