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Cycling in Osaka

Osaka’s reputation for being one of the world’s most livable cities was cemented in 2019 as the Kansai hub came in at 4th place on the annual Global Livability Rankings published by The Economist Group.

As if that wasn’t enough, the decision to hold the 2025 Expo in Osaka was made in November 2018.  Osaka definitely has a lot going for it! 

If you’re a cyclist then Osaka also has plenty to offer the one-day rider too.

Whether you are in Osaka on business and have one day to stretch your legs, traveling around but wanting to keep to a training program or want to get away from the family while they go to Universal Studios or shopping (very common reason!), the river routes and mountains surrounding Osaka make for some fun and at times epic riding. 

Here’s a list of a few of our favourite Osaka cycling routes and areas to ride in that can be squeezed into one day or less.

• Yodo and Kanzaki River Loop
• Yodo river up and back
• Yodo river to Arashiyama and back
• Minoh Park and Katsuoji Temple
• Osaka Harbour Cycling Route
• Kawachinagano area – South Osaka

Yodo and Kanzaki River Loop

Starting with the simple (for anyone who just wants to squeeze a quick 40km to 60km ride into a couple of hours), the Yodo and Kanzaki River loop is flat and mostly follows along riverside cycle paths avoiding traffic.

Route

Details

Distance: 59km
Elevation: 380m
View on Strava >

Yodo River up and back

The Yodo River is popular with locals. It’s flat and with no cars around riders can cycle freely without worry. There are some safety barriers along the wide river path so you will need to slow down every few kilometers to negotiate them.

How far you ride along the river is up to you but many local riders stop at the Yodo River Mikawa Goryu Meeting place. Here there is a resting area and tower for viewing where the Yodo River meets the Kizu, Katsura and Uji Rivers. 

Yodo River to Arashiyama and back

Arashiyama makes for a great 1 day ride from Osaka or is a good point to take a breather for those heading to Kyoto or Lake Biwa.

Trains to Arashiyama are often full during the height of the Hanami (Cherry blossom viewing) and Kouyou (Autumn Leaves) seasons. Locals and visitors alike take in the beautiful setting that despite it’s popularity still retains an air of tranquility and is well worth a visit.

The 53km route (one-way) from Osaka largely follows the river paths along the Yodo River and Katsura River so those who like to avoid busy roads can enjoy a leisurely ride without worrying about the traffic.

It’s time to get out of the saddle when you reach the Togetsukyō Bridge. Just a stroll around is enough to re-energise after the bike ride from Osaka, although there are some vendors on hand with refreshments if needed.

Just find a quiet spot along the river to take in the scenery and atmosphere.

For those who want to do a bit of sightseeing in Arashiyama, there are plenty of temples and shrines scattered throughout the district; and the Arashiyama Bamboo groove is one of Kyoto’s top sights.

There is excellent cycling in the mountains north of Kyoto city and also south of the city going towards Nara.

As with all the Yodo River routes, one thing to factor into your planning is the wind. Nine times out of ten there seems to be a tailwind pushing you nicely towards Kyoto but remember to save some energy for the return and headwind blowing in your face.

We have an in-depth guide covering this route which can be found from the link below.

Osaka to Arashiyama (Kyoto) Cycling guide and route >

Route

Details

Distance: 53km
Elevation: 339m
View on Strava >

Minoh Park and Katsuoji Temple

Located around 30 kilometres north of Osaka, Katsuoji Temple is a real find along the route over the hills of Minoh. Read on for more information about this route.

With a little bit of hill work involved to get there, it makes the perfect stop to take a quick breather and to take in your surroundings. The luscious forest surrounds this secluded and tranquil place of worship.

Katsoji has tiered levels, wooden pagodas and Koi-filled ponds that makes for a great escape from the city.

Each season creates it’s own distinctive backdrop to the temple grounds. The beautiful ‘Sakura’ (cherry blossom) bloom in Spring provides the perfect postcard of Japan, while the autumn brings the changing of the leaves.

Summer provides a real treat when the extended hours begin and the temple can be visited at night making dusk the perfect time to see the night and day views.

Katsuoji translates to win temple. Visitors can buy daruma dolls hoping to obtain winner’s luck. If the wish is fulfilled, the daruma is often returned to the temple and left somewhere on the grounds.

If you’ve made it as far as Katsuoji Temple and want to push on further, Emma Coffee is a further 10 kilometres of rolling hills and quiet countryside paddy fields away. It’s a popular destination for local cyclists and serves up a Cafe Latte to die for.

See our Osaka to Minoh cycling guide and route in more detail: Osaka to Minoh cycling guide >

Osaka Harbor Cycling Route

A great route idea for exploring more of the city, rivers and harbour is the Osaka Harbour cycling route.

At 40km it’s a great length to get a sweat going, see some of the city and explore the extensive river and harbour area that includes some stunning bridge crossings.

See our Osaka Harbor cycling guide and route in more detail from the link below.

Osaka Harbour Cycling guide >

Kawachinagano – South Osaka

An often overlooked area for cycling in Osaka is in the south.

Southeast of Sakai city there is a very mountainous area which is great for cyclists. Most of the routes and roads pass through and around Kawachinagano and Tondabayashi near the border of Nara and Wakayama.

The largest peak in the mountain range is Mt. Kongo which is the tallest mountain in Osaka standing at 1,125m. The border of Nara and Osaka runs through the peak of Mount Kongo meaning the west side of the mountain is Osaka and East side is Nara.

There are numerous winding mountain roads that weave around Kawachinagano, Tondabashi and Hashimoto to the south which is where Wakayama prefecture begins.

We have a great 80km ride starting from Tennoji that will give you a good idea of the kind of cycling in the area. See the route from the below link.

Tennoji, Kawachinagano and Tondabayashi loop >

Conclusion

The above are just a few of our favourite routes to explore in and around Osaka.

Head over to our routes and resources page for more routes, guides and information on cycling in Osaka.

View more routes >

Another good way to look for popular routes is by using the ‘Global Heatmap’ setting on Strava’s Route creator. You can also find more Road Bike Rental Japan cycling routes on our Strava profile.

View Strava profile >

Safe cycling all!