What is Norikura Skyline?
Norikura Skyline is considered a sacred route amongst Japanese cyclists. The summit, Tatamidaira, sits at 2,702 meters above sea level, making it the highest point in Japan accessible by bicycle or bus. True to its name, the route feels like you’re riding through the clouds. The beauty of Norikura Skyline is something words can hardly capture.
Gallery
A road in the sky
To get an idea of what biking along Norikura Skyline is like, watch this video that was filmed there:
While you can’t drive here because of environmental protection traffic restrictions, you can go by cycling! Norikura Skyline is located within the Chubu-Sangaku National Park, and for nature conservation purposes, general vehicles are not allowed on the road. Only buses and bicycles are allowed.
Where is Norikura Skyline?
Norikura Skyline is the mountain road leading to Mt.Norikura, a picturesque mountain with many hiking routes located between Nagano and Gifu Prefecture. At the summit of Mt.Norikura is Tatamidaira, which has a parking lot, souvenir store, and rest area for buses and bicyclists. This is where you can park your bike and walk around the area to hike, grab some lunch, or enjoy the views.
As a 49 year old middle aged man who teleworks every day, I decided to take on the challenge by renting electrically power assisted bicycles (e-bikes) with my friend.
Route overview
*Hirayu Onsen is located directly at the base of Mt.Norikura. Daily e-bike rentals can be made here.
Hirayu Onsen → Tatamidaira｜Outbound 2hr 15 mins~
Tatamidaira → Hirayu Onsen｜Inbound 1 hr~
Level: Challenging
1. [START POINT] Hirayu Onsen (a neighborhood in Okuhida)
2. Norikura Skyline Hirayu Pass Gate (fill out a questionnaire with the guards before ascending)
3. Meotomatsu Parking Lot (a rest point with a bathroom)
4. Norikura Skyline Bogakudai (small observation deck)
5. [END POINT] Tatamidaira (you can park your bike here)
The Norikura Skyline ends at Tatamidaira, where you can park your bicycle.
Where to rent an e-bike
E-bikes can be rented at a small e-bike station called Okuhida Base in Hirayu, Takayama, around a 3 minute walk from Hirayu Bus Terminal. It is connected to the side of the pizza shop and cafe AWAWA HIRAYU (under construction as of Aug 2025). The e-bikes can be retrieved contactless starting from 7AM and the booking process is all made online. For more detailed information about the bicycles and reservations, you can visit the Okuhida Base website.
Google Maps
When routing with google maps, set your destination to Norikura Tatamidaira. There’s not an option to route via bike, but instead you can use the walking route google displays (its the same as the bicycle route). Feel free to use the map we provided below as well.
Experience review
7:45 [Pick up the e-bike]
At the base of Norikura Skyline is a small e-bike rental store in Hirayu called Okuhida Base. It is located about a 3 minute walk from the Hirayu Bus Terminal and is open from 7:00 AM.
Late September, the weather was sunny and the temperature was around 20°C, perfect for cycling. We departed after purchasing a 500 ml bottle of water at the liquor store nearby. I would later regret not buying any food for energy… (more to be explained later)
I strongly recommend that everyone purchase plenty of energy snacks along with water.
Okuhida Base is an unmanned, bicycle and single-seat small electric vehicle rental base.
After making an online reservation on the website and paying with a credit card, you will receive a PIN number for your key locker in advance by e-mail.
Use that PIN to take out the key.
The key for the bicycle and the locker are included in the set.
Inside the locker is a helmet and a charged battery.
Put on your helmet, set the battery on the bike, and you are ready to go.
8:00 [Depart]
After light preparation, we departed for the peak of the Norikura Skyline, Tatamidaira, which is 2,702 meters above sea level. It is around 1,500 meters higher compared to our starting point, Hirayu, which is about 1,250 meters above sea level.
The e-bike comes with electric assist, so it is easy to ride with the motor pushing you back. Compared to electric bicycles that I use on a daily basis, the power seemed different. Since it’s a sports type bicycle, it still has the look of a road cycle yet it is quite sporty to ride and pedal.
Here’s a little advice
1) I hurt my knee in the process.
I recommend raising the saddle when riding.
As an amateur cyclist, I pedaled uphill without thinking, and my knees hurt halfway up.
I thought to myself, “Oh no, I’m in trouble! Watching other bicycles go by, I saw that everyone’s saddle was very high!
Their toes barely reached the ground, if at all!
I realized that in order to reduce the burden on my knees and to pedal with ease, I needed to raise the saddle.
If I had realized this earlier, I wouldn’t have gotten hurt! This has helped me recover quickly ^^.
On the other hand, since the return trip is downhill and steep, a lower saddle lowered the center of gravity and makes riding more stable and secure.
8:10 [Hirayu Pass]
Take Route 158 toward Takayama, passing the Hirayu Campground, and you will soon reach the entrance to Hirayu Pass.
Turn left here and continue on to Hirayu Pass (towards Norikura Skyline).
From here, you will be in a bicycle paradise!
You will be riding comfortably along the pass surrounded by forest. At this time, I felt really grateful for the assist system.
The steep slopes are also going well.
Eventally the Hirayu Pass got a bit difficult. I thought it was tougher than Norikura Skyline ^^;;;.
8:25 [Hirayu Pass Gate]
Finally, we arrive at the Hirayu Pass gate at the entrance to the Norikura Skyline. At the entrance, you will be given a questionnaire. Please make sure to fill it out. The gate is open from May 15th to October 31st. We were told that the gate would be open from 3:30 to 18:00 on this day, and that we were at a high altitude of over 2,500 meters. Its recommended to ascend in the morning and descend at noon.
*Norikura Skyline Hirayu Pass gate opening hours:
5/15-6/30 7:00-18:00
7/1-9/30 3:30-18:00
Closed 10/1~ 7:00-18:00
Unlike the previous bus ride up, we cycled at a leisurely pace, enjoying the scenery and feeling the breeze. Thanks to the electric power assist, I could ride up the mountain easily. Couples can enjoy talking while viewing the spectacular view, but unfortunately me and my friend were just two uncles ^^;;;. From Kasagatake, Yarigatake, to Okuhotaka,… The whole view of the mountains of the Northern Alps was breathtaking.
Here’s a little advice
2) Use automatic mode
Automatic mode is recommended as the bicycle assist mode.
Long mode is good for able-bodied cyclists, but it was bit tough for me.
My friend who climbed with power mode ran out of battery 1km before the goal, Tatamidaira. The last 1km was unassisted cycling.
In automatic mode, I had 30% of battery remaining at Tatamitaira.
The return trip is almost entirely downhill and does not require any assist mode. ^^
Keep your saddle low and descend slowly and safely first.
8:40 [Meotomatsu Parking]
Next, arrive at the Meotomatsu parking lot, which has a large observation deck and restrooms! Here we took a short break. We recommended you take this time for restroom breaks. From here, you can also see the city of Takayama and Mt.Hakusan in the distance!
Those who are not confident in their physical strength or who do not have enough time can enjoy the ride to the couple pine tree parking lot.
8:56 [Norikura Skyline Bogakudai]
We next arrived at a small observatory called Norikura Skyline Bogakudai. It felt like we were at a much higher elevation. The weather was beautiful and Mt.Yarigatake and Mt.Nishi-Hotaka were clearly visible! The blue sky was so beautiful and the air felt so fresh and clean.
9:48
By now we reached a full-blown alpine area. The autumn leaves were slowly starting to change and it was really beautiful. It really felt like a bicyclists’ paradise because no cars pass by. All you could hear is the sound of the wind. The air was so thin and my head was getting a little dizzy.
And then the painful realization came…
I’m hungry…! I need energy!
I only had a little bit of water ^^;;;
I seriously regretted not buying food earlier in Hirayu ^^;;;
9:58
At this point we’re almost at the goal (Tatamidaira). Unfortunately, there was an incident…
My friend who is traveling with me said, “Oh no, the pedals are getting heavy! The battery power is at 0%.” It seems the battery ran out quickly because power mode was used. That’s why I recommend automatic mode.
10:10 [Reaching Tatamidira]
Finally, we arrived at today’s goal, the 2,702-meter-high Tatamidaira! At that point, I felt like I was going to collapse from hunger! In case you are wondering, the temperature is 7 degrees. It’s cold~!
In search of hot food, we went to a restaurant on the second floor of the Tatamihira Bus Terminal! To my surprise, it was temporarily closed. (T T) At lost, a sense of despair and tragedy is in the air.
Then, good news! We were informed that the second floor restaurant at Ginreiso next door will open at 10:30… All at once, our spirits were restored!
10:30 [Breakfast at Ginreiso]
We had breakfast at the 2nd floor restaurant of Ginreiso. The pork miso soup set meal was 1,100 yen. It was a pretty reasonable price considering the location! I could feel the warm soup sinking into my body. It was very tasty ^^ My friend who climbed the mountain with me had a steak set meal and soba noodles with wild vegetables ^^.
*I visited Ginreiso again on May 15, 2022 and found that the menu and prices had been revised significantly. (Added on May 21, 2022)
Menu as of May 15, 2022. ↓.
11:00 [Heading back to Hirayu Onsen]
With our bellies full, we began our descent. I had underestimated how easy and effortless the return trip would be. But it was soooo cold! I was wearing only a short-sleeved T-shirt under a thin windbreaker, and it was 7 degrees. The only way down was through the wind. At that point my hands were getting numb and I was freezing!
Here’s a little advice
3) Bring gloves and a warm jacket
I know this is obvious, but we forgot. Is there anyone else like us?
Both gloves and jackets were sold at the Tatamidaira store.
Also, please not that going downhill is very dangerous.If you are not careful, you will overspeed.
Be sure to keep braking and descend slowly.
It is really dangerous and cold if you speed. It could be fatal. Be sure to descend slowly.
If you feel cold, we strongly recommend that you slow down even more and proceed slowly.
12:10 [Return to Hirayu Pass Gate]
We arrived at Hirayu Pass gate in no time.
Clouds have appeared and it was too foggy and cold to enjoy the scenery ^^;;;.
It is still good to ride up slowly and enjoy the scenery.
I learned that going down is easy, but not fun.
12:25 [Return the e-bike]
We arrived at Okuhida Base without any incidents. I wanted to go straight to the hot spring ( Hirayu no Mori ) to warm up my cold body, but I had to work today (T T). We returned the bike safely with half the day still to spare.
Final Impressions
This was truly a wonderful experience. Even though I don’t usually do much exercise, I was able to make it to Tatamidaira with a little effort. The weather was perfect, the view was great, and the experience was fantastic.
Five years ago, I took a bus up to Tatamidaira and was impressed by the view from the bus window, but biking was several times more enjoyable and felt like flying in the sky.
I owe this wonderful experience to the electric assist function of my bicycle. It would have been difficult for an amateur like me to do this on a road bike without it. In my opinion, riding up Norikura Skyline is an emotional experience that only a limited number of trained and special people could enjoy without e-bikes.
I plan to go again soon, but when I do, I’ll make sure to bring food, gloves, and a jacket ^^;;;.
Other experiences by E-bike
Okuhida Base is located a 3 minute walk from Hirayu Bus Terminal, the gateway to Okuhida.
【Business Hours｜Lending and Return Hours】 7:00-17:00
* Please make online reservation by 12:59pm on the day of usage.
How to get to Hirayu Onsen
Hirayu Onsen is the at the base of Norikura Skyline. It can be reached via Takayama City or from Matsumoto City. There is also a direct stop here from Shinjuku, Tokyo.
■ From Takayama City: At Takayama Nohi Bus Center, buy a ticket from the ticket machine and board the bus headed to Hirayu Bus Terminal at bus stop #6.
■ From Matsumoto City: Take the bus for Hirayu Onsen at Matsumoto Bus Terminal.
■ From Shinjuku: At Shinjuku Bus Terminal, take the bus going to Takayama and get off at Hirayu Bus Terminal.
Promotions
Keio Bus LINE official account opened!
2,702 meters above sea level from the Hirayu Bus Terminal, Norikura Tatamidaira bus terminal is the highest bus stop in Japan! There is a direct bus service to Norikura Tatamidaira bus terminal with its spectacular view, and takes only 60 minutes. Ask the front desk at Hirayu Bus Terminal for more information. To read a more detailed review of what to do in the Tatamidaira area (hiking routes excluded) read more below.
