Chubu

Sitting in the heart of Japan, the Chubu region delivers a blend of high-altitude thrills and deep cultural roots. Ride the sweeping curves of the Venus Line, often called Japan’s most beautiful road, or glide through the forested quiet of the Seseragi Highway. For something truly different, drop a gear and chase the tide along Chirihama Nagisa Driveway, one of the few places in Japan where you can ride a motorcycle along the beach.

Between the twisties, wander into history along the old Nakasendo trail, where post towns like Tsumago-juku, Narai-juku, and Magome-juku still echo with the footsteps of samurai and merchants. With Mt. Fuji on the horizon, thatched-roof villages hidden in the hills, and hot spring inns tucked deep in the mountains, Chubu rewards riders with both adrenaline and a timeless sense of place.

Map

Road Highlights

Three touring motorcycles parked along a mountain road in Shosenkyo Gorge, Yamanashi Prefecture, surrounded by dramatic granite cliffs, lush forest, and clear blue skies — a scenic highlight for motorcyclists in Japan.

  • Often called Japan’s most beautiful road, the Venus Line in Nagano offers motorcyclists a breathtaking ride through highland meadows, sweeping curves, and panoramic alpine views.

  • The Chirihama Nagisa Driveway is Japan’s only beach you can ride on, offering motorcyclists an unforgettable 8-kilometer cruise right along the surf.

  • The Izu Skyline is a legendary toll road for motorcyclists, offering smooth curves, sweeping ocean views, and unforgettable glimpses of Mt. Fuji from the highlands

  • The Nishi-Izu Skyline is the toll-free counterpart to the Izu Skyline, offering better scenery, fewer crowds, and a thrilling ridge-top ride with sweeping views of Mt. Fuji and Suruga Bay.

  • The Fuji Skyline is a scenic mountain road that climbs the southern slopes of Mt. Fuji, offering riders a toll-free ascent through volcanic forests, sweeping curves, and panoramic views all the way to the fifth station.

  • The Seseragi Highway is a forest-lined mountain road in Gifu that offers motorcyclists a sense of freedom and flow, with gentle curves, riverside scenery, and long stretches of open road perfect for a peaceful ride through nature.

  • Route 252’s Rokujurigoe Pass is a remote, highland touge that winds through forested watersheds and lakes, offering motorcyclists a smooth, scenic ride that explodes with autumn color and feels worlds away from civilization.

Sightseeing Highlights

  • Ride into the mountains and step back in time at Shirakawa-go and Gokayama, where steep thatched-roof homes stand as living relics of Japan’s snowbound past.

  • Circle the base of Mt. Fuji and cool off at Oshino Hakkai and Lake Motosu, where spring-fed ponds and crystal waters reflect Japan’s most iconic peak.

  • Park the bike and watch master fishermen in Gifu use trained cormorants to catch river fish by firelight—a centuries-old tradition still practiced today.

  • Trade the throttle for a tasting cup and tour Niigata’s sake breweries, where snowy winters and pristine mountain water produce some of Japan’s finest rice wine.

  • Ride through the Alps to Hakuba and visit the Daio Wasabi Farm, Japan’s largest, where clear mountain streams fuel fields of fiery green gold.

  • Rev the engine into Gujo’s mountain town and join one of Japan’s liveliest summer festivals, where dancers fill the streets all night for over 30 nights straight.

  • Trade gears for hiking boots in Kamikochi, a pristine alpine basin where riders can cool off with mountain air, river views, and jaw-dropping peaks.

  • Twist your way into the cliffs of Shosenkyo Gorge, a dramatic ride near Kofu where towering granite walls, waterfalls, and autumn leaves steal the show.