In Japan, small-wheel bicycles have recently come to be called "Minivelos."

I'd like to share how to enjoy a day trip, or a drive, utilizing the charm and benefits of a Minivelo, without bothering anyone, even during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Putting a Minivelo in the car and heading out

A "Minivelo" refers to a small-wheel bicycle with tires 20 inches or less in diameter.

First, fold your Minivelo and load it into your car.

Then, drive to your preferred tourist destination.

As an example, I loaded my bicycle and went to Ohori Park in Fukuoka, which is a relatively large park.

Ohori Park is a relatively large park in Fukuoka, and rather than being a tourist spot, it's a place of relaxation for Fukuoka citizens.

Parking fees are truly cheap compared to Tokyo, at 150 yen for 1 hour or 220 yen for 2 hours.

First, since you're traveling by car, you can enjoy a drive as far as you like.

What is Ohori Park?

Ohori Park (Ohori Koen) is a prefectural urban park (general park) located in Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City.

It is designated as a national registered monument.

With cherry blossoms in full bloom in spring and a fireworks display in summer (ended in 2018), there are many ways to enjoy it, and it's a rare park with a large moat of about 2 km around its center.

The reason I chose this as a cycling course is that there are well-maintained paths around the 2 km moat for walking, jogging, and cycling.

Within the park, there are many attractions such as the Fukuoka Art Museum, Fukuoka Castle Ruins, Noh Theater, swan boats, and the Fukuoka Prefectural Ohori Park Japanese Garden.

Since it's 2 km around, you could walk it, but a Minivelo is just right.

Enjoying the Japanese Garden

You can enter the Japanese garden for only 250 yen, and you probably only see such Japanese-style gardens on TV or in anime.

It seems to be more popular with foreigners than with Japanese people, and you hardly encounter anyone even after entering.

After parking your bicycle in an unobtrusive spot at the entrance and securely locking it, you can enjoy the Japanese garden.

Inside the Japanese garden, you walk around, finding ponds with koi fish and dry landscape gardens, creating a scene that is "quintessentially Japan."

While it is very Japanese, such traditional gardens are rarely seen nowadays, allowing you to rediscover an ancient yet new Japan.

Having tea while gazing at the moat of Ohori Park

There's also a new spot called "Ohori Terrace ~ Yame Tea and Japanese Garden."

In Fukuoka Prefecture, there's Yame City, which is the 6th largest producer of Japanese tea in Japan, accounting for about 3% of the total national Japanese tea production.

Ohori Terrace is a new spot themed around Yame tea.

Isn't the time spent leisurely sipping tea, away from the busy daily routine, something you can't get by walking or driving?

The relaxing time you can experience with a bicycle, especially a Minivelo, is priceless, and it costs almost nothing.

Bicycles are really great.

With a Minivelo, you can circle the entire park.

With a Minivelo, you can circle the entire Ohori Park.

There are many restaurants on the north side of Ohori Park, and since they are not tourist-oriented establishments, you can enjoy authentic Fukuoka gourmet food.

With a Minivelo, a 5-minute ride will take you to Nagahama Ramen, the origin of Fukuoka's tonkotsu ramen.

Ganso Nagahamaya is a tonkotsu ramen shop that Fukuoka locals have loved for a long time.

In the past, since the menu only had ramen, if you entered the shop, you didn't even need to order—you'd just say "One bowl!" if you were alone, or "Two bowls!" if there were two of you. However, it was a shop that was difficult for non-locals to enter.

Nowadays, as you can see in the image, there's a ticket machine, making it a shop that's easy for even first-timers to enter.

By the way, ramen costs 500 yen, and a noodle refill is 100 yen.

There's also a secret within the moat

While circling the moat with your Minivelo, if you're lucky, you might encounter a group of red-eared sliders.

It's not a particularly good story, but these "red-eared sliders" (scientific name: Trachemys scripta elegans), originally kept as pets, grew too large for their owners and were released or escaped into Ohori Park, where they have now formed wild groups.

If you park your Minivelo by the moat and watch the water for a while, you can see groups of red-eared sliders swimming or basking in the sun on clear days.

It's quite heartwarming.

Spending a day with a Minivelo costs about 1000 yen.

Even considering car parking fees, it's about 1000 yen for the whole day, perhaps even less.

Even if you enjoy everything, it's about 2000 yen.

This is a level of satisfaction you can't get from regular sightseeing.

Minivelos and travel, Minivelos and sightseeing, are a great match.

What do you think? Why not fold your Minivelo, put it in your car, or pack it in a bike bag and take a short trip by train?

Even amidst the pandemic, you'll encounter hardly anyone, allowing you to refresh and change your mood without inconveniencing anyone.