A COMMUNITY REVIVAL
Hakuba locals are the driving force behind mountain biking’s powerful comeback in the region. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Hakuba was at the forefront of Japan’s mountain biking MTB scene, drawing both national and international attention. Iwatake stood at the center of it all, hosting two of the country’s largest and most prestigious races: Haru-Iwa (Spring Iwatake) and Aki-Iwa (Autumn Iwatake).
These events drew thousands of participants, including elite riders from around the world, and even inspired bicycle manufacturers to develop new gear specifically for the occasion. But in the early 2000s, the momentum came to a sudden halt as the Hakuba MTB courses were closed and the scene faded.
That all changed in 2015 when Iwatake made its long-awaited return, reopening its MTB courses and reintroducing Hakuba as a premier destination for mountain biking in Japan. Today, riders from around the globe once again converge on its legendary slopes, proving that the spirit of MTB in Hakuba never truly disappeared—it was just gearing up for a comeback.
THE COMMUNITY FUELING HAKUBA’S MTB GROWTH
What truly powers Hakuba’s MTB scene is its passionate and tight-knit community. Young, local athletes are pushing the sport forward, competing in national events and representing Hakuba on a larger stage. Just as vital are the dedicated adults who organize races, build and maintain trails, and cultivate the kind of grassroots support that keeps the scene thriving.
FROM CLASSROOM TO PODIUM
Though still navigating the halls of high school, Tsubasa Hara has already carved out a place on the international MTB stage as a member of the Japan National Mountain Biking team. Her remarkable talent recently culminated in a Silver Medal at the Junior Class Asian MTB Championships this April, a testament to her rising trajectory in the sport.
Between training sessions and global competitions, Tsubasa-san is a full time student. Unsurprisingly she named P.E. (Physical Education) as her favorite subject. It is easy to see why. Tsubasa-san lives for movement and action. “I like mountain bikes,” she says with a gentle smile. The simple declaration carries countless hours of dedication, practice regimes, and perseverance required to excel on the world’s most challenging courses.
A FAMILY AFFAIR
That passion was not born in isolation. Her father, Tomoyoshi Hara, runs a small lodge, founded the Hakuba Mountain Bike Club, and has been deeply involved in their local riding scene for nearly a decade. Yet he never steered Tsubasa-san into competition. “It was always about having fun,” he says. “Not about winning, just being outside, riding bikes, and sharing that with the community.” That philosophy resonated deeply with Tsubasa-san.
While many young athletes cite famous riders as their inspiration, Tsubasa-san looks closer to home. Instead, she points to the local community and the reopening of the Iwatake course they ride together. “That had a big impact on me,” she explains. “That’s when I started taking it seriously.”
Her first defining memory on a bike? Claiming victory in a downhill race at Nozawa Onsen at the age of five. Since then, she’s been competing in the All-Japan Series, consistently raising her ambitions. Last year, she traveled to Australia for Crankworx, where she encountered a new caliber of riders and terrain. “There were way more jumps. The riders were better, so the courses matched their level,” she says. It fueled her motivation to work harder. Now, she is focused on improving her jumping, envisioning her next competitive ride.
BUILDING COMMUNITY
Tomoyoshi-san vividly remembers how it all began. A professional rider who stayed at their lodge gifted Tsubasa-san and her siblings their first real mountain bikes. That generous gift ignited something transformative. What began as the family’s summer outings gradually evolved into structured trail rides, skill workshops, and eventually the formation of a community-wide club, embraced by locals and visitors alike.
That playful spirit remains evident in Tsubasa-san’s approach, despite her competitive achievements. She laughs when describing their annual “candy race,” an event where riders loop a course and engage in spirited rock paper-scissors battles at each lap for sweet rewards. “It’s silly, but it’s so much fun,” she says, revealing the joy that exists in her relationship with the sport.
THE HAKUBA MOUNTAIN BIKE CLUB
Now in its ninth year, the Hakuba Mountain Bike Club has flourished into a community of 40 young riders who gather regularly for rides and events. The club’s flagship Hakuba Gravel Meeting attracts hundreds of participants to Hakuba each year. Mark your calendars for a weekend of gravel cycling, camaraderie, and mountain culture. This year’s event is scheduled for September 27-28, and will offer visitors a perfect opportunity to experience Hakuba’s cycling community firsthand.
MIND GAMES
When reflecting on Tsubasa-san’s biggest lessons from biking so far, she bypasses technique or trophies. “A coach once told me the most important thing is winning against your own mind,” she says. “That really stuck with me.” With each descent, it is clear Tsubasa-san is not simply racing others, but evolving as an athlete and an individual. Grounded by her Hakuba upbringing, supportive father, and deep love for the sport, Tsubasa-san continues navigating her own course through the mountain biking world, one line, one jump, one race at a time.
Driving the Growth of MTB in Hakuba
Isamu Hori has been a key figure in the revival of mountain biking (MTB) in Hakuba over the past two decades.
Since relocating to Hakuba over 20 years ago, Hori-san has held multiple roles within the community including that of being good, and bar guide, business owner, trail builder, and community event organizer. Today, as head of the bicycle program at Spicy Japan and the Representative Director of the Kita Alps Bike Association (KABA), Hori-san continues to sculpt the future of mountain biking in the region with the same passion that first brought him to the valley.
When Iwatake Mountain Resort embarked on revitalizing mountain biking in 2015, they hired Hori-san with a simple proposition: commit to supporting our winter operations, and have creative control to design and build trails in the summer. For Hori-san, it was a dream deal. Driven by his unwavering passion for the sport, he began carving mountain bike trails alongside likeminded enthusiasts and friends. His progress updates on social media caught the attention of the wider MTB community in Japan and generated further momentum. Recognizing the potential, the resort expanded their commitment, ultimately leading to a collaboration between Hori-san and world-class Australian trail builder, Evan Winton, to build trails to meet international standards. Through his vision and steadfast dedication, Iwatake has reemerged as one of Japan’s premier mountain biking destinations.
Beyond his professional endeavours, Hori-san dedicates his leisure time to serving as the Representative Director of the Kita Alps Bike Association (KABA), a grassroots organization founded in 2017. KABA aims to advance cycling culture in the Hakuba Valley and works to develop and maintain cycling trails, advocate for safe and responsible mountain biking, raise public awareness of the sport, and organize community events, skills workshops, and training sessions.
“I want the locals to be able to enjoy this new extreme sport—and most importantly, I want to give local children something active and exciting to do in the green season. A chance to be outside and away from their devices.”
As mountain biking continues to gain momentum in the Hakuba Valley, the growing community of riders proves that the sport’s revival was never about individual achievement, but rather a collective passion for connecting with nature, sharing experiences on the trails, and ensuring that future generations will have meaningful ways to enjoy these mountains year-round.
