I participated in the Tour de Tohoku 2023 held on Sunday, September 17, 2023.
This article is “The previous day”.
The situation on the day of the event is ``On the day”.
What is Tour de Tohoku?
Tour de Tohokuis a popular long ride event that runs through areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.
It's a long ride event, so it's not about competing for position or time like in Yowamushi Pedal, but for finishing the race.
The course ranges from 65km up to a 210km round trip from Ishinomaki to Kesennuma, making it an event that everyone from beginners to experts can enjoy.
Highly difficult to participate
Since this is a popular event, it is not guaranteed that you will be able to participate if you apply; only those who successfully win through a high-rate lottery will be able to participate.
The previous tournaments were held on a smaller scale, but this time it will be held normally for the first time in a while, and since it is the commemorative 10th tournament, it seems that the odds were even higher.
You can of course apply as an individual, but you can also apply as a pair, so you can apply with two friends, a couple, or a couple.
There is also a plan where if you pay about 20,000 yen or less, you are almost guaranteed to participate and receive a novelty item.
If you want to participate in a group of 3 or more people, or if you want to be sure to participate because you participate every year, or if you can adjust your schedule without fail, this seems like a good option.
hotel problems
Even if you successfully win and are able to participate, the next problem is the hotel issue.
A total of over 2,000 people will participate in the event.
Hotels in Ishinomaki, the start and finish point, do not have the capacity to accommodate more than 2,000 people, so hotels in the area around +10km to 15km are fully booked.
Even so, it seems that there are some people who are unable to book a hotel and are disappointed.
The date of the event will be announced in advance, so it is best to make a tentative reservation for accommodation before the winners are announced.
If you are unsuccessful, you will have to cancel, so I don't think this is a good idea, but if you don't do this, it will become a competition for hotels to the point where you won't be able to make reservations.
As a last resort, some people seem to choose to sleep in their cars at internet cafes or roadside stations.
After I won, I tried to book a hotel, but when I looked at the booking site, it was all sold out. .
After watching for a while, I was lucky enough to be able to book a hotel that released the Tour de Tohoku plan after the winner was announced.I was able to avoid internet cafes and sleeping in the car.
The day before
First, take the Shinkansen from Tokyo Station to Sendai, then transfer to the Senseki Line and head towards Ishinomaki.
I got off at Ishinomaki, but not at Ishinomaki.Yamoto Station is 6 stations before Ishinomaki.
The hotel I was able to book was not around Ishinomaki, but around Yamoto Station.
The start and finish point, Ishinomaki Senshu University, is approximately 10km away.
You'll have to drive 10km on your own before running 210km, but it's mostly flat so as long as you don't fly, it won't be a problem, and most importantly, it's enough to be able to stay in a place that you can drive on your own.
Today we will be staying at ``Value The Hotel Higashimatsushima Yamoto”.
https://hb.afl.rakuten.co.jp/hgc/1dbf8fad.4a5d8164.1dbf8fae.092c41c8/?pc=httpstravel.rakuten.co.jpHOTEL142898142898.htmlcidtr_af_1632&link_type=hybrid_url&ut=eyJwYWdlIjoiaXRlbSIsInR5cGUiOiJoeWJyaWRfdXJsIiwic2l6ZSI6IjB4MCIsIm5hbSI6MSwibmFtcCI6InJpZ2h0IiwiY29tIjoxLCJjb21wIjoiZG93biIsInByaWNlIjowLCJib3IiOjEsImNvbCI6MSwiYmJ0biI6MSwicHJvZCI6MCwiYW1wIjpmYWxzZX0
It looks more like an apartment than a hotel.
The room was a normal hotel with a desk, bed, and unit bath.
The good news is that the Tour de Tohoku plan allows you to bring your road bike indoors.
Aeon Town Yamoto is next to the hotel, and there are supermarkets and restaurants.
This is a great location for people who come by bike instead of by car, as they don't have to go far on their road bikes to shop.
After checking in, we headed to Aeon Town next door for a late lunch and early dinner.
The ramen shop I was looking for was on lunch break, soGo to a certain high-end Italian restaurant.
I took in lots of carbohydrates and protein.
After the meal, I went to the supermarket to buy water and tomorrow's breakfast.
After returning to the room, I took a shower, lazed around in bed, and turned off the lights around 8pm, but I guess I didn't get to sleep until after 9pm.
If you often participate in events, you may have some questions here.
Didn't you accept it the day before?
That's right. We do not accept reservations the day before.
This is because, for this Tour de Tohoku 2023, there is no reception the day before, only registration on the day.
I think it's common for events like this to be accepted the day before and the event to be held the next day.
By accepting registrations the day before, most participants will have no choice but to stay overnight, which will result in a considerable amount of money being lost to the local community.
However, even if there is no reception the day before, unless you live nearby, you will have to stay overnight, and in the end all the hotels are full and crowded, so I think you are saving money, so I don't think this is a problem.
In fact, since there is no reception the day before, participants only have to travel the day before, which is good because it reduces the burden on participants.
So, next time,On the day” at.
