IRJP MTB Park:
Building Skills, Confidence and a Lifelong Passion for Riding

For nearly two decades, Hanyu-san has been developing IRJP MTB Park in Gunma Prefecture, Japan. What began as a personal ambition to introduce more variety to Japanese mountain biking has evolved into a riding space focused on progression, technique and confidence.

The inspiration came in 2003, when Hanyu-san participated in the Red Bull Ride in Australia. Encountering unfamiliar jumps and technical features highlighted gaps in his own riding experience and sparked an idea to create a park in Japan where riders could develop a broader range of skills.

In 2006, shortly after opening his bicycle shop, a customer offered him access to land. For the first decade, Hanyu-san built features largely by hand, stacking logs and shaping sections himself. Inspired by footage of Japanese rider Go Sekiguchi tackling large jumps in Whistler, he eventually introduced machinery to construct bigger and more technical features.

Learning Through Experience

Despite his downhill racing background, Hanyu-san initially had limited experience designing jumps, as Japanese downhill courses at the time rarely featured substantial jump sections.

Advice from accomplished rider Hiro Imaizumi helped refine his approach, while visits from riders including Hajime Imoto and the Kushima brothers provided further opportunities to observe different techniques and improve the park’s design.

Today, IRJP’s philosophy centres on safety, progression and versatility. Longer takeoff lips, generous landing areas and features of varying shapes and sizes encourage riders to develop different techniques, from generating speed and momentum to improving weight distribution and cornering.

For Hanyu-san, good riding isn’t simply about speed or jump size. It’s about developing the skills to enjoy different terrain at any pace, allowing mountain biking to remain rewarding throughout life.

Independent Development, Lasting Impact

IRJP has largely been a one-man operation, with Hanyu-san preferring to develop and manage the park at his own pace. More recently, his experience has extended beyond IRJP, including an invitation in 2025 to assist with course development at Katashina Kogen Ski Resort in Gunma.

While his early motivation came from the enjoyment of creating new features, Hanyu-san now finds greater satisfaction in watching riders progress.

Recognising that many Japanese riders are hesitant about jumping or unsure where to begin, his ambition is to provide an environment where they can build confidence, develop their technique and discover what’s possible.

After nearly twenty years, IRJP MTB Park remains driven by a straightforward philosophy: it’s not about building the biggest jumps, but helping riders develop the skills and confidence to enjoy them.