Popular cycling routes in Japan include the Shimanami Kaido, a scenic island-hopping path in the Seto Inland Sea, and the Pacific Cycling Road, Japan’s longest route along the Pacific coast. Other notable routes are the Biwaichi circuit around Lake Biwa, the Tokapuchi 400 in Hokkaido for nature lovers, and the Tsukuba-Kasumigaura Ring-ring Road near Tokyo.
What are cycling routes like in Japan?
While Japan is a wonderful place for cycling, Japan doesn’t have a lot of dediced cycling infrastructure. Compared to most of Europe and even parts of North America, it can feel like the cycling infrastrcture is significantly lacking.
One of the reasons that Japan doesn’t really need the cycling infrastructure is that with speed limits never more that 60kph and the vast majority of roads that cyclists will take is lower making many of the regular roads quite bicycle friendly.
The well known Pacific Cycling Route, for example, is one of the most well known cycling routes in the country but vast majority of it is just painted blue arrows on the ground and in many places it’s right on the road with busy roads with lots of trucks. (For example the very busy National Route 1 where the Pacific Cycling Route is on the sidewalk, pictured on the right)
There are some major cycling routes that are largely grade separated and offer some lovely grade separated
- Shimanami Kaido – Cycling cross huge bridges with spectacular views across 70km which each bridge having a
- RinRin Road – Old railway near Tokyo that has become a well maintained cycle path for 40km and about 100km around a lake
- Biwa-ichi – Cycling loop arond Like Biwa with the vast majority being dedicated bike paths
National Cycling Routes
The National government has offiically listed routes as official cycling routes around teh country (Official Website)
- Pacific Cycling Route – Generally follows the coast, many of the roads are high traffic
- Shimanami Kaido – Cycling cross huge bridges with spectacular views across 70km
- Tokapuchi400 – 403km Route in Central Hokkaido
- Toyama Bay Cycling Route
- RinRin Road – Old railway near Tokyo that has become a well maintained cycle path for 40km and about 100km around a lake
- Biwa-ichi – Cycling loop arond Like Biwa with the vast majority being dedicated bike paths
Other Cycle Routes
Some prefectures also have routes through their prefectures
Keinawa (Kyoto, Nara, Wakayama)
The Keinawa Cycling Route is a 90% grade separated cycling route from Kyoto to Wakayama via Nara
Nagano
Japan Alps Route is a large 900km loop around Nagano prefecture almost entirely on relatively low traffic roads and is well marked in sections and offers plenty of enjoyable cycling throughout Nagano Prefecture
Rails to trails
Additionally, there are some grade separated cycling roads along rivers and on old rail beds
- Kubiki Cycling Road – Coastal cycling road on the old railway line
- RinRin Road – As above, Old railway near Tokyo that has become a well maintained cycle path for 40km and about 100km around a lake
- Maple Yaba Cycling road – A scenic 36 ride in Oita Prefecture
