“E-bikes” combine the rideability of a sports bike with the functionality of an electric bicycle to take you to Nachi Falls!

Nachi-Katsuura Town has many tourists and travelers who visit on foot along the Kumano Kodo Route, but there are also many sightseeing spots, including Nachi Falls, hot springs, and restaurants where you can taste fresh seafood such as tuna, that you should definitely visit if you come all the way from afar.

Some of the reasons for this are: “It takes too long to get around if I walk,” “I feel uneasy driving in an unfamiliar place and worry about parking,” and “I am not sure if I can get to my destination in a timely manner on public transportation, which is not as frequent as in the city. In such cases, cycling is just the right way to get where you want to go in a casual manner. You can bring your bicycle directly onto a regular train of the JR Kisei Line running between Kii-Tanabe Station and Shingu Station, thus expanding your range of activities.

The e-bike rental service was started by Mr. Takaya Ushiro, who runs WhyKumano Hostel & Cafe Bar near Kii-Katsuura Station, the gateway to Nachi-Katsuura Town. He explains how he came up with the idea of starting the business.

”I have been running a hostel for two years, and almost 100% of my guests go to Nachi Falls. I thought the only way to get to Nachi Falls was by bus. I thought it would be fun to go there by bicycle. I thought it would be fun to ride a bicycle to the falls, but I was thinking that it would be tough because of the slope, and then I heard that e-bikes were emerging as a new market. The other reason was that Nachikatsuura Town has many tourist attractions such as hot springs, food, and World Heritage sites, but there are no activity sports at all. The scenery is so beautiful that just riding there is pleasant, and I thought that bicycles would be an interesting way to get around.”

E-bikes are increasingly popular bicycles that combine the riding performance of a sports bike with the assist function of an electric bicycle.

Enjoy the town in a way that only bicycles can.

There is no set course, but you can rent an e-bike and enjoy cycling freely. 10 km one way from the e-bike rental point to Nachi Falls, which takes about 30 minutes. If you want to spend a full day in the town, you can ride from Nachi Falls to Amida Temple, down through the Shikigawa area to the Ota area, and back to the Ota area, where you can visit the 1200 year old temple, Daitaiji, and other temples.

You may also choose to ride without a destination in mind. You can also ask Mr. Goro, who has guided many people through the area, for his recommendations on places to visit and courses to take.

Nachikatsuura Town has both ocean and mountains, and you can feel the richness of nature. That is why, even with an e-bike, it may be quite hard to ride along the undulating roads created by nature. On the other hand, you will be naturally soothed by the murmuring of the river and birdsong you hear along the way, as well as the change in the air you feel when it is covered with trees.

The details and scenery of a place that would otherwise drift by unnoticed if you were in a car or on public transportation. It is only by taking the time to ride a bicycle that you can experience them firsthand. If you have come all the way to Nachikatsuura, why not take your time and enjoy Kumano?

Enjoy the town in a way that only bicycles can.

There is no set course, but you can rent an e-bike and enjoy cycling freely. 10 km one way from the e-bike rental point to Nachi Falls, which takes about 30 minutes. If you want to spend a full day in the town, you can ride from Nachi Falls to Amida Temple, down through the Shikigawa area to the Ota area, and back to the Ota area, where you can visit the 1200 year old temple, Daitaiji, and other temples.

You may also choose to ride without a destination in mind. You can also ask Mr. Goro, who has guided many people through the area, for his recommendations on places to visit and courses to take.

Nachikatsuura Town has both ocean and mountains, and you can feel the richness of nature. That is why, even with an e-bike, it may be quite hard to ride along the undulating roads created by nature. On the other hand, you will be naturally soothed by the murmuring of the river and birdsong you hear along the way, as well as the change in the air you feel when it is covered with trees.

The details and scenery of a place that would otherwise drift by unnoticed if you were in a car or on public transportation. It is only by taking the time to ride a bicycle that you can experience them firsthand. If you have come all the way to Nachikatsuura, why not take your time and enjoy Kumano?