# Ep.149 Mashike, Route 231 & Tunnel Bypass Options

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/cycling-hokkaido-6690801/ep-149-mashike-route-231-tunnel-bypass-options
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/cycling-hokkaido-6690801/ep-149-mashike-route-231-tunnel-bypass-options.md
Podcast: [Cycling Hokkaido](https://stenobird.com/podcast/cycling-hokkaido-6690801)
Published: 2026-07-02T20:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/martin3496/episodes/Ep-149-Mashike--Route-231--Tunnel-Bypass-Options-e3lgvhg
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/e7fbc4c0/podcast/play/122239984/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-6-1%2Fd360b503-095a-f443-bbf7-2e81e8149f15.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/cycling-hokkaido-6690801/episodes/ep-149-mashike-route-231-tunnel-bypass-options
Duration seconds: 1557

## Resource

In this episode, I head to Mashike to meet up with a friend who is camping by the coast. Over peanut butter&jelly sandwiches and a Frisbee chuck about, we had a great afternoon. Also in this episode I explore the town's history and what makes Mashike such an interesting destination. I also take a much closer look at Route 231, discussing some of its more challenging tunnels, why they can be intimidating for cyclists, and several alternative routes that let you bypass those maniacal tunnels while still loving Hokkaido's most excellent coastal scenery. If you're thinking of riding this part of the Sea of Japan coast, you'll probably find what you're looking for in this episode. Have fun out there, folks! Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/cyclinghokkaido Cycling Hokkaido podcast Instagram page: www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/ Brad Bennet's Website & Instagram: www.freewheeling.jp www.instagram.com/freewheeling.jp/

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## Transcript

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