Autumn Cycling Adventure through Daisen’s Hidden Beauty (Tottori Special)

Why not embark on a cycling adventure through the breathtaking beauty of Mt. Daisen? Feel the crisp autumn air, immerse yourself in the stunning mountain views, and discover the region’s hidden treasures as you cycle through its serene landscapes. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or simply just seeking a peaceful escape, Daisen offers an unforgettable experience. Explore this majestic mountain’s magic, and let the journey refresh your spirit!

 

Daisen Town, Tottori Prefecture — Japan’s autumn landscapes bloom with vibrant colours, captivating festivals, and mild weather, which is ideal for outdoor activities like cycling. Nestled at the foot of Mt. Daisen in western Tottori Prefecture, Daisen Town offers a scenic 15-kilometre cycling route, pleasantly low in traffic and with few traffic signals, ensuring a tranquil experience for cyclists. This cycling experience is organised as a part of a branding project called Daisen Jikan (Daisen Time), implemented by The West Tottori Industrial Support Centre of the Tottori Prefectural Federation of Societies of Commerce and Industry.

 

Daisen Jikan is a project designed to promote the charm of western Tottori Prefecture, including Yonago City, Hiezu Village, Daisen, Nanbu, Hoki, Kofu, Hino, and Nichinan Towns. It highlights the area’s facilities, business, and breathtaking scenery, from the morning sea of clouds to the starry sky at night. The cycling route is ideal for solo travellers or groups of cyclists, and high-quality electric bicycles are available, making it easy for everyone to enjoy the picturesque journey. This initiative also showcases the attractions of western Tottori Prefecture through cycling tours, aiming to attract visitors from other regions, including international tourists.

 

 

Mt. Daisen’s Stunning Autumn Transformation
Standing at 1,729 meters, the awe-inspired sacred Mt. Daisen—the highest peak in the Chugoku region, a compound volcano known as Houki Fuji for its resemblance to Mt. Fuji—transforms each autumn from a snowy winter resort into a lush, green paradise. This spectacular mountain provides the perfect backdrop for outdoor adventures.

 

 

Begin Your Journey from Primrose Garden
The cycling route begins at an altitude of 420 meters at Primrose Garden, a charming wedding venue surrounded by woodland at the mountain’s base in Daisen Twon. From this starting point, you’ll enjoy a sweeping 360-degree view of rice paddies and fields, with rich, fertile soil primed for the autumn harvest. Along the way, you may see local farmers passing by in pick-up trucks, often offering a friendly wave.

 

 

Abundant local produce
Daisen Karasu Tengu is a local agricultural cooperative named after the Karasu-tengu, mythical mountain priests with the face and beak of a crow. These tengu are said to be able to fly at will, and according to legend, they once inhabited the area. Mr. Koushi Yada, the president of Daisen Karasu Tengu, and his team cultivate fresh produce such as grape tomatoes in their greenhouse. The region’s mineral-rich soil, nourished by Mt. Daisen, is ideal for growing high-quality rice, soybeans, leeks, onions, and tomatoes. Water sourced from Mt. Daisen is highly prized and is used in Japan’s Coca-Cola bottled mineral water. It is also essential for the town’s seaweed farming along the coastline.

 

 

Scenic Coastal Views
As you continue cycling away from Daisen Karasu Tengu’s warehouse, expansive fields and grasslands open up breathtaking views of the Sea of Japan. The coastline sweeps gracefully toward Sakaiminato and the Shimane Prefecture border, and on clear days, you can glimpse Oki Island, a stunning sight.

 

 

Find Serenity at Nawa Shrine
Nawa Shrine offers a moment of tranquillity. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom in front of the torii gate, and in summer, the fishing fires of squid fishing boats can be seen over the torii gate into the Sea of Japan. Shrines like Nawa Shrine have deep cultural significance in rural Japan and offer a meaningful way to connect with Japanese traditions.

 

 

Retro Charm at Café Mukuri
Beyond the Sanin Main Line level crossing lies Café Mikuri, a delightful, relaxing place. Housed in a beautifully restored Meiji-era building that once raised silkworms to produce raw silk, this retro café combines traditional Japanese and Western architectural elements. Situated between a serene townscape and the coastline, it offers the perfect escape for a cup of coffee, providing a peaceful break from the rush of urban life.

 

 

Cycling Along the Coastline to Daisen Town Hall
Continuing along the coast, the route follows National Highway Route 9, weaving through prefectural roads and small pathways toward Daisen Town Hall. Along the way, you’ll encounter roadside Jizo statues, the guardian deities of children and travelers, as well as small cemeteries. A gentle sea breeze accompanies the journey, and in the final stretch, you’ll spot windmills spinning in the distance, adding to the serene coastal landscape.

 

 

Savour Delicious Local Produce with a Barbecue 
After the cycling, a delicious barbecue awaits. A shuttle from Primrose Garden will bring you back to the starting point, where you’ll find an array of fresh local vegetables, seafood from Daisen, and grilled Daisen chicken. Alcohol is available for order, making it the perfect way to unwind. The natural beauty of Daisen and a feast of local flavours will rejuvenate you after a fulfilling ride.

 

 

A Welcoming Experience for International Visitors

Carmella Lieske, an American-born resident of Matsue City in Shimane Prefecture who joined the monitoring tour, described the experience as ‘wonderful’.

 

‘Through this monitoring tour, we would like to create and commercialise tours of the western region of Tottori Prefecture in the future and link this to the promotion and revitalisation of local industry,’ said Hiroshi Maehata, Chief of The West Tottori Industrial Support Centre of the Tottori Prefectural Federation of Societies of Commerce and Industry.

 

 

Getting to Daisen Town from Tokyo
To reach Daisen Town from Tokyo, take a 1.5-hour flight from Haneda Airport to Yonago Airport, followed by a 30-minute drive. Alternatively, the town is accessible by Shinkansen and local trains on the San’in Line, a journey of about seven hours, with JR Nawa or Mikuriya as the nearest stations. For an overnight option, the Sun Rise Izumo sleeper train connects Tokyo to Yonago in about ten hours, with a local train transfer on the JR San’in Line from Yonago Station.

(Words by Takashi Saito)

 

 

How to get to Daisen Town