Everyone has their own idea of what an old town is.An old neighborhood. A low-lying area. A down-to-earth, working-class town.A place where you might run into Tora-san or Ryo-san.*This time, I visited Ota Ward, home to Japan’s gateway, Haneda Airport.Cross the bridge from the airport and explore by bike — you’ll soon realize this is unmistakably part of Tokyo’s old town. *Tora-san and Ryo-san are the main characters of a film and a manga series, both set in Tokyo’s old town districts. Text & Photo_Shitamachi Kombu Table of Contents Surprisingly Easy! From Haneda Airport to Kamata by BikeAnamori Inari Shrine – A Fox-Themed FavoriteKamata: One of Tokyo’s Hidden Hot Spring Districts(Bonus) […]

This series features trip notes from riders participating in the Honolulu Century Ride 2025.In this installment, we introduce Tats, editor-in-chief of the Japanese cycling media outlet LOVE CYCLIST.Through his platform, he shares reviews of cycling brands from Japan and abroad, focusing on style, gear, and ride culture—while also leading a tight-knit community that enjoys weekly rides together.This time, drawing from his perspective as both a rider and a photographer, he reports on his 100-mile journey with friends.How did the Hawaiian wind, local atmosphere, and shared moments on the road come together? Here’s the story told from the unique viewpoint of LOVE CYCLIST. Two Nights, Four Days: […]

*This page contains a promotion in collaboration with Jetstar Airways. On September 14, 2025, the Port Douglas Gran Fondo came to a successful close. The course was filled with spots that truly captured the essence of Australia—from the Pacific coastal highway surrounded by diverse vegetation to roads lined with towering ant hills and peaceful farmland offering glimpses of local life. Unfortunately, the cycling event ended this year, but the running event is set to return next year, bigger and better.The day after the event, our editorial team—who had completed the 100 km ride—set out on another cycling trip around Port Douglas together with Ayano and Youhei, an architect couple from Brisban […]

*This page contains a promotion in collaboration with Jetstar Airways. In September 2025, the Global Ride editorial team arrived at Cairns International Airport in Queensland to cover the ride-and-run event, the Port Douglas Gran Fondo. Arriving just before 5 a.m. local time, we passed through the immigration gates to find the airport bustling with visitors from Japan, all eager to see the UNESCO World Heritage-listed coral reefs and tropical rainforests. Jetstar’s direct flights, which allow passengers to sleep on the plane and arrive early in the morning, are especially popular. After landing, travelers can take a bus or rental car to their destination and enjoy a relaxed first day. With o […]

The cycling journey tracing Hokusai’s Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji reaches its grand finale. In this final chapter, we’ll visit cycling spots where you can admire South Wind, Clear Sky and Rainstorm Beneath the Summit—two of the most iconic works alongside The Great Wave off Kanagawa.We’ll also explore Lake Suwa in Shinano Province and conclude the series with Groups of Mountain Climbers, the only work in the collection painted from within the mountain itself.Join us as we discover the modern landscapes that echo Hokusai’s Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji in this concluding chapter. Top artwork: Katsushika Hokusai, “South Wind, Clear Sky”All Hokusai images courtesy of the Tokyo Fuji Art Muse […]

This is the second installment in our series featuring trip notes from riders participating in the Honolulu Century Ride 2025.Our guest this time is Kinuyo, a passionate cyclist who has joined the HCR many times and loves Hawaii so much that she often visits with her family. As a tour support staff member for Tobu Top Tours, she is admired by many riders for her wealth of cycling knowledge and warm communication.Every year, she rides the full HCR course on her road bike—but this year, she decided, “I want to ride with my daughters!” Her plan: to place her 7-year-old on the back seat of an e-bike and have her 12-year-old pedal on her own. Joined by her husband, who would tackle the full round […]

*This page contains a promotion in collaboration with Jetstar Airways. In September 2025, our editorial team headed to Cairns in Queensland, Australia. The purpose? To take part in the “Port Douglas Gran Fondo” ride-and-run event (https://portdouglasgranfondo.com.au/). Now in its fourth year, the highlight of this event is undoubtedly its stunning highway route that runs along the Pacific coast—home to the world’s largest coral reef, the Great Barrier Reef. In this series, we’ll bring you a three-part story of cycling in Cairns—before, during, and after the event—featuring the exclusive highway ride, the vast natural beauty of Queensland, fresh local cuisine, and fascinating historical landm […]

To everyone still basking in the afterglow of the Honolulu Century Ride (HCR), and to those cyclists who couldn’t join this year—this month we bring you a special series of first-hand ride journals written by the participants themselves. Five groups of riders, each crossing the finish line in their own style, share their experiences of the HCR along with stories from the days they spent in Honolulu before and after the event. How did they make the most of their stay? What did they eat, see, and feel throughout their trip? The first story comes from Naohiko Matsumoto, who is approaching seventy and has completed the HCR 100-mile course—160 km—seven times.A former classmate and long-time frien […]