Kamioka Railway Cycling

What to know

Rail-MTB Gattan Go (レールマウンテンバイクGattan Go) is an exciting activity in Kamioka, near Furukawa and Okuhida, where visitors ride electrically assisted bicycles on the tracks of the abandoned Kamioka Railway. The safe, gentle ride takes you through tunnels and over bridges, offering stunning views of mountains, rivers, and towns.

The Kamioka Railway opened in 1984 to connect Kamioka with Inotani Station on the JR Takayama Line, but closed in 2006 due to dwindling cargo and passenger traffic. Known for its beautiful scenery, the railway was repurposed: the 3-kilometer Town Course opened to cyclists in 2012, and the separate Canyon Course followed in 2018.

Each course is about 3 kilometers one way, taking 40–60 minutes round trip. The Town Course starts and ends at the former Okuhida Onsen-guchi terminal, while the Canyon Course uses the former Urushiyama Station. At the turnaround, riders dismount briefly while bikes are rotated. The gentle grade and electric assist make riding easy, especially downhill.

Bicycles are fixed to a rolling mechanism that straddles the track. Most setups have two bikes per roller, but larger rollers with seats are available for non-pedaling passengers. Costs vary by vehicle type and group size. Single riders are only accommodated on the Town Course.

Rides depart about once per hour, preceded by a short safety briefing, making the total experience 60–75 minutes. Reservations are not required but recommended on busy days; book online, by phone, or email (see official website). The activity is not offered in winter.

Public transport to the cycling activity is infrequent, so a car is recommended. Rental car outlets are available in Takayama, Toyama, Matsumoto, and Nagoya. By car, the starting points are about 30 minutes from central Furukawa, 1 hour from Takayama, and 40 minutes from Hirayu.