Okawa-Kitakata Cycling Road

Flowing like a ribbon of calm through the Aizu region, the Okawa-Kitakata Cycling Road (大川喜多方サイクリングロード) winds for about 50 km from Aizuwakamatsu City, through Yugawa Village, up to Kitakata City, following the peaceful course of the Okawa River.

This is an easy-grade path: mostly flat, mostly paved, gentle curves that lead past river parks, roadside stations (Michi-no-Eki), and small villages where ramen shops and historic storehouses give glimpses into Aizu’s old-town charm.

Along the route you’ll pass Aizu Yugawa Aizubange and Kitanosato — both good as rest points, refreshment stops, or simply places to sit and watch the river.

In short: it’s a gentle, beautiful ride — not about pushing hard, but about breathing in mountain air, hearing the water, tasting quiet cafés, and enjoying the slower rhythm of rural Fukushima.

The Route

The cycling path is incomplete in parts so it gets routed on the road, but even on the road it’s clearly marked with blue arrows. In the North near Atsushio Onsen, the path is well maintained.

Getting there and away

Aizu Wakamatsu is about an hour from Koriyama which is easily accessible on the Tohoku Shinkansen