See & Do
Central Area

Japan Cup Cycle Road Race

Events

Asia’s most prestigious cycling road race

Utsunomiya city hosts the major cycle road race held every October. Top-class cyclists from around the world gather here to compete， the only chance to see the “Tour de France” cyclists in Japan! Oh-dori (main street) is closed off， and the sight of the criterium turning the streets into a racecourse is totally exhilarating.

Basic Information

Telephone Number	028-689-9311
Website	http://www.japancup.gr.jp/
Date	mid-October
Venue	Utsunomiya Forest Park course (1 lap 14.1km/the last lap 10.3km)Utsunomiya Oh-dori course (1 lap 1.55km)Utsunomiya Castle Ruins Park courseOrion Square (Utsunomiya city centre)

Central Area

Utsunomiya, the most populous city in Tochigi, is about an hour from Tokyo by Shinkansen, and serves as a major transportation hub for the different regions of the prefecture. In addition to being known for its famous Gyoza (pan-fried dumplings), Utsunomiya is called the “city of jazz and cocktails”, as there are numerous venues for hearing live jazz music, and the bartenders are quite skilled, so there are plenty of options for enjoyable nightlife.