Rinrin Road
Rinrin Road is a 40km mostly separated cycling path that runs between Tsuchiura and Iwase in Japan. It follows the route of an old railway line, offering a flat and easy ride through rural landscapes. The path is popular with cyclists for its scenic views and well-maintained conditions, making it an enjoyable route for both beginners and experienced riders.
Many road cyclists also climb some of the roads over the Mt. Tsukuba to the East.
On the other side of the Mt. Tsukuba Mountains there are also plenty of nice roads for cycling
It is paricularly beautiful during cherry blossom season with large sections of the route being lined with cherry blossoms. In particular late-blooming Yaezakura lines large sections
View of the Rin Rin Road
Route
The route is well signposted from Tsuchiura Station to Iwase station.
The Wabisabi Route (see right) differs just in the middle section where the offical route takes the sidewalk of the main road for a bit whereas we find taking the old road that runs parallel more enjoyable. (However, this is where the only convenience store on the route is located, so if you need a refreshing drink, follow the official route!)
The route also has plenty of rest areas along the way with toilets and waer.
As is often common in Japan, the bike path used to have many slalom gates, but they were removed and replaces with the narrowings pictured below in 2022 making the route a pleasure for road cyclists though each gate is only wide enough for a single cycling so some giving way might be required.
Cherry Blossoms
The Rin Rin Road is lined with a wide vareity of cherry blossoms (Sakura) that bloom over a wide period.
Someiyoshino – The famous Sakura
Someiyoshino, the most common vareity of sakura, are dotted all along the route.
Late Blooming Yaezakura Cherry Blossoms
There are several varieties of cherry blossom that bloom later into April, Yaezakura is probably the most common of those and there is a significant amount along the rinrin road and is an excellent place for cherry blossoms after the main season has ended in Tokyo
Gyoiko – The Green Sakura
Sakura has the pink image, however, there is a rare green sakura as well. The Rinrin road has about 5 trees along the route of green sakura, they bloom at about the same time as the Yaezakura, in mid-April.
Things to see and do
The Rinrin Road runs along an old railway bed through the countryside of Tsukuba, consequently, there aren’t many of the traditional sightseeing locations along the way, Mt Tsukuba, however does tend to be popular (and crowded at times) and draws people from a signficant distance
Mt. Tsukuba
Mt. Tsukuba has a gondola as well as a cable car to get to a large viewing platform from the top where one can look over the Ibaragi plains. See if you can spot the Rinrin road!
Rokusyo Daibutsu
While not particularly large, a quick exploratory detour from the main route can bring one to Rokusyo Daibutsu just off the Rinrin Road.
Getting there and away
Tsuchiura Station on the Joban Line is the main gateway to the Rinrin road and proves quick and easy connections into Tokyo. Including a single round trip of trains from Ueno where a Rinko Bag is not required (information and reservation, Japanese Only)
The Northern end of the cycling route is Iwase Station on the Suigun Line that connects Oyama to Mito, trains are approximately every hour and gives riders who would only like to do one way (40km) a way back to Tokyo.
Alternatively, arriving by car is a possibility, many of the old station areas have a few spaces to park and it generally shouldn’t be hard to find somewhere along the route to park for free and it’s about an hour and half or so or so from Tokyo.
