I did the Tour in its second and third years, and it was new enough to still be getting very splashy spreads in the local Hokuriku newspapers. Here's one from one of the most scenic points along the way, with the "Meoto-iwa" husband-and-wife rocks in the background.

The local newspapers also played up the fact that a number of foreign cyclists, both invited professionals and ordinary folk, participated in the ride. Here's a sidebar stressing that point, with a photo of some of the non-Japanese riders (including yours truly, standing).