Gunma Cycle Sports Center is a unique bicycle-themed leisure facility located in Minakami, Gunma Prefecture. Affectionately known by locals as “Gunsai”, the center spreads across part of the scenic Omine Plateau and offers an exciting outdoor experience where children and adults can enjoy being active together.
Unlike a conventional amusement park, bicycles are the main attraction here. The center features a wide variety of unusual bicycles and cycling attractions, making it a fun and healthy destination where visitors can exercise while enjoying themselves. It is particularly popular with families, friends, and groups looking for an active day surrounded by nature.
Gunma Cycle Sports Center is surrounded by lush green mountains, providing an open and refreshing environment for outdoor activities. The clean mountain air and changing scenery of the seasons add to the appeal of spending time here.
The grounds include an approximately 6-kilometer forest-road-style course where visitors can enjoy cycling and running. There is also a dedicated circuit designed for road racing. The full course is approximately 6 kilometers long, while the short course measures 1.2 kilometers.
With numerous curves and significant changes in elevation, the circuit provides a challenging ride even for experienced cyclists. Today, the facilities are used not only for bicycle sports but also for automobile testing and motorsports events.
One of the biggest highlights of Gunsai is its collection of unusual and creatively designed bicycles. These are very different from ordinary two-wheeled bicycles. Some require two or more people to pedal together, while others have unusual mechanisms that make it surprisingly difficult to move straight ahead.
Many of the bicycles are rarely seen elsewhere, making them especially entertaining for families and groups of friends. The facility also rents out bicycles for special events, and some have even been used at weddings.
This unusual attraction looks like a small locomotive, but instead of an engine, it is powered by the riders themselves. Participants must pedal to move along approximately 400 meters of track.
The route passes between trees and through a tunnel, creating the feeling of taking a miniature train journey while using your own leg power. It is an entertaining experience for both children and adults.
The Spin Cycle challenges the usual idea that a bicycle should move forward when you pedal. Instead, pedaling causes the bicycle to spin around on the spot.
Keeping it moving in a straight line can be surprisingly difficult, often resulting in plenty of laughter. Its stable, tricycle-like design makes it suitable for a wide range of ages, from elementary school children to adults.
The High-Rise Cycle allows riders to sit much higher off the ground than on an ordinary bicycle, giving them a completely different perspective as they travel around the course.
The extra height requires a good sense of balance and adds a touch of excitement. Some versions are designed for two people to pedal together, encouraging communication and teamwork as they ride.
The Tri-Cycle is a uniquely designed bicycle that riders operate in an almost reclining position. With the rider sitting very close to the ground, the low viewpoint can feel similar to sitting in an F1 racing car.
The combination of speed and a low riding position creates an exhilarating experience, and completing the course can provide the satisfying feeling of finishing a race.
The Off-Road Cycle attraction takes riders onto an uneven course rather than a smooth paved road. The changes in elevation add an element of thrill and concentration, providing a cycling experience quite different from ordinary recreational riding.
By making use of the natural terrain, the course allows visitors to experience the distinctive fun of off-road cycling.
A dedicated area is also available for enjoying kick scooters. Different courses are designed for improving riding skills as well as for traveling longer distances at higher speeds.
Children can enjoy the area with their families, while adults can also join in and have fun.
An 18-hole miniature golf course is set among the trees, allowing visitors to enjoy a relaxed game surrounded by nature.
It is also a good way to take a break after enjoying the cycling attractions. Because the sport is easy to try regardless of age, families and groups can enjoy playing together.
The Gunsai Museum is particularly popular with automobile enthusiasts and anyone interested in vehicles and machines.
Exhibits include rally cars, supercars, and F1 racing cars that have been active in Japan and around the world. The museum also displays plastic models of military aircraft and tanks, offering something of interest to visitors of different generations.
Photography is permitted, making the museum a fun place to capture memorable photos. A trick-art area is also available, allowing visitors to interact with the exhibits rather than simply viewing them.
Admission to the museum is included in the facility’s usage fee, so visitors can easily stop by while exploring the center.
The 6-kilometer circuit is a full-scale course designed to accommodate high-level racing and is suitable for professional and advanced users.
Its combination of elevation changes and complex corners makes it a challenging and rewarding course. Visitors who wish to drive automobiles on the circuit must either arrange a private course rental or participate in an organized driving event.
A large open area within the facility can be used as temporary parking during major events. It is also utilized for activities such as gymkhana and drift driving events.
In 2021, a new multipurpose area was also developed, expanding the facility’s ability to host a variety of motorsports and other events.
The center is also planning to further develop its barbecue and camping areas. Plans include facilities for daytime barbecues, tent camping, and automobile camping, creating more opportunities for visitors to enjoy an extended outdoor experience.
There are also plans to develop programs combining these activities with hot springs and sightseeing attractions in the surrounding area.
With these developments, Gunma Cycle Sports Center is evolving beyond a bicycle attraction into a comprehensive outdoor recreation destination where visitors can enjoy cycling, camping, barbecues, and the natural environment of Minakami.
Gunma Cycle Sports Center opened in 1983 with the goal of helping develop and train competitive cyclists.
The facility was initially operated with support from organizations associated with bicycle sports. However, following changes in its business circumstances, management was transferred to a private company in 2002.
The center has also gained recognition among motorsports enthusiasts through activities such as the filming of video magazines and other automotive-related productions.
During the winter months, from December through March, some areas of the facility are closed because of snowfall. During the other seasons, the center attracts many visitors looking to enjoy its outdoor activities.
By car, Gunma Cycle Sports Center is approximately 20 minutes west from either the Minakami Interchange or Tsukiyono Interchange on the Kan-Etsu Expressway.
For visitors using public transportation, taking a taxi from Jōmō-Kōgen Station or Gokan Station is a convenient option.
Gunma Cycle Sports Center is much more than an ordinary amusement park. It is a distinctive destination where visitors can experience the joy of exercise and outdoor recreation through bicycles.
From unusual bicycles and challenging circuit courses to the Gunsai Museum and miniature golf course, the facility offers a wide variety of activities for different interests and age groups.
Surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Minakami, it is a place where families and friends can spend an active and memorable day together. For travelers looking for a fun way to enjoy the outdoors while experiencing something a little different from a conventional sightseeing attraction, Gunma Cycle Sports Center offers a truly unique experience.