【EVENT】Tour de Nippon in Saitama

Paper Sky, which manages magazines and web media under the concept of a "magazine for in-flight reading on the ground," presents Tour de Nippon.

This is a wonderful tour that lets you enjoy traveling around the various localities of Japan using a bicycle as your tool.

This time, we are in Ogawa Town, Saitama Prefecture in the Kanto region, one of the world's leading organic towns. It will be held on April 13th (Sat) - 14th (Sun).

Since last year, SimWorks and Circles have been involved as sponsors, helping out with technical bicycle support and operational assistance.

A nature-rich town located at the foot of the Outer Chichibu Mountains, accessible within one hour from central Tokyo.

Ogawa Town has been a center for organic farming since the 1970s and is reportedly known as one of the world's leading organic towns.

Starting with Minoru Kaneko, who is said to be a leading figure in organic agriculture, organic farming spread through the district. The "Shimozato Farm" run by Minoru Kaneko practices circular organic agriculture; a key feature is that not only are chemical fertilizers and pesticides not used, but even energy is self-sufficient. Inspired by Mr. Kaneko's farm, organic cultivation spread throughout the town, and people from outside the region began moving there to learn his methods. Currently, over 70 out of the 700 or so farms in Ogawa Town are organic, which is about 10%. Since the proportion of organic farming in Japan's total agriculture is only about 0.5%, the ratio of organic farmers in Ogawa Town is extremely high even from a national perspective.

https://full-sato.com/media/koto/organicfes/

It seems Mr. Kaneko started practicing agriculture that does not rely on chemical fertilizers or pesticides in response to the pollution problems of the rapid economic growth era. He was practicing a circular philosophy and circular design, which are likely commonplace in homes today. I'm extremely interested.

Unfortunately, the originator, Mr. Kaneko, passed away in 2022, but his will has been carried on, and in the current local boom, it is being branded as an "organic town."

Individual actions really did change the world...!

Bicycle Tour in the Organic Village

We will visit the people who create and share the charms of this town—the local organic farms, wineries, cafes, and more—by bicycle.

After cycling, we’ll toast with Ogawa-made beer and wine accompanied by snacks made from organic vegetables! At night, we will set off on a tour of Ogawa Town's unique eateries.

On the second day, we’ll leave Ogawa Town and head to the surrounding towns. In the "town of wood," Tokigawa Town, we will experience a woodworking workshop using outdoor knives. We will pleasantly ride through the idyllic foothills of Okumusashi while tasting delicious food from Saitama.

【Event Details】

＜DAY 1＞
● Lunch full of organic vegetables at the nostalgic former-school cafe "MOZART"
● Tour of "SOU FARM," where they grow vegetables in harmony with the soil, using no-till, pesticide-free, and fertilizer-free methods
● Visit to "Musashi Winery," which grows and brews completely pesticide-free grapes
● A tour of local, personality-rich eateries you have to try when you come to Ogawa Town!

＜DAY 2＞
● After meeting up, we start with breakfast at "PEOPLE," a cafe renovated from an Oya stone storehouse
● Cycling through the countryside while stopping at delicious spots in each town
● Woodworking workshop using "Mora Knives" at the outdoor shop "GRID"
● A well-deserved sweets time at "Alishan Cafe," which handles organic ingredients from all over the world

https://papersky.jp/saitama-tour/

Event Overview and How to Participate

【Event Overview】

＜DAY 1: April 13, 2024 (Sat)＞

Meeting point: 10:00 AM in front of "Tobu Railway / JR Ogawamachi Station"
Dismissal: 18:30 at "Coworking Lobby NESTo"
Distance covered: 21km
Participation fee: 14,000 yen ★Special price for attending both days
(For Saitama residents: 12,000 yen)
*Add 3,000 yen for KONA BICYCLES rental

What's included: Cycling guide fee, meals (lunch / snacks after cycling, beer/wine tasting, etc.), nutritional snacks, support car (luggage transport possible), commemorative item, insurance premium

I want to ride my bike, but I also want to experience cultural things. I think this is the perfect tour for someone like that.

My parents' home is nearby, so I'm planning to join in as support!

【Notes】

・Travel expenses to and from the site are at your own expense.
・Registration is completed upon payment of the participation fee.
・Accommodation fees are not included in the participation fee.
・For accommodation on April 13th (Sat), please contact the PAPERSKY Tour de Nippon office (https://papersky.jp/contact/) for recommendations in Ogawa Town.
・If you own a cycling helmet, please be sure to bring it. Free rental is also available.
・KONA BICYCLES rental is available for 3,000 yen even if attending both days.

Please select "About Event" from the button below to apply.

★For attendance on both days, the (total) participation fee is 26,000 yen (22,000 yen for Saitama residents).
★Please fill in the following items when applying.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
Desired date(s) (please select one):
・① Both days ／ ② April 13th (Sat) only ／ ③ April 14th (Sun) only
・Number of participants:
・Name:
・Gender:
・Date of birth:
・Address:
・Contact information for the day (mobile phone number):
・Bicycle rental: Yes (height in cm) / No
・Helmet rental: Yes / No

※Please provide the name, gender, date of birth, and rental requests for all participants.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

【Inquiries】
https://papersky.jp/contact
(PAPERSKY Tour de Nippon Office)