Grobal Ride

CLOSE
JP EN

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

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

Category

Tag

#Akafuku

#Aomori Museum of Art

#Brewery

#Bubble Gum

#Hirosaki Civic Hall

#Hirosaki Jyo

#Hirosaki Kouen

#Hokusai

#Honjyo

#Isuzu Gawa

#Jeremy Kicher

#Kussharo Ko

#Memanbetsu Airport

#Nebuta

#Neputa

#Ringo

#Sarutahiko Jinja

#Sumida Hokusai Art Museum

#Takara Bridge

#Yoshitomo Nara

All Tags
TRIP&TRAVEL
Online Events
Mele of Bicycling Participation Report

Golden Week is the perfect season for riding, as it should be said. A state of emergency has been declared, forcing many events to be canceled, but the Mele of Bicycling, run by the Global Ride office, is an online event that you can still participate in. Participants who complete the event, which is based on the keyword “Feel Hawaii,” will receive a wonderful souvenir from Hawaii. In addition, there are partnerships with stores that offer special services to participating riders as Special Aids. The plan is to have Hawaiian food during the aid stations and ride the whole day in the Hawaiian spirit.

#Report
FEATURE TRIP&TRAVEL
Accompanying Report: Ehime Prefecture’s Cycling FAM Tour 2025 for Overseas Media
#01

On a crisp autumn day, a group of foreign cyclists arrived at Matsuyama Airport, each carrying a bike bag over their shoulder. They had come from Australia’s major cities—Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane—representing a diverse mix of media professionals, travel agency staff, and influencers. All had been invited to take part in Ehime’s now-annual press tour circling the prefecture. A glance at the itinerary revealed just how ambitious this year’s program would be. Alongside classics such as the Shimanami Kaido and the legendary UFO Line, the route included a major climb through the dramatic landscapes of the Shikoku Karst, a coastal ride along the rias shoreline of Nanyo, a tour of Cape Sada, and […]

#Saijyo
FEATURE TRIP&TRAVEL
Breezing Through Setouchi in Ehime ＃05
Brought to you by Jeremy, an immigrant from the U.S.A.
Riverside Ride in Greenery Countryside

Now that we have traversed almost the entirety of the northwest coastal roads, let’s take a look inland at one of the multitude of routes crisscrossing the heart the prefecture, Okuiyo-Hijikawa River Cycling Course. Since it is still summer and as hot as ever, I chose a relatively leisurely ride following a meandering river from the mountains near the border to Kochi Prefecture to a familiar port town I passed through during my last ride; an almost exclusively downhill valley cruise leading to the sea. If you’re looking for a little more exercise, simply start at Nagahama Port and make your way up the valley from there. Table of Contents 　1. Starting from Kishimojin（the Goddess of Childbirth […]

#Gourmet