Whether you are experienced, sporty, or you just want to feel the wind in your face whilst traveling around the country, cycling tours are a must-try in Japan! Grab a bicycle and ride through nature and cities to fully dive into the country’s beauty. Trust us, there is no better way to experience the land of the rising sun. But with so many options available, it can be hard to know where to start. Well, no worries, we built up a list of 10 short and fun cycling routes to get your adventure started!
First, let’s start with some possible cycling routes in the Tokyo area.
Imperial Palace – Ueno – Asakusa Loop
For a 1 to 2-hour ride, you will get to explore Koto city with this popular 24 km loop trail from Ryogoku that will bring you through many culturally popular areas along the trail, such as Asakusa, Ueno, and the Imperial Palace, before returning to your starting point. And, as a bonus, you might also have a view of the Skytree, near Sumida Park. This trail is particularly enjoyable during the Sakura season, so make sure to save it for Spring! Keep in mind, though, you might encounter many pedestrians, as it is also a popular walking trail. (Check alltrails.com for more info about the route.)
Sumida Park during Bokutei Sakura Festival – Credits: Tokyo Cheapo
Many rivers also pass through Tokyo, and you can easily follow their banks for a nice bicycle tour around the prefecture’s cities! Let’s have a look at a couple of these that you could try.
Edogawa River
Let’s start with the Edogawa river for a 64 km long (around 4 hours) cycling course starting from Saitama, following Tokyo and Chiba’s common borders. Many people shorten this cycling route and start from Mizumoto Park in Katsushika city to end up in Shibamata city. There is also the Tora-san museum, temples, beautiful nature, and many bike rental locations along the way! The course is really flexible and customisable, allowing a lot of freedom. Here’s an example of an itinerary on Google Maps.
Arakawa River
From Tokyo Bay to Saitama’s Chichibu area, you can engage in an 80 km cycling tour along the Arakawa River. On the road, enjoy a break in a café or a restaurant as there are many along the route, admire the city’s green scenery, and have wonderful views of the ocean. As the river runs for around 170 km in total, there are a lot of possible paths to follow, but spots not to miss are probably Kasai Rinkai Park and Sakura-Tsutsumi Park to take a rest. Here’s a guide to the Arakawa Cycling Route.
Kasai Rinkai Park – Credits: KKday blog
Not far from Tokyo, in the Yamanashi prefecture, there are also many places offering beautiful landscapes that can be appreciated while riding a bicycle.
Lake Kawaguchi
On this route, you can go for an 18 km loop around Lake Kawaguchi, the most popular of the Fuji Five Lakes, and enjoy wonderful views of Mount Fuji all along the cycling route, which is clearly guided through a continuous blue line. Oh, and don’t forget to take pictures. There are many nice spots on the road, as well as bars and other stops to rest, with entertaining festivals and events all year round. There is a rental bike shop near Kawaguchiko station, from where you can easily access the lake with the directions indicated.
View on Mount Fuji from Kawaguchiko lakeside – Credits: Stella
Go south from there, and you’ll find the prefecture of Shizuoka, which is overflowing with wonderful cycling routes! To help you, our friends and partners, Visit Suruga has put up several cycling tours with electric bikes provided to guide you through all of Suruga’s beauty!
Bike tour around Suruga Bay – Credit: Visit Suruga
E-bike tour of Suruga Bay coastline and harbor
Engage in a 4-hour ride around Suruga Bay coastline and Harbor, with many entertaining activities, experiences, and spectacular views along the way. The cycling route schedule starts at Shimizu Fish Market, goes along the Pacific Ocean in Miho after having boarded on a water bus, and ends with a relaxing time in Mochimune. If you are looking for a nice group trip to discover the beauty of Suruga Bay, you can check the tour information here.
Break in a Tea Field in Suruga – Credit: Visit Suruga
“Omotenashi E-bike Tour” experience at Ashikubo Tea House
Learn about the unique tea culture of Shizuoka through a tour along the Abe River in Ashikubo, and admire unique landscapes with the mountain and the river. Enjoy nice views of the tea fields during a visit to a traditional farm, where you will also have the opportunity to taste local tea flavors and experience the origins of tea culture. If you like tea and adventures, this tour is obviously a must-do! You can read the details here.
There are many other interesting tours that could fit your interests in Suruga. Don’t hesitate to visit their website to get more information on available e-bike tours, and other adventures in this incredible hidden gem of an area.
Cycling tour through Ashikubo – Credits: Outdoor Japan
If you continue west, you’ll arrive near Shikoku! Here, you’ll find one of the most famous national cycling routes in all of Japan.
Shimanami Kaido Cycling
Starting in Onomichi-ku in Hiroshima Prefecture, take a smooth 70 km long cycling trip through Setonaikai National Park in Seto Inland Sea Oshima with breathtaking views, to finally end your tour in the city of Imabari in Ehime Prefecture. On the road, you will encounter many observation spots such as: the 1st triple suspension bridge in the world (Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge that spans 4 km long), 1 of the “3 Great Castles of Japan” (Imabari Castle) which has a 360-degree panoramic view, and of course the Kirosan Observatory Park where you can enjoy the best view on the Shimanami Kaido Cycling Road.
Shimanami Kaido Suspension Bridge over Seto Inland Sea – Credits: meinen ryu on Pexels
Let’s go to the south of Japan, where many beautiful scenes are an absolute must for any nature lover, so let’s grab a bike and check those shorter but no less interesting roads to ride on.
Yunohira Observatory – Sakurajima Port Driving Route
In Kagoshima, Kyushu, you can enjoy a nice cycling tour around Sakurajima, where Japan’s most active volcano is located. Start at Sakurajima Port, next to the Dinosaur Park, stop at the Yunohira Observatory in the middle, and enjoy views of Mount Sakurajima. This route is a 14 km long loop, and features many of the beauties of the region of Kagoshima. You will likely encounter many spots on the road, mountains, and parks, to take pictures or just to admire Japan’s great natural landscapes. Here is an itinerary of the initial road.
View on Sakurajima volcano – Credits: Winged Jedi on Unsplash
If you are in Okinawa, a tiny archipelago in the south of Kyushu, don’t worry, there are also many nice cycling roads to enjoy the island’s beauty.
Mid-Sea Road bridge, Okinawa – Credits: Shobunsha Publications
Yonashiro Park – Shirumichu Site
In the east of Okinawa, start in Yonashiro Park and cycle along the bridge to Henza island and have a wonderful 360-degree view of Okinawa’s blue water. You will end the trip in Hamahiga island, at style=”font-weight: 400;”>Kumakuma beach, and rest there after all the cycling. Breathe the sacred air of this island where two gods of the Ryukyu mythology are enshrined, Shirumichu and Amamichu. There are many rental bike shops around 10 km away from the starting point (Yonashiro Park). There are also plenty of good photo spots along the road to take the best shots of this 20 km long cycling road! Here is an itinerary of the road.
Towards Hamahiga island cycling tour, nearest bike shop – Credits: Google Maps screenshot by Stella
Ie Island Cycling
Enjoy a nice 30 km loop — or more, depending on the spots you stop at — around Ie Island in the west of Okinawa! All you need to do is jump on the ferry and start your trip there. On the program: many hibiscus flowers, breathtaking seascapes, memorials and historical monuments from the battle of Okinawa, and of course, a nice stop at Mount Gusuku for a little hike to the top, where you can enjoy a unique view of the island. Visiting Ie by bike is not difficult at all; there are many signs and maps around the island to guide you.
Bikes parked near Wajee viewpoint, Ie island– Credits: Zimmin Around The World
And there you have it! 10 cycling routes that go through beautiful Japanese scenery all around the country! Whether you are more of a city person or rather prefer to dive into nature, there might be your dream course on this list. Of course, while driving, please respect Japanese traffic rules and stay safe on your bike, for you and for others. Now, the question is: Which route are you gonna try first?
Featured Photo Credit: Jan Bouken on Pexels
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