Hanase Pass

Overview

Hanase Pass is a Category 1 climb in Japan, running 8.9 km from a start elevation of 149 m to a summit at 774 m. That gives a net elevation gain of 625 m — a substantial haul that puts it firmly in the day's headline-effort territory rather than a warm-up. At an average gradient of 7.02%, it is steep enough to reward riders who arrive with a plan and punish those who don't.

The number to watch is the gap between net gain and total ascent. You climb 625 m net, but the total ascent is 856 m — meaning roughly 231 m of descending and re-climbing is baked into the profile. This undulation matters: every metre you drop is a metre you have to earn back, often on a steeper ramp than the one you rolled down. Expect the climb to feel harder than a clean 625 m grind of the same length.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 7.02% average hides a lumpy reality. With 231 m of descent folded into the route, some sectors sit well above average to compensate for the flatter and downhill stretches. Treating the whole thing as a steady 7% will leave you over-geared and over-cooked on the ramps.

• Flatter and recovery sections where the road eases or briefly drops — use them to spin, not coast.
• Repeated short climbs stacked back to back, each one steeper than the running average.
• The steepest ramp, where the gradient bites hardest and gearing becomes decisive.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, even-effort beats even-speed. Chasing a constant speed forces you to surge on every steep pitch and soft-pedal on the flats — a fast route to blowing up. Instead, anchor your ride to your sustainable power output and hold a steady effort: let speed rise on the shallow bits and fall on the ramps while your power stays honest.

Because the profile keeps rebounding, resist the urge to bury yourself early. Know your ceiling before you start — run the numbers through the FTP estimator — and ride a hair below it on the steep sections so you have something left when the road pitches up again.

Gearing

The pitches here are what govern your setup, not the average. Come with a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette — a 34×32 or 34×34 gives you the low gears to spin the steepest ramps rather than grind them. Grinding at low cadence on repeated steep sectors drains your legs faster than the gradient alone suggests. Check your chainset and cassette before the ride; discovering you're over-geared halfway up a Category 1 climb is a mistake you only make once.

Summary

• Length: 8.9 km
• Average gradient: 7.02%
• Net elevation gain: 625 m
• Total ascent: 856 m
• Category: 1

Hanase Pass is a genuine Category 1 test: 8.9 km at 7.02%, with 856 m of total ascent hiding real undulation behind a 625 m net gain. Pace it by effort, gear it for the ramps, and let the flatter sections do the recovering for you.