Astuto Riders House

The traditional house has a cozy, welcoming cycling-café feel, and I had a wonderful two-day stay at Tim & Naoko’s place. I was given two excellent routes with lovely sights, historic stops, cafés, and some satisfyingly challenging stretches. There was so much to do along them that I’ll have to come back to finish the experience.

I stayed at GS Astuto before and after a five-day solo cycling trip, and the room was spacious and clean, with AC and access to a shared toilet and shower. The full breakfast was a highlight. The location is right at the gateway to some of the most beautiful roads I’ve ridden, in the Nagano mountains and Japan Alps. There are so many great roads to choose from that you can’t really go wrong. I rode a titanium road bike, which was amazing, and rented all the packs I needed to set it up for the trip. Tim, the owner, is a bike wizard who seems to know just about everything about bikes. He and his wife Naoko were exceptional hosts. Tim also knows the region well and, after years of riding there, gave me valuable advice on what to expect and where to go. The bike expertise, hospitality, and location made this a cyclist’s dream. I wouldn’t rent from anyone else and am already looking forward to returning. For a cycling tour in Japan, this is a great place to start. Thanks again for a legendary trip!

I came mostly for the food, but Tim showed me more hospitality than any other Japanese host I’ve met. I’m not even sure if he trained his dog to greet guests, because the dog was so well-behaved it felt surreal. As someone who’s lived in Hokuriku a long time, I thought the dorm room was a bit pricey. But Tim’s a great guy, and Naoko's amazing cooking made up for it. No surprise the reviews are so good.

Tim is a wise, experienced owner, Naoko is a caring host, and Latte the dog and the two cats are part of the place too. This is my cycling base of choice. The guest house, bike shop, and cafe come together into something distinctive, and the bikes are great, carefully prepared by Tim and his mechanic. It’s the spirit here that sets it apart. Recommended if you want to switch from Tokyo to the countryside and enjoy cycling.