Japan's National Cycle Routes
ナショナルサイクルルート12 routes
Japan's twelve National Cycle Routes are the rides MLIT holds to a national standard for signs, rest stops, rental and rail links, from the 70 km Shimanami Kaido to the 1,487 km Pacific Cycling Road. Eleven run through the ground this guide covers, and Tokapuchi 400 in Hokkaido links out.
The 12 routes in order of designation道
| Route | Prefectures | Organiser km | Designated | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shimanami Kaidoしまなみ海道サイクリングロード | Hiroshima, Ehime | 70 | 2019-11 | Route guide |
| Biwaichiビワイチ | Shiga | 193 | 2019-11 | Route guide |
| Tsukuba-Kasumigaura Ring-Ring Roadつくば霞ヶ浦りんりんロード | Ibaraki | 176 | 2019-11 | Route guide |
| Tokapuchi 400トカプチ400 | Hokkaido | 403 | 2021-05 | On Ride Hokkaido |
| Pacific Cycling Road太平洋岸自転車道 | Chiba, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, Wakayama | 1487 | 2021-05 | Organiser's page |
| Toyama Bay Cycling Route富山湾岸サイクリングコース | Toyama | 102 | 2021-05 | Route guide |
| Fukushima Hamadori Cycle Routeふくしま浜通りサイクルルート | Fukushima | 179 | 2026-07 | Route guide |
| Fujiichiフジイチ | Shizuoka, Yamanashi | 163 | 2026-07 | Organiser's page |
| Yukiguni Uonuma Golden Cycle Route雪国魚沼Golden Cycle Route | Niigata | 193 | 2026-07 | Route guide |
| Ishikawa Satoyama-Satoumi Cycling Routeいしかわ里山里海サイクリングルート | Ishikawa | 517 | 2026-07 | Organiser's page |
| Tottori Uminami Road鳥取うみなみロード | Tottori | 152 | 2026-07 | Route guide |
| Ama-Ichiあまいち | Kumamoto | 152 | 2026-07 | Route guide |
MLIT names a route only when it meets a set of standards: a continuous signed line, places to rest and refill, bikes for hire, and rail and stay operators who take riders seriously. The list began with three routes in 2019 and grew to twelve when six joined in July 2026.
Shimanami and Biwaichi suit a first trip on an e-bike, and most riders take the Pacific Cycling Road one stage at a time along the coast. Each route page here shows the line our build measured, the stations to bail out at and where to stay, while the distances in the table below are MLIT's own.
In the journal and guides
Read more about Japan's National Cycle Routes特集
Guide · 6 min read
How do you cycle Japan end to end, from Cape Soya to Cape Sata?
Japan's National Cycle Routes stop well short of joining the northern and southern capes, so riders link them with ordinary roads. Ride Hokkaido covers the island, this guide picks you up at Aomori, and the season decides the direction.
Guide · 7 min read
What are Japan's cycling rules and fines in 2026?
Since 1 April 2026 the police can hand any rider aged 16 or over a blue ticket with a fixed fine. Holding a phone costs ¥12,000 and a red light ¥6,000, and the rules apply on a rental bike the same as on your own.