Japan cycling routes
Explore Mount Fuji’s foothills, island bridges on the Shimanami Kaido, and lakeside rides in Japan.
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Shimanami Kaido
Japan’s most famous ride, the National Cycle Route over six islands and seven bridges: from the Onomichi ferry landing on Mukaishima over the Innoshima, Ikuchi, Tatara, Ōmishima, Hakata–Ōshima and Kurushima-Kaikyō bridges to the cycle terminal at Sunrise Itoyama in Imabari, on the blue line the whole way.
67.2 km 460 m climbingShimanami Kaido: Imabari to Onomichi
The Shimanami northbound: from Sunrise Itoyama up the ramp onto the three spans of the Kurushima-Kaikyō Bridge, across Ōshima, Hakatajima and Ōmishima, over the Tatara Bridge to Setoda’s lemon groves, and on by Innoshima to the Mukaishima ferry landing across from Onomichi.
67.4 km 427 m climbingKurushima Bridge & Kirōsan
From Imabari’s cycle terminal over the longest suspension bridges of the route to Ōshima, then up the steep lane to the Kirōsan observatory, 307 m straight above the whirlpools of the Kurushima Strait, and back over the bridge.
31.5 km 446 m climbingIkuchijima Lemon Loop
Round Ikuchijima, the citrus island, on its coast road: from Setoda’s port and the vermilion halls of Kōsan-ji along the north shore under the Ikuchi Bridge, down the east shore past the lemon groves, under the Tatara Bridge’s towers and back by Sunset Beach.
22.0 km 26 m climbingŌmishima & Ōyamazumi Shrine
Over the cable-stayed Tatara Bridge from Ikuchijima to the cyclists’ sanctuary at Tatara Shimanami Park, across Ōmishima to the ancient Ōyamazumi Shrine, south along the coast to Munakata and back by the Ōmishima Bridge.
34.8 km 317 m climbingInnoshima & Shiratakiyama
Across the Innoshima Bridge on the cycle deck slung beneath the road, then up the steep lane to Shiratakiyama’s seven hundred stone Buddhas and the view over the island-strewn sea.
36.1 km 329 m climbingMukaishima & Takamiyama
From the Onomichi ferry landing round Mukaishima’s shore and up to the Takamiyama lookout, 283 m above the Shimanami bridges and the channel to Onomichi.
17.9 km 292 m climbingTobishima Kaido
The quieter island chain west of the Shimanami: from Kawajiri over the Akinada Bridge to Shimokamagari, across Kamikamagari, Toyoshima and Ōsakishimojima to the Edo-era port of Mitarai, and on to Okamura Island.
36.1 km 260 m climbingHakata & Ōshima Pirate Coast
Through the islands of the Murakami pirates: from the Ōmishima Bridge across Hakatajima, over the Hakata–Ōshima Bridge by Mikanshima, to Miyakubo’s harbour and over the Miyakubo Pass to Yoshiumi.
14.4 km 108 m climbingAwaichi
Once round Awaji Island, clockwise from Iwaya under the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge: down the east coast by Tsuna to Sumoto’s castle town, over the hilly south coast past the narcissus slopes of Nada, to Fukura and the Ōnaruto Bridge over the whirlpools, then north up the Sunset Line by Keino Matsubara and Gunge.
148.5 km 1,050 m climbingNorth Awaji Sunset Line
The northern half of the Awaichi: from Iwaya along the east coast to Tsuna, inland past Izanagi Shrine, Japan’s oldest, and back up the west coast’s Sunset Line by Gunge to the lighthouse at Esaki.
55.3 km 219 m climbingNaruto & the South Coast
Awaji’s wild south: from Sumoto over the hills to Yura, along the cliffs of the south coast by Nada Kuroiwa to Fukura, and out to the Ōnaruto Bridge above the Naruto whirlpools.
52.3 km 602 m climbingBiwaichi
Once round Japan’s largest lake, the National Cycle Route anticlockwise as it is ridden, the lake always on the left: from Moriyama by Ōmi-Hachiman’s water villages, Hikone and Nagahama to the quiet north shore, by the cherry trees of Kaizu Ōsaki and Makino, down the west shore past the lake torii of Shirahige Shrine to Katata, round the south basin by Ōtsu and the Seta River, and back up the Karasuma Peninsula.
190.0 km 632 m climbingOkubiwako Parkway
The north lake’s scenic road: from the cherry-tree tunnel of Kaizu Ōsaki to Ōura, then down the Tsuzurao peninsula to its tip and up the one-way Okubiwako Parkway along its ridge, 370 m above the lake, to Shiotsu.
22.3 km 347 m climbingMetasequoia Avenue & Kaizu Ōsaki
From Imazu along the north-west shore to Makino, up the two kilometres of the Metasequoia Avenue’s giant trees, and round to the cherry trees of Kaizu Ōsaki.
25.8 km 70 m climbingShirahige & the West Shore
The west shore under the Hira mountains: from Katata past Ōmi-Maiko’s pine beaches to the vermilion torii standing in the lake at Shirahige Shrine, through Adogawa’s spring-fed villages to Imazu.
49.4 km 132 m climbingHikone & Ōmi-Hachiman
The east shore’s castle and merchant towns: from Hikone Castle along the lake through Notogawa to the reed-lined canals of Ōmi-Hachiman’s water villages and Chōmei-ji.
32.4 km 35 m climbingNagahama & Lake Yogo
From Nagahama’s lakeside castle north through the rice fields by the Kohoku waterbird station to Kinomoto and the still waters of Lake Yogo below Shizugatake.
33.3 km 87 m climbingFujiichi
Once round Mount Fuji, the National Cycle Route: from Fujinomiya’s northern edge by Shiraito Falls and Lake Tanuki across the Asagiri Plateau, past Lakes Motosu, Shōji, Sai and Kawaguchi, through Oshino to Lake Yamanaka, over the Kagosaka Pass to Subashiri and round the mountain’s southern foot on the Fuji Minamiroku Road.
135.7 km 1,724 m climbingMount Fuji Hill Climb
The Fuji Subaru Line as eight thousand riders race it each June: 24 km from Fuji Hokuroku Park through the forest and the lava fields to the Yoshida trail’s 5th Station at 2,305 m.
24.6 km 1,284 m climbingFuji Azami Line
Japan’s fiercest hill climb: from Subashiri up the Azami Line’s ramps of up to 20% through the beech forest to the Subashiri 5th Station at 2,000 m.
14.6 km 1,285 m climbingFujinomiya 5th Station
The highest road on Fuji: from the Sengen shrine in Fujinomiya up through the tea fields and forest to the Fuji Skyline and its hairpins to the Fujinomiya 5th Station at 2,380 m, over two vertical kilometres of climbing.
35.5 km 2,256 m climbingFuji Five Lakes
The lakes under Fuji’s north face: from Kawaguchiko Station along Lake Kawaguchi’s north shore by Ōishi Park’s lavender, round Lake Sai and Lake Shōji to Lake Motosu, whose view of Fuji is on the thousand-yen note.
35.1 km 263 m climbingLake Yamanaka & Oshino Hakkai
From the Chūreitō pagoda in Fujiyoshida to the spring ponds of Oshino Hakkai and round Lake Yamanaka, the highest and closest of the five lakes to Fuji.
38.2 km 364 m climbingTokyo 2020 Road Race Finale
The Olympic road race’s decisive final hour: from Lake Yamanaka over the Kagosaka Pass, down to Subashiri and Fuji Speedway, then up the brutal Mikuni Pass, ramps of 20% to 1,170 m, and down by Lake Yamanaka to the finish on the speedway.
72.8 km 1,330 m climbingMikuni Pass
The Tokyo 2020 road race’s steepest climb: from Oyama below Fuji Speedway up the narrow road through the forest, ramps of 20%, to the Mikuni Pass at 1,170 m and its view across Lake Yamanaka to Fuji.
12.5 km 911 m climbingHakone Ekiden Climb
Route 1 as the Hakone Ekiden’s runners climb it each January: from the hot springs of Hakone-Yumoto up the switchbacks by Miyanoshita and Kowakudani to the road’s summit at 874 m, then down to Lake Ashi’s great torii at Moto-Hakone.
16.5 km 788 m climbingOtome Pass & Lake Ashi
From Gotemba up through the forest to the Otome Pass, down into the Sengokuhara highlands’ pampas grass, and on by Kowakudani to the Hakone Pass above Lake Ashi.
31.1 km 992 m climbingAsagiri Plateau & Shiraito Falls
Fuji’s western foot: from Fujinomiya to the curtain of Shiraito Falls, past Lake Tanuki, where the sun rises over Fuji’s summit in April, and up across the dairy pastures of the Asagiri Plateau to Lake Motosu.
37.7 km 957 m climbingFuji Southern Foothills
Fuji’s south face, under the Hōei crater: from Gotemba by Tarōbō on the Fuji Skyline across the mountain’s flank to Mizugatsuka, and down through the forest to Jūrigi and Susono.
54.0 km 1,274 m climbing
Distance, climbing and elevation on this page are measured from Everycol’s simulated route. They can differ from outdoor measurements because of the mapped start and finish, route variant and elevation model.