The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's Bicycle Usage Promotion Headquarters designates routes that meet certain requirements, such as riding environments and reception facilities, as "National Cycle Routes (NCR)" in order to promote cycle routes that represent Japan and are world-renowned, both domestically and internationally.
The "National Cycle Route Review Committee" to review candidate routes for the third designation was held on March 23rd, 2016. The "Yukiguni Uonuma Golden Cycle Route (GCR)", a collaborative effort by Uonuma City, Minamiuonuma City, and Yuzawa Town, was selected as a candidate. A total of seven locations were selected nationwide, and an expert committee will now review them. If all goes according to plan, the designated NCR routes will be decided around the summer.
Since being designated as a model route for the promotion of cycle tourism in Niigata Prefecture for the first time in Reiwa 3, we have been developing world-class cycling environments that everyone can enjoy safely, making the most of regional resources such as "wide road shoulders unique to snowy regions" and "undulating rural landscapes."
The selection of this candidate site is not the final goal, but a waypoint towards a "Uonuma" that is open to the world. Moving forward, the two cities and one town will continue to cooperate strongly, promoting the beauty of the four seasons, exquisite Uonuma Koshihikari rice, historic hot springs, and warm "omotenashi" (hospitality) to achieve regional revitalisation and sustainable tourism promotion.
Reference: Materials distributed at the first National Cycle Route Review Committee in fiscal year 2025 (URL)https://www.mlit.go.jp/road/ir/ir-council/ncr-root/doc05.html
