With the weather getting warmer, it's becoming the perfect season for enjoyable cycling.

For the past few years, it's been difficult to travel due to the pandemic, but in such times, why not grab your trusty bicycle, avoid crowds, and have some fun?

Today, I'll introduce five recommended routes in Kanto that are perfect for cyclists.

1. Watarase Yuusui Pond Cycling Road, Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture - Recommendation Level: ★★★

2. Teganuma Cycling Road, Nagareyama City, Chiba Prefecture - Recommendation Level: ★★★★

3. Tsukuba Kasumigaura RinRin Road, Sakuragawa City, Ibaraki Prefecture - Recommendation Level: ★★★★★

4. Arakawa Cycling Road, Namekawa Town, Hiki-gun, Saitama Prefecture - Recommendation Level: ★★★★

5. Tamagawa Cycling Road, Hamura City, Tokyo - Recommendation Level: ★★★

▲ICAN Gravel Road Bike for Long Rides

1. Watarase Yuusui Pond Cycling Road

★★★

Yanaka Lake Children's Plaza Bicycle Rental Center: Uchino, Fujioka-machi, Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture

Tobu Nikko Line "Shin-Furukawa Station" approx. 5 min walk

From National Route 354 Mikuni Bridge, approx. 3km northwest; from Tohoku Expressway "Tatebayashi IC", approx. 20 min east

The first cycling road I'd like to introduce is the Watarase Yuusui Pond Cycling Road.

It features the vast low-lying wetlands known as "Watarase Yuusui Pond" and offers three cycling courses: the Panorama Course (13km), the First Adjustment Pond Loop Course (18km), and the Yanaka Lake Course (6-10km).

Each course takes 1.5 to 3 hours, allowing you to enjoy a tour suited to your level.

It's not just for serious road bikers; rental bicycles are available for beginners, so it's perfectly fine to enjoy it casually as a spontaneous visit.

Yanaka Lake is also a tourist spot with many attractions, so in addition to cycling, you can enjoy activities such as sports, recreation, and picnics with your family.

The road is wide and spacious, and the pavement is clean, making it very easy to ride. There are also birdwatching decks along the course where you can observe various wild birds. It feels absolutely wonderful on a sunny day!

2. Teganuma Cycling Road

★★★★

Near Shin-Fukakai Shinden Bridge: Higashi-Fukakai, Nagareyama City, Chiba Prefecture

Joban Line "Kashiwa Station" 30 minutes

Joban Expressway "Kashiwa IC" 9 minutes

Next up is the Teganuma Cycling Road, located at "Teganuma" in Chiba Prefecture.

This Teganuma, representative of Chiba, offers beautiful scenery, allowing you to enjoy a cycling trip while admiring fishing boats.

Starting from Shin-Fukakai Shinden Bridge, it's about 17.5km long, and is separated for bicycles, pedestrians, and runners, making it very easy to ride. The course, just under 20km, is just the right distance for beginners, offering a comfortable ride.

A notable feature of the Teganuma lakeside is the abundance of spots where you can enjoy delicious meals. With countless restaurants and cafes, it's easy to take a break during your cycle, and you might find yourself lingering longer than planned. (laughs)

Another characteristic of this course is the many tourist attractions.

Near Teganuma, "Koyasan Momoyama Park" has an observation deck where you can enjoy a magnificent view of the Teganuma area.

Furthermore, there's "Manten no Yu," where you can enjoy a hot spring with free-flowing natural spring water, allowing people of all ages to relax and unwind.

3. Tsukuba Kasumigaura RinRin Road

★★★★★

Near JR "Iwase Station": Inuta, Sakuragawa City, Ibaraki Prefecture

JR Mito Line "Iwase Station"

Kita-Kanto Expressway "Sakuragawa Chikusei IC" 8 minutes

The third cycling road to introduce is the "Tsukuba Kasumigaura RinRin Road."

This cycling course has a total length of approximately 180km, integrating the Tsukuba Rinrin Road and the Kasumigaura Cycling Road, making its remarkable length a key feature. It's a very famous route among cyclists. It's highly popular as a course where you can enjoy both "Kasumigaura" lake and "Mt. Tsukuba," which is representative of the Kanto region.

Overall, it's a relatively easy-to-ride cycling road, with less undulation than expected, making the course not too difficult. However, its sheer length means it's more of a challenge for advanced road cyclists.

In September Reiwa 1 (2019), the "National Cycle Route" system, representing Japan in the Bicycle Use Promotion Plan, was established. Alongside "Biwaichi," which circles Lake Biwa, and the "Shimanami Kaido Cycling Route," this "Tsukuba Kasumigaura RinRin Road" was selected as a National Cycle Route, making it a renowned course even internationally.

There are many tourist attractions and scenic spots around the course. You can enjoy nature in both the mountains and the lake depending on the season, and interact with cyclists from all over the country, expanding your enjoyment.

It can truly be called a sacred place in Kanto that cyclists aspire to.

4. Arakawa Cycling Road

★★★★

Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park: 1920 Yamada, Namekawa-machi, Hiki-gun, Saitama Prefecture

Tobu Tojo Line "Shinrinkoen Station"

Kan-Etsu Expressway "Higashimatsuyama IC" 10 minutes

The fourth recommended cycling road is the "Arakawa Cycling Road."

It's a very popular course with many road cyclists, running for 90km from "Musashi Kyuryo National Government Park" to "Kasai Rinkai Park" in Tokyo.

While the road width may not be very wide in some places and the road surface conditions are not always ideal, it is generally easy to ride.

The area near the mouth of the Arakawa River has a well-maintained, wide cycling road, making it a very famous training spot for road bikers.

The park is also very well-maintained and boasts excellent recreational facilities such as athletic equipment, making it a popular course for many people beyond just cyclists.

The scenery is also wonderful, making it suitable for leisurely rides on mini velos.

It's a magnificent course where you can fully enjoy the Kanto Plain.

5. Tamagawa Cycling Road

★★★

Near Aso Shrine in Hamura City: 4-6-7 Hagami, Hamura City, Tokyo

JR Ome Line "Hamura Station"

Ken-O Expressway "Hinode IC" 12 minutes

The fifth cycling road I'd like to recommend is the "Tamagawa Cycling Road."

It's affectionately known as "Tama-Sai" among cyclists.

The course spans approximately 60km, from "Aso Shrine" to "Haneda Airport."

Throughout the ride, you can enjoy a blend of riverbank scenery and urban landscapes.

While it may not rival the Arakawa Cycling Road, the well-maintained roads make it very easy for road bikes to ride.

It's easily accessible from the city center, and finding restaurants for breaks is not difficult, making it an enjoyable course for beginners as well.

Riding leisurely while enjoying the scenery on a sunny day feels absolutely wonderful.

It's also a great idea to extend your ride all the way to Haneda Airport for some sightseeing.

Summary

So, what did you think of the recommended cycling courses in Kanto, everyone?

Besides these, there are many other wonderful courses in Kanto that I haven't even mentioned.

Why not venture out to places you've never ridden before, not just courses near you, but also according to your skill level and mood?