New & Now
“Takenouchi Kaido Cycling Missions: Travel Japan’s Oldest National Roads” has begun
Japanese Heritage Takenouchi Kaido Cycling Stamp Rally
Takenouchi Kaido Cycling Missions: Travel Japan’s Oldest National Roads, a cycling event traveling the Takenouchi Kaido Japanese heritage site has begun.
Five routes in all from Osaka to Asuka were supervised by cyclists, so you can enjoy cycling routes that include cultural properties, etc., dotting the roadside in the cities, towns, and villages along the way while you follow the Takenouchi Kaido/Yoko-oji roads, some of Japan’s oldest national roads.
There will also be drawings to win local specialty products, so be please sure to participate.
Event Period
Friday, October 10, 2024 to Sunday, December 15, 2024
Routes
There are three routes on the Osaka Prefecture end and two routes on the Nara Prefecture end, for a total of five routes.
Osaka Prefecture End
| Route 1 | Sakai to Kawachi-Matsubara Takenouchi Kaido West Route (Sakai City, Matsubara City) | About 25.5km |
| Route 2 | Habikino to Taishi Takenouchi Kaido Chikatsu Asuka Route (Habikino City, Taishi Town) | About 17.4km |
| Route 3 | Tracing the Naniwa Taido from Osaka Castle to Takenouchi Kaido Route (Osaka City, Sakai City) | About 16km |
Nara Prefecture End
| Route 4 | Kashihara-Yamatotakada-Katsuragi Yoko-oji Crossing Route (Kashihara City, Yamatotakada City, Katsuragi City) | About 12.4km |
| Route 5 | Onward, to the birthplace of Japan! Asuka Circuit Route (Kashihara City, Asuka Village, Sakurai City) | About 30.1km |
How to Participate
Please download the DIIG mission app on your smartphone or tablet. Create an account, select “Cycling Challenges” under “Search the World” on the app screen, select a course under “Ongoing/Upcoming Events,” press the “Participate” button, and you are finished.
After you press “Attempt Mission,” set your location information while riding, and if you press “GPS Check-in” at all of the spots on the route, you will clear the event (complete the course).
*Participation is free (Users are responsible for connection fees)
Prizes
For each course, there will be a prize drawing for the following local specialty products (45 winners total)
・Route 1: One of either a Takeno Senko Hirali hand towel (Sakai City), or a two-piece set of Takeuchi Nori flavored nori (Matsubara City)
・Route 2: One of either a 720ml bottle of limited-edition aged plum liquor (Habikino City), or an assortment of citrus fruit grown in Taishi (Taishi Town)
・Route 3: A Yoroshii Take Kobo assortment set (Osaka City)
・Route 4: One of either a miniature cask of Shusse Otoko sake (Kashihara City), a Dokkoi Manju assortment (Katsuragi City), or Kotoka strawberries (Yamatotakada City)
・Route 5: One of either a miniature cask of Shusse Otoko sake (Kashihara City), a 720ml bottle of Tanzan Kijoshu sake (Sakurai City), or a rice-flour strawberry roll cake (Asuka Village)
How to Enter
When you clear an event (complete a course) you receive a “Reward Ticket” on the “Rewards” screen which you can use to enter the drawing during the event period.
The drawing will be done after the event period ends, and the prizes will be shipped to the winners as necessary.
*You will be notified of the drawing results whether you win or lose.
*You cannot select a prize when entering.
Organizer
The Executive Committee for the Revitalization of the Takenouchi Kaido/Yoko-oji Road: Japan’s Oldest National Highway from Naniwa to Asuka
(Members: Osaka City, Sakai City, Matsubara City, Habikino City, Taishi Town, Katsuragi City, Yamatotakada City, Kashihara City, Sakurai City, Asuka Village, Osaka Prefecture, Nara Prefecture)
Contact Information
Katsuragi City Hall
Industry and Tourism Department, Commercial Tourism Promotion Section
Address: 166 Kakimoto, Katsuragi-shi, Nara
Telephone: 0745-44-5111
Fax: 0745-44-5008
