Cycling Hokkaido

In this episode, Marty dives into the Sapporo Snow Festival as it kicks off—then takes a delicious detour into where to find great cheese in Sapporo. He also explores the glory that is Japanese department store basement food floors, from fresh sushi and smoothies to pyramid-shaped watermelons and croissants.

There’s also a quick update on life up here in Hokkaido, and how we’re staying active through the winter months.

If you like what you hear, hit subscribe, leave a comment, and share the episode with your friends.

Want more on the history of the Sapporo Snow Festival? Check out Ep.24 of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0l13YkP9zYhxV43sely?si=pvxK1aldQ8aFlTUbWLNbww&t=212

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🚴🏻Fuel your ride with POW BAR! 10% off for Cycling Hokkaido podcast listeners. Use the link here:

https://thepowbar.com/discount/CyclingHokkaido?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fenergy-bar

In life we are all still on our way. Some of the rides we do are such perfect metaphors for life. This episode has some things that I hope resonate with you all. This week Hokkaido sure is playing hardball, eh?

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🚴🏻Fuel your ride with POW BAR! 10% off for Cycling Hokkaido podcast listeners. Use the link here:

https://thepowbar.com/discount/CyclingHokkaido?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fenergy-bar

So last year, our New Year's holiday in Thailand was pretty much destroyed by mechanical problems, this year the holiday was awesome!

Bangkok and Koh Phangan are amazing places. In Bangkok we saw some beautiful places and ate some excellent food. On Koh Phangan we chilled out during the day and partied like New Year's deserves.

Not only that but there was a lot of life lessons learned along the way.

As always, I hope you enjoy and find value in this episode of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast.

Ep.71 Happy New Year: Koh Samui, Thailand

https://open.spotify.com/episode/3YYnPn39Gx4SqUQwJdOkoq?si=cQJDuYiGTYW6GWWBsOXzlA

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buymeacoffee.com/cyclinghokkaido

🚴🏻Fuel your ride with POW BAR! 10% off for Cycling Hokkaido podcast listeners. Use the link here:

https://thepowbar.com/discount/CyclingHokkaido?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fenergy-bar

Happy New Year!!

Up here in Hokkaido New Year's is a bit different than in other places in Japan. The feasting goes on for a few days and starts on December 31st. In much of the rest of Japan, people don't start chowing down until January 1st.

In this episode of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast I give you a little glimpse into how New Year's is celebrated up here —what people eat and what they do. I hope you enjoy Ep.123 Rolling Into 2026.

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🚴🏻Fuel your ride with POW BAR! 10% off for Cycling Hokkaido podcast listeners. Use the link here:

https://thepowbar.com/discount/CyclingHokkaido?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fenergy-bar

2025 was a great year, eh! New places were explored, new limits were tested, and I got to meet a whole lot of excellent new people.

This year also gave me a much greater appreciation for Ainu culture and history and Hokkaido's history in general. All of that adds so much more meaning to the rides.

Through all the rain and over all the hills, it's all of you that keeps me going. Thank you! And folks, I look forward to meeting a whole lot more of you in 2026!

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🚴🏻Fuel your ride with POW BAR! 10% off for Cycling Hokkaido podcast listeners. Use the link here:

https://thepowbar.com/discount/CyclingHokkaido?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fenergy-bar

Small Podcast, Real Listeners!

Folks, thank you all so much for tuning in to the show in 2025. I can't believe the numbers the Cycling Hokkaido podcast's Wrapped 2025 put up. Woo!! We are definitely heading in the right direction. In this episode I'm going to talk about what those numbers actually mean, how the show has grown and why it feels bigger than I ever expected. Thank you all so much for coming along for the ride.

And a HUGE thank you to all of you who came on the show over the past year, you are all a part of what boosted the numbers. With any luck, we'll be able to keep that momentum going in 2026. This episode is a thank you to all of you that have tuned in and enjoyed the show. I hope more of you get in touch and we can enjoy going for a spin in Hokkaido.

Happy Holidays, Marty!!

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https://thepowbar.com/discount/CyclingHokkaido?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fenergy-bar

So much happened this week! Life in Japan can be absolutely wild. One minute you might be going along, happy as a clam, the next you're worried if your ceiling is gonna collapse in on you. That's unfortunately a part of life in a country that's prone to earthquakes. But then you have all the great stuff that comes along with living in Sapporo, and one of those things is the annual Sapporo White Illumination in Sapporo. Odori is always a cool place to hang out but this time of year is always beautiful. And how cool was it that we got to hang out with Leslie Kee!?!? That was a most excellent conversation! The world is full of beautiful people! As always, I hope you enjoy this episode of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast.

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buymeacoffee.com/cyclinghokkaido

🚴🏻Fuel your ride with POW BAR! 10% off for Cycling Hokkaido podcast listeners. Use the link here:

https://thepowbar.com/discount/CyclingHokkaido?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fenergy-bar

Cycling is obviously coming to an end, is the storm of December 3rd it!? We shall see. I'm seriously hoping for a few more riding days but it looks like this could be it. Having said that, cycling isn't the be all and end all of life here in Hokkaido. There is a ton of great food to be eaten and ton of great people for that food to be shared with! We had some of the best yakitori ever the other night and it had been a long process getting to it. Hahaha!! As always, I hope you enjoy and find value in this episode of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast.

Follow Cycling Hokkaido on Instagram:

www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/

Buy Me a Coffee:

buymeacoffee.com/cyclinghokkaido

🚴🏻Fuel your ride with POW BAR! 10% off for Cycling Hokkaido podcast listeners. Use the link here:

https://thepowbar.com/discount/CyclingHokkaido?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fenergy-bar

I can't believe I never knew crows were such stone cold killers! That was a brutal scene we came across in Asari the other day, but at least it was a learning experience. The season is most definitely winding down but we should be able to get a couple more rides in. And according to the study I talk about in this episode, cycling as often as possible could have some very important benefits beyond losing belly fat. As always, I hope you enjoy and find value in this episode.

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Here's a link to episode 15 so you don't have to hunt for it:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2YdMBXV8oDxkrALe3DzFS7?si=GhBsCR67QOebIKZ5JRFpBw&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A6y20TkPg3B02gyfcZBZ473

Buy Me a Coffee:

buymeacoffee.com/cyclinghokkaido

🚴🏻Fuel your ride with POW BAR! 10% off for Cycling Hokkaido podcast listeners. Use the link here:

https://thepowbar.com/discount/CyclingHokkaido?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fenergy-bar

Winter is upon us! Ishikari got slammed pretty hard, actually really hard for November 18th. I know we have to shovel a lot of snow up here in Ishikari but on November 18th!?!? It seems we're in for a long winter but so be it, let's go! And it looks like many, many of you know about this already, but did you know that chocolate milk might be the best recovery drink out there? I didn't. I've only just learned this. Anyhoo, I hope you enjoy and find value in this episode of the Cycling Hokkaido podcast.

Follow Cycling Hokkaido on Instagram:

www.instagram.com/cycling.hokkaido.podcast/

Buy Me a Coffee:

buymeacoffee.com/cyclinghokkaido

🚴🏻Fuel your ride with POW BAR! 10% off for Cycling Hokkaido podcast listeners. Use the link here:

https://thepowbar.com/discount/CyclingHokkaido?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fenergy-bar