The Nagoya anniversary event was incredibly exciting, wasn't it?
Being back in Nagoya after two years, seeing so many customers I hadn't met in a while, felt a bit like a school reunion. I personally had a wonderful time.
Once again, thank you to everyone who came out.
Now, as I mentioned in my blog the other day, we kicked off a project titled BIKE TO Nagoya Anniversary Festival, a journey connecting cities with a BIKE FRIDAY New World Tourist.
Taking advantage of the small-wheeled folding bike’s biggest strength—how easy it is to carry—we made our way to Nagoya over two days by making full use of rinko (train travel with a bike).
The result? No major trouble!? We made it to the anniversary festival safe and sound...!!
Traveling light with rinko, thoroughly enjoying the sections we pedaled, pushing ourselves without overdoing it, yet steadily ticking off the miles. Over these two days, I really reaffirmed the charm of BIKE FRIDAY touring—it’s that perfect balance.
I’d like to share the story of our trip, the appeal of the BIKE FRIDAY, and a review of the items I used.
Travel companions
First, let me introduce my travel companions.
Left: Our familiar Circles Tokyo staff member, John-san
Right: One of the Kanto region's most prominent bike nuts, Joe-san
Joe-san is someone we’ve always enjoyed working with as a Circles Tokyo customer. When I mentioned the ride to Nagoya, he raised his hand to join. He's a bike enthusiast who owns over a dozen bicycles and said he’s a loyal BIKE FRIDAY user, so he came along on his BIKE FRIDAY for this trip.
With John-san, Joe-san, and myself, the three of us set off for Nagoya on our respective BIKE FRIDAYs.
Here’s what our ride route looked like.
While the coast is the standard path for a ride from Tokyo to Nagoya, we chose the mountain route this time.
It’s a route that maximizes rinko, letting us warp directly to the roads we really wanted to ride.
Also, since this was Circles Nagoya’s 19th anniversary, I thought we simply had to ride along National Route 19!! (That’s a completely retroactive justification. Sorry.)
Day 1: Shinjuku (Rinko) → Kofu → Matsumoto
We met at Shinjuku Station.
The convenience of moving around even during the busy morning hours at Shinjuku Station, thanks to the compact storage of small-wheeled bikes, is another charm of the BIKE FRIDAY.
We took the express train to Kofu.
The train is fast... we arrived in Kofu in no time.
We quickly pulled the bikes out of their bags and started assembly. Since all three of us are used to it, we were ready to go in no time. It’s simple once you get the hang of it.
First, we grabbed some lunch. Enjoying the local food culture is one of the true joys of traveling.
When you think of Kofu, you think of Hoto noodles. We headed to a restaurant called Chiyoda to get the classic experience, but we found a menu item that looked unfamiliar...!
It was called "Ozara"... It was my first time having it, and it was hearty and delicious! The noodles are thinner than Hoto, and it seems to be a staple local dish in Kofu, served with a hot, soy sauce-based dipping broth filled with plenty of meat and vegetables.
Now, with our bellies full, we finally set off toward Matsumoto.
As we moved out of the basin, the feeling of the wind changed, and as we gradually climbed in elevation, the scenery took on a "mountainous expression." It was a surreal moment—I really felt the joy of riding through a land I didn't know.
BIKE FRIDAY really intensifies that sensation—not riding for speed, but fully experiencing the transition of the landscape. Before I knew it, the sun began to dip, and the town of Matsumoto was bathed in the setting sun.
Gliding into a town surrounded by mountains on a bicycle—this feeling of "being on a journey" is irresistible.
Though, the climb on the first day was long and tough...
Exhausted, we arrived in Matsumoto and headed to our accommodation for the night. Since I'm the type who absolutely needs a big bath after a ride, I chose to stay at a "Super Sento" (large public bathhouse) that offers lodging: Shinshu Kenko Land.
A bath after a ride is so soothing that you start to wonder if that’s the whole reason you rode this far in the first place.
We soothed our tired bodies and hit the hay early.
Day 2: Matsumoto → Nakatsugawa (Rinko) → Nagoya
5:30 AM. It was still dark outside.
The air in Matsumoto was cold, crisp, and refreshing (though incredibly freezing). Thanks to the hot springs, my fatigue was manageable, and we headed south toward Nakatsugawa Station.
We gradually left the city behind and entered the mountains of Kiso.
The charm of this route on the second day is that a sense of wanderlust naturally comes with the ride. The pleasant section along the river, the gentle inclines, the old house rows of the post towns...
"Post towns" were towns developed during the Edo period to provide lodging and rest so people and goods could move safely. The atmospheric Edo-period streetscapes still remain, offering a taste of the surreal.
While the town was still sleeping, we kept pedaling smoothly and arrived at our first rest stop, Narai-juku.
Narai-juku, which is usually packed with tourists, was empty in the morning. It felt like we’d gained a little something extra.
After a brief rest, we headed off again.
From here on, it was a long haul...
Though it was mostly flat or downhill, we struggled through the occasional climb, never stopping our feet, just pedaling with a "blank mind."
As I pedaled with that "blank mind," I felt as if the bicycle had become part of my own body. Despite being tired, my body didn't feel heavy, my breathing wasn't ragged—could you say I had "entered the zone"?
It makes sense, of course, because a BIKE FRIDAY is a handmade, custom-built frame. They listen in detail to each person’s physique, habits, and riding style to build a frame tailored specifically to them.
This time, I really realized the appeal of a custom-ordered frame through how little fatigue I felt on such a long ride. I was amazed at how stress-free and pleasant it is to ride a frame that perfectly fits you...
Once again, I felt the charm of BIKE FRIDAY and handmade bikes, and this ride only deepened my attachment to it.
It was warm for December, and I arrived at our destination, Nakatsugawa, drenched in sweat. I was so happy when I arrived.
Looking back, the mountains we had ridden through spread out majestically. A total of 220 km. It was a route with plenty of ups and downs, but it was a comfortable ride.
At Nakatsugawa Station, we packed the BIKE FRIDAYs down to their small size, put them into the rinko bags, and boarded the express train to our final destination: Nagoya.
Taking this trip on a BIKE FRIDAY allowed me to fully experience the appeal of touring while utilizing rinko.
Being able to choose the route freely, picking out only the sections you want to ride, and smoothly connecting cities, mountains, and highways—it was a deeply concentrated two days.
We’re certainly not fast, but we don't have to be.
Watching the changing landscape, enjoying the local food while observing nature, and connecting with people.
BIKE FRIDAY touring—I think I’m getting hooked.
Ishikawa’s Bikepacking Style
This is my bikepacking style for the two days.
I’d like to introduce a few items from this trip that I was really glad to have!!
BIKE FRIDAY Travel Bag Standard
This is a travel bag exclusively for BIKE FRIDAY.
Since it's made specifically for it, a folded BIKE FRIDAY really fits perfectly inside.
You can close the bag completely with a zipper, so you don't have to worry about small items falling out. It also comes with both long and short handles for versatile use—you can sling it over your shoulder or carry it by hand.
It also has enough capacity to hold the OUTER SHELL Dropper Seatpack that I had installed. This was the most useful item during this trip.
OUTER SHELL Dropper Seatpack
Truly a masterpiece. It’s an essential item for long touring.
It has a large capacity that easily fits two days’ worth of gear. Even when packed to the brim, it hardly sways when you stand up to pedal, so there’s absolutely no stress while riding.
When folding the BIKE FRIDAY to put it into the rinko bag, I recommend taking the seatpack off first, attaching it to the folded seatpost, and threading the buckles through the saddle rails; this increases the fixation strength.
KING CAGE Manything Cage
An item that pairs perfectly with a BIKE FRIDAY.
Because the wheels are small, it’s a great way to effectively utilize the empty space behind the seatpost. It further expands your bikepacking capacity.
This time, I folded my BIKE FRIDAY Travel Bag Standard, secured it with a Thunder Strap, and packed it there. It didn't wobble at all during the ride and proved to be extremely useful.
Since the rinko bag can be packed in this spot and removed quickly, it was ideal for a tour like this where we had to perform rinko several times.
The strap holding the rinko bag is the very popular "Take a Trip!!" strap.
Finally...
And finally, John and Joe-san, who joined me for this journey.
Riding alone is fun, but having friends along makes every moment—the thrills, the struggles, and even the mishaps—into wonderful memories.
We had our share of ups and downs (haha), but it’s thanks to you both that I enjoyed these two days of riding so much.
While I was riding, I found myself thinking about how long the road felt, but now I’m already itching to go again. Let’s go touring together again someday!
Thank you both so much for these past two days!