Skip to content

Cycling routes in Japan

24 cycling routes

Wooded islands and bays of Amakusa Matsushima spread out below the hills along the Five Bridges road.

Ama-Ichi

Kumamoto

148 km · 1,377 m up · 28% quiet roadsHardRoad bike, Touring

Grass-covered folds of the Aso outer rim roll away under a pale sky near the Milk Road.

Aso Daikanbo and Milk Road Loop

Kumamoto

35.9 km · 566 m up · 26% quiet roadsModerateRoad bike, Touring

The Jikka Segi irrigation channel runs straight across Azumino toward the snow-capped Northern Alps.

Azumino Water Course

Azumino · Nagano

29.3 km · 68 m up · 96% quiet roadsEasyCity bike, E-bike

An autumn sunset burns orange over Lake Biwa from Matsubara beach in Hikone

Biwaichi

Shiga

186.5 km · 396 m up · 50% quiet roadsHardRoad bike, Touring

A coast road curves past palms and hibiscus on the climb above Muroto with the Pacific belowMotokoka / Wikimedia Commons

From the guides5 min read

Can you do the Shikoku 88 temple pilgrimage by bike?

Yes. The temples' association lets pilgrims choose how they travel and in what order, and riders follow the roads round about 1,400 km of island. Arrive at each temple as a pilgrim: bow at the gate, worship before the stamp and leave the camera away while people pray.

Shikoku33°42′N 133°24′E
Read the story
Mt. Fuji rises with a snowy summit above the deep blue water of Lake Motosu.

Fuji Five Lakes from Lake Yamanaka to Lake Motosu

Yamanashi

67.9 km · 688 m up · 24% quiet roadsModerateRoad bike, Touring

The cable-stayed Matsukawaura Bridge crosses the lagoon mouth at Soma under a clear spring sky.

Fukushima Hamadori Cycle Route

Fukushima

176.3 km · 1,223 m up · 41% quiet roadsHardRoad bike, Touring

Snow-capped Mt. Fuji rises behind the cliffs and coves of the west Izu coast at Nishiizu.

Izuichi Izu Peninsula Loop

Shizuoka

229.7 km · 3,650 m up · 21% quiet roadsEpicRoad bike, Touring

Flooded rice paddies by Lake Kizaki mirror green hills and a white Alps peak in spring.

Japan Alps Cycling Road

Nagano

817.8 km · 13,533 m up · 56% quiet roadsEpicRoad bike, Touring

The sun sets over the rippled tidal flats of Matama Beach on the Kunisaki Peninsula's north coast.

Kunisaki Peninsula Loop

Oita

132.2 km · 1,392 m up · 31% quiet roadsHardRoad bike, Touring

The Norikura Echo Line loops through forest in full October colour on the Nagano side of the mountain.

Norikura Echo Line from Sanbondaki

Nagano

13.9 km · 899 m up · 1% quiet roadsHardRoad bike, E-road bike

Pale sandstone cliffs of Byobugaura meet the surf at the north end of the Chiba coast in Asahi.

Pacific Cycling Road Stage 1 from Choshi to Hamakanaya

Chiba

224.7 km · 969 m up · 20% quiet roadsHardRoad bike, Touring

From Hiroyama Park in Zushi you look across Sagami Bay past Enoshima to Mt. Fuji.

Pacific Cycling Road Stage 2 from Kurihama to Yugawara

Kanagawa

103.2 km · 642 m up · 16% quiet roadsModerateRoad bike, Touring

All 24 cycling routes from A to Z