JP EN

Tsuchiura Ride
Lotus fields, shoreline ride, and a comfortable stay

print
Print
SHARE

Located in Ibaraki prefecture, starting from Tsuchiura at the western side of Japan’s second biggest lake Kasumigaura, lies a cycling course that will take you along 125km of beautiful scenery and well maintained path.

Bring your own bicycle (1hr 16min from Tokyo station on the Ueno-Tokyo / Joban line) or rent from the conveniently located Le Cyc which offers a wide range of bicycles and gear.

The station itself is quite bike friendly with ‘Ring Ring Square” which includes showers; lockers; changing rooms; and parking.

For this ride we’ll take the shorter version: 90km (by crossing the bridge and cutting across the lake, instead of fowling around at the top).

There are plenty of places to take a rest or pump up your tires (including 300 support stations which provide either: pumps; racks; or even tools).

The shared riding paths are for cyclists and cars, be sure to expect some cars along the way.

Riding alone the shoreline of the lake you will also see fields of renkon (lotus root) and rice, some fishermen, and of course places to stop and grab something to eat. Today, we will be stopping at Kasumi Kitchen.

Kasumi Kitchen is located at about 19km from the starting point near Tsuchiura station. They provide healthy meals made with ingredients provided by local merchants. The sweet potato is highly recommended (and the sweet potato brûlée which is served in the colder months). They also offer a wealth of local goods, from craft beers to sweets.

Another great stop is at Miho Weekend Cafe, which serves great dishes and coffee for those looking to take a break. The warehouse turned cafe has a large seating area and bike racks out front.

If you’re looking to stay overnight, the BEB5 Tsuchiura from Hoshino Resorts hotel provides a comfortable place to stay with your bicycle (in your hotel room); tools for maintenance; and everything bicycle themed. It’s a place you wish was nearby other cycling locations in the country too.

Text＿Caroline McCurdy

Caroline M.

From Melbourne, Australia. Caroline moved to Japan in 2013, working as a designer and model. She enjoys cycling in her free time : exploring the streets of Tokyo; and across the country to see the best cycling locations in Japan.

Post Date：2023.08.04

TRIP&TRAVEL

In the Fields of Tea
〜 Nara, Wazuka & Uji Tea fields eBike Tour /1day (Car supported) 〜

Experience the origin and pinnacle of Japanese tea culture with your whole body Uji tea in Kyoto is the origin of Japanese tea culture and the best brand. Uji is truly a “tea town” where all kinds of tea cultures come together. And the largest tea producing area is Wazuka, where the beautiful tea fields that spread as far as the eye can see give a unique feeling of the world. This tour starts or finishes in Nara and Kyoto with transportation included, and cycles between Uji and Wazuka on an E-Bike. Enjoy tea and sweets while looking at the tea fields. An optional tea ceremony in a teahouse is also available. Days: 1 day *Standard hours are from 9am to 3pmDistance: 43kmElevation g […]

#Uji River

TRIP&TRAVEL

Pedaling Through Hokusai’s Eyes:
A Journey Across the Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji #1

The Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji was created by Katsushika Hokusai, a ukiyo-e artist of the late Edo period. As many will know, it is an ambitious series of woodblock prints capturing Mount Fuji in its myriad expressions, which change dramatically depending on the viewpoint and the time of day. In addition to the thirty-six prints indicated by the title, a further ten were later added—likely inspired by the popular Fuji worship (Fujikō) movements among the common people—bringing the total to forty-six works. In August 2025, I am in the midst of a journey to visit all forty-six of these landscapes under my own power.In this installment, I focus on three of them—The New Fields at Ōno in Suru […]

#Shizuoka