Breathtaking Scenery and History! A 2-Day Cycling Route on Ring Ring Road
Tsukuba Kasumigaura Ring Ring Road is a 180-kilometer cycling route in Ibaraki Prefecture. This is a designated national cycling route because it is safe to travel and equipped with well-maintained rest areas and accommodations along the way. You can select from a variety of cycling paths, enjoy the scenic beauty of Mt. Tsukuba and Lake Kasumigaura, visit historical sites, shop for souvenirs, and savor local cuisine.
Tsuchiura, a recommended starting point, is easily accessible in about an hour by train or car from Tokyo. You can also rent a bike in the city. This time, we'll introduce a two-day cycling itinerary around sightseeing spots along the route from Tsuchiura to nearby Mt. Tsukuba and charming spots to visit near Lake Kasumigaura.
*Please keep in mind it is illegal to ride a bicycle after consuming alcohol.
1 night, 2 days
Day 1
Tokyo Station
Tsuchiura Station
Ring Ring Square Tsuchiura
Ring Ring Square Tsuchiura is a facility that offers cycling services and is directly connected to JR Tsuchiura Station. The facility has bicycle and rental shops and is fully furnished with coin loc…
Read MoreKijo Park
The park is a historical symbol of Tsuchiura and was developed from part of the former Tsuchiura Castle. The castle, constructed in the late Muromachi period (1429-1440), was commonly known as "Kijō"…
Read MoreOda Castle Ruins
Oda Castle was the residence of the Oda clan, an incredibly influential family in the area from the 12th to 17th centuries. Currently, only the ruins of the castle remain. At the time, the Imperia…
Read MoreHirasawa Kanga Ruins
The Hirasawa Kanga Ruins were established as a government office over 1,000 years ago, during the Nara (710-794) and Heian (794-1185) periods. They are designated as a national historic site. Hiras…
Read MoreCheck-in
Hoshino Resorts BEB5 Tsuchiura
Tataki no Ikkyu Tsuchiura Branch
Tataki no Ikkyu Tsuchiura is an uncommon restaurant that combines warayaki (a cooking method that sears the surface of food with straw fire) from Kochi Prefecture and Ibaraki ingredients. The restaur…
Read MoreOvernight stay
Hoshino Resorts BEB5 Tsuchiura
Hoshino Resort BEB5 Tsuchiura has its entrance on the same floor as the Tsuchiura Station ticket gates. Certified as a "cyclist-friendly hotel," it offers rooms allowing guests to bring bicycles a…
Read MoreDay 2
Hoshino Resorts BEB5 Tsuchiura
Yoshida Lotus Root Farm
Ibaraki Prefecture is the top lotus root producer in Japan, with the vegetable growing especially well around Lake Kasumigaura. Yoshida Lotus Root Farm not only cultivates the root vegetable but also…
Read MoreSakihama Oyster Fossil Bed
The Sakihama Oyster Fossil Bed and Tunnel Tombs formed approximately 120 to 130,000 years ago when this area was at the bottom of the ocean. This oyster shell bed was shaped by the exposure of geolog…
Read MoreKasumi Kitchen
Kasumi Kitchen is on the second floor of the Kasumigaura Exchange Center and faces Ring Ring Road, the national cycling route along Lake Kasumigaura and its lakeside. The menu brings out the best ing…
Read MoreAyumizaki Park
Ayumizaki Park is located next to the Tsukuba Kasumigaura Ring Ring Road, which is part of the national cycle route. It offers stunning views of Kasumigaura, the second-largest lake in Japan. The par…
Read MoreFujimizuka Kofun Park
Fujimizuka Kofun Park is on a hill that overlooks Lake Kasumigaura. Within the park there are several tumuli (burial mounds) mainly constructed druing the Kofun period (mainly between the 3rd and 7th…
Read MoreKappo Ryokan Izumiso
Izumiso, a traditional Japanese inn next to Lake Kasumigaura, prides itself on its freshwater fish cuisine. Their simmered carp cooked with a secret sauce and unagi kabayaki (eel fillet skewers grill…
Read MoreHirose Company
Hirose Company is a sake brewery on the banks of the Koise River established in 1805. Blessed with cold land suited for sake brewing and groundwater from the Mt. Tsukuba system, the brewery produces …
Read MoreTakahama Station
Tsuchiura Station
Tokyo Station