The land of Inabu feels near yet far.
It lies tucked away deep beyond the Yahagi River.
During the Edo period, this area flourished as a post town because it was on the "Iida Kaido"—also known as the "Chuma Kaido"—which was used to transport "salt" produced in Mikawa Bay, Aichi, to the landlocked mountain regions of Shinshu.
This salt road is what you might call an "ancient trail."
Many of these paths wind through the mountains, and since there are many off-road sections, it might be fun to plan a route centered around them.
Now, for this trip, I went to visit IBP, or the Inabu Base Project, located in the Inabu district of Toyota City!
The Inabu Base Project was started with the sentiment that:
"Mountain biking shouldn't be something special that takes you away from your daily life, but rather a habitual act as natural as breathing. Just as surfers watch the ocean, users should be inspired to think and take action."
It is a group of people striving to realize nature-based projects in the Inabu area, such as mountain bike tours, utilizing the natural environment of the district.
I recently participated in their core activity, the mountain bike tour, so I'd like to share how that went!
Perfect for beginners!
The IBP trail tour I joined is led by guides who maintain the trails weekly and have ridden them more than anyone else!
Of course, before you start riding, they thoroughly teach you how to brake and maintain your riding posture, so you can finish your day's ride safely.
Also, before you start any serious off-road descending, you'll get comfortable with unpaved roads and your bike on a skill-building course before heading out to the trails.
The secret to MTB riding is braking! Make sure you listen to the lecture closely!
Trail tour start!
For experienced riders, this is what you've been waiting for; for beginners, it’s a heart-pounding trail debut.
The trails maintained by IBP have no steep gradients, so I doubt there will be many moments where beginners feel too scared to keep going.
Also, unlike downhill riding on ski slopes where you enjoy speed, trail riding—feeling the soft mountain earth beneath your tires—lets you enjoy a tactile connection with the ground that you don't get on concrete.
It feels almost as if you’re riding on a carpet.
You might be too focused to hear it while riding, but the sound of our tires hitting the ground echoing from below is truly wonderful.
The trail, which weaves between cedar trees stretching up toward the sky, is dotted with spots where, depending on your skills, you can jump a little and discover a new side of yourself.
Of course, make sure to scout the landing and what lies beyond any drop-outs before you enter!
More than just the ride!!
IBP's ride tour is definitely fun for the biking, but the extras are quite impressive too.
Lunch is a sushi bento from "Tsutaya," the top recommendation in the Inabu area! It's always a luxurious lunch and absolutely excellent.
There are even treats and souvenirs!!
And what I love is that they give you a pass for a bath to heal your tired body, dirty from sweat and soil!
The location is "Donguri no Yu," right near Nakato-cho.
There are plenty of baths, and every time I visit, I can never decide which tub to soak in.
Recommendation for the IBP OPEN TRAIL
The OPEN INABU trail tour guarantees a fantastic day.
If you're coming from Nagoya, it's an early morning start, but for anyone who wants to start mountain biking or wants to get used to riding on dirt, I highly recommend this trail!
I love trails like this one where you can ride with a light, flowing feel, so I plan to visit again!
It looks like the next one is on August 22nd!
Bonus.
Let me show you a part of the IBP trail from our perspective.
Editing this video made me want to go back again.
Let's have a great time out there!!
Photo : Open Inabu Project,Yuya Takahashi
Movie : Yuya Takahashi
Text : Yuya Takahashi