E-Bike: Tackle the Tango Peninsula

trip and trail 10.1.2020

We are approaching a steep slope. I channel my strength into my legs and keep pedaling, progressing up the hill. It’s incredible actually, that every time I pedal, the bike accelerates.

An old man in a small farm truck pulls up beside me and does a double take before leaning out the window to say, "How is that you’re on a bike but moving so fast?”

I’m neither someone who races bicycles nor a cyclist who gets after the mountain roads in my free time. But there is a secret as to why I can climb these mountain roads with such ease. There is an elongated box on the frame of the bicycle where an electric motor is attached. And when I pedal, the motor engages and triples my power output. This is the magic of an E-bike. It goes beyond what bicycles are capable of. You might even call it a super-bicycle.

Accelerating uphill into a new era of cycling leisure

In Japan, heavy fixed-gear bicycles with baskets are widespread. But in Europe, sports bikes are mainstream. E-bikes are really starting to gain traction in Japan. It makes no difference if you are 70 years old or even have leg problems. In tourist areas especially, E-bikes are helping create a new era of travel. And not only that, their popularity is increasing worldwide. It was in the spring of 2019 that these electric bikes debuted on the Tango Peninsula. With incredibly fair rental pricing, the number of uses has gown rapidly in just a short time. In this area specifically, E-bikes have a wide range of uses along varied courses. Amanohashidate, one of Japan’s Three Scenic Views and its proximate inland sea contrast nicely against the rolling Tango Peninsula rising up on the western end of Wakasa Bay. Up and over the northern point of the Tango Peninsula, where you’ll find Kyogamisaki (cape and lighthouse), the horizon stretches out as far as the eye can sea. It’s places like this that give us a true perspective of the globe we live on.

• A difficult mountain in one of the most scenic areas

Why is it called Cape Kyogami (synonymous with vertical)? The surrounding sea has complicated tides and many reefs, and strong winds that have caused countless shipwrecks. It is said that people who crossed these seas would pray aloud to Buddha, joining hands with those that had previously lost their lives here. Automobiles became commonplace during the Showa era, and the roads around the Tango Peninsula were improved. The area called “The Hawk’s Nest,” running from Kamanyu in Ine up to Kyogamisaki, presented the biggest challenge, but Kyoto Prefecture invested a large amount of money to cut roads into the cliffs and open the road. It was an arduous and time consuming task but finally, in 1962, a land route was established. In the years that followed, the road was improved every time heavy rains caused landslides because repairs were always made. Now, it’s a spectacular driving course with panoramic views of the clear blue Sea of Japan.

• Let’s make this place an E-bike heaven

Kazuki Masuda (Ine Town) and Koji Yasumi (Kyotango City) of the regional revitalization cooperation team set out to make this area an E-bike sanctuary. With the ability to easily crest even the longest climbs, E-bikers are rewarded with the emerald green sea sprawling out in front of them. The Japanese Sea has such breathtaking transparency and E-bikes allow visitors to focus on the landscape and incredible natural beauty without needing to focus all their energy on pedaling. This is the comfort and beauty that Mr. Masuda and Mr. Yasumi want to bring to people.

A long time ago, people from the Korean Peninsula arrived here, having been carried on ocean currents from beyond the horizon. The legend of Urashima Taro is said to originate in parts of the Tango Peninsula because people from the Eurasian continent described the land here as "Ryugu Castle" (the underwater castle mentioned in the fairy tale). These adventurous people brought about the skills of sake brewing, rice cultivation, and weaving. Volcanic activity created rugged terrain, and the beautiful sea is home to a wide variety of fish. The rivers ferry along nutrient-rich waters from the forests and mountains. It’s thanks to this that Koshihikari rice in Tango has won the award for highest quality multiple times. Moreover, there is a lot of exceptional fruit grown in the region. Taking an E-bike along this amazing coastline has allowed me to get in touch with nature, while tasting its seasonality.

“Let's go."

Mr. Masuda, acting as our guide, takes the lead. Before long we enter a tunnel set into a cliff, and welcome the cool breeze. On the far end of the tunnel, several wild monkeys are lying on the side of the road and a swallowtail butterfly with a pattern that I’ve never seen crosses right in front of me. Peregrine falcons are also nesting on the cliffs around Kyogamisaki. I feel as though I’m in the very heart of nature, riding its wind.

At the end of the ride, having traveled the entire coastline, we arrive at Yuhigaura. Looking back, I managed to coast through 55 km of coastal road in half a day. I feel a great sense of accomplishment, grateful for the E-bike’s assistance in helping me overcome longtime difficulties with my leg that had kept me from adventures like these. As I reflect on all I’ve seen today, the sunset comes and I watch that big orange blaze sink into the horizon without a sound.

I can only hear the rushing waves.

This scene may not have changed since ancient times. As the deep red light washes over us, I feel so in touch with myself and my emotions.

Mr. Masuda, originally from Tokyo, is saying, "The natural swell of our emotions, matching the waves, this is how I want to live."

Mr. Yasumi, originally from Kyoto City, says, "This place exists in a different time than where I grew up. I want people to come with their loved ones and find something akin to true happiness within the nature here, and within themselves."

I hope I can convey the special world of Tango’s daily life to visitors.

• time to discover your true self

My daily routine that took me from my apartment, to the subway, and then to the office, was completely upturned by COVID. Now I’m thinking about how my life will be in the future.

This trip has been an escape from my busy daily life. But more than that, it was a chance for my tiny self to return to the wilderness.

Connect with the beauty here and with loved ones. Take time to appreciate the sense of accomplishment. And allow natural hot springs and fresh seafood to heal your mind and body after the journey. Unique geography, wellness, and incredible food, are all only an E-bike ride away.

Come to find your true self.

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