Even on sunny weekends, we tend to hesitate and stay indoors because of the cold in winter.
However, if you know how to keep warm and allocate your time, you can enjoy winter riding.
In this article, we’d like to share with you a short ride of about 20km from Kishiwada City to Sennan City in southern Osaka, where I felt the warmth of the sun and the clear air that only winter can provide.
In the latter half of the article, we will also give you some tips for winter riding, especially for beginners.

The Closest Castle from Kansai Airport: Kishiwada Castle

There are three castles in Osaka: Osaka Castle, Amagasaki Castle, and Kishiwada Castle. Among them, Kishiwada Castle is one of the most attractive due to its easy accessibility, claiming to be “a 20-minute drive from Kansai Airport, a Japanese cultural heritage site that you can easily stop by.”

This day’s ride started from Kishiwada Station on Nankai Line, the closest station to Kishiwada Castle.

It is about 1km from Kishiwada Station to Kishiwada Castle through the shopping street.
The current castle tower, built in 1954, has three stories and three levels, but it was originally built in 1585 during the Warring States period, when Hashiba Hideyoshi made his uncle Koide Hidemasa the lord of the castle after he defeated Negoroji in Kishu.
A volunteer guide, who is also a cyclist, told me, “In the days of the ‘Sankin-kotai’(the system of alternate attendance by a daimyo in Edo), the lords of Amagasaki Castle and Kishiwada Castle took turns guarding Osaka Castle while the lord of Osaka Castle went to Edo.

The inside of the castle tower is a museum, and there is a replica of a hanging scroll with a portrait of Mitsuhide Akechi, which is often seen in Japanese history textbooks and history programs. (The original is owned by Hontokuji Temple near Kishiwada Castle.) You can feel the history of Kishiwada.

The most distinctive feature of Kishiwada Castle is the Japanese rock garden in front of the castle tower.
Kishiwada Castle Garden, designated as a national place of scenic beauty, is commonly known as the “Garden of Eight Scenes.” The garden was designed in 1953 by Mirei Shigemori, who is said to be a leading expert in garden design. Based on the castle plan before Muromachi period (1336-1573), the garden is arranged with the general at the center and the following divisions: heaven, earth, wind, clouds, dragons, tigers, birds, and snakes, based on the motif of the eight divisions of Kongming Zhuge.
At first glance, it is difficult to see from the ground, but when viewed from the top floor of the castle tower, the asymmetrical design gives a sense of beauty like that of modern art.

Experience Kishiwada’s Traditional Danjiri Festival

Kishiwada is famous for its Danjiri Festival, which is held every year from September to October.
This event started in the mid-Edo period and has a history and tradition of over 300 years. Each town owns a huge Danjiri, which is said to weigh 4 tons, and men of all ages pull it along at high speed, making it turn at right angles at the corners.

At Kishiwada Danjiri Museum, located right next to Kishiwada Castle, you can experience Danjiri Festival through a 3D theater and a giant vision, as well as the actual Danjiri and the wooden carvings that decorate its body. If you visit the museum together with the castle tower, you will be able to learn more about the history of Kishiwada.

To Kansai Airport Bay Area via Nishiki-no-hama Park

I headed south from Kishiwada to Kansai International Airport Bay Area, about 10km away.
When I told the volunteer guide at Kishiwada Castle that I was heading for Rinku Park in Izumisano City, he advised me to follow Route 4 along the bay area and go through Nishiki-no-hama Park because there were many cars on Route 204 inland.

When I got on Route 4, I understood why.
There are well maintained bicycle and pedestrian paths separated from the roadway, and the traffic lights are much less frequent and smoother than on the road. In the section of the park where cars have to use the elevated toll road, there is a dedicated road underneath. I realized once again that it is best to ask the locals about the local roads.

After passing through the park, I joined Route 4, which is the same as the roadway, and entered Izumisano City.

Rinku Park with a View of Kansai International Airport Bridge

The bridge leading to Kansai International Airport (Route 481, toll road) cannot be crossed by bicycle, but it can be seen from Rinku Park, located at the foot of the bridge.

The view of the bridge and the airport terminal along with the monument resembling an airplane makes you realize that this is the gateway to Kansai region. There are several benches and restrooms in the spacious park, making it a great place to take a break from riding.

I can’t wait to get on a plane and go for a ride around the world again…!

It’s Like the West Coast of the United States: Sennan Rinku Park (SENNAN LONG PARK)

After passing through Rinku Park’s Seaside Walk and Marble Beach, head south on Route 63 and cross the bridge to Sennan City area.
The destination is SENNAN LONG PARK, about 5km away.

SENNAN LONG PARK is a leisure and accommodation complex consisting of four areas: a glamping area with independent villas, a marché area tied up with Okadaura Port, an activity area with an athletic field and soccer field, a community area with BBQ areas and the restaurants with terrace seating.

On this day, the sea breeze was very cold, so I warmed up my cold body with soup curry at L.grow, a Western-style restaurant.
On a sunny and warm day, it would be nice to sit on the terrace.

It would also be good to have a cup of coffee break at Starbucks, the only store in Osaka where you can enjoy the ocean view.

I headed home by train bringing my bike from Tarui Station on Nankai Line, the nearest station, about 1.3 km from SENNAN LONG PARK.

~Three Tips for Winter Riding for Beginners~

This time, it was a short solo ride of about 20km, but it was quite hard to ride in the minimum temperature of 4 degrees Celsius and the maximum temperature of 9 degrees Celsius, plus the sea breeze.

So here are three tips for winter riding, especially for beginners.

○No.1 : Keep the three necks warm

One of the most annoying things about winter is the cold. It’s important to protect your neck, wrists, and ankles from getting cold.
Use neck warmers (wool lining ones are recommended) for the neck, gloves for the wrists (no open fingers!), and socks for the ankles (long ones, not ankle length).
If you tend to get cold in the stomach, using a body warmer is also effective.

It is also important to use HEATTECH innerwear (by UNIQLO), turtleneck sweaters, and outerwear to make it easier to control your body temperature without getting sweaty.

○No.2: Warm up from the inside with drinks and food

If you keep pedaling, you will warm up to some extent, but if you get cold from exposure to the wind, your body will start to stiffen up. If this happens, take a break at a convenience store or café.
The trick is to choose hot drinks and food to keep you warm while you take a break and enjoy the ride. It’s also a good idea to keep some dry ginger with you as a refill.

And of course, a cycling bottle is a must in winter. Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean you never drink water.

○No.3: Be aware of sunset time

In addition to the cold weather, you should be especially careful about the time of sunset when riding in winter.
Even on a sunny day, you will start to feel the evening chill in the western sun after 3 p.m. For example, the sunset time in Osaka in August is around 7 p.m., but in December it is just before 5 p.m.

This is fine if you are used to it, but many people may feel uneasy riding a bicycle alone on a roadway in the dark. Even if you are cycling home, it is safer to set the time from the station nearest your home to your home before sunset, rather than the time you take the train home.
It’s better to act earlier and earlier. Of course, even if you plan to return home before sunset, be sure to put the front and rear lights on your bike before you head out.

Course and facility information

Summary

In fact, I think the hardest part of winter riding is actually getting ready to go out. Checking the bike, putting on clothes, while thinking that “Oh, I’m going out in this cold…”. You’ll hesitate, but once you’re out, you’ll be fine.
As you pedal toward your destination, your body will warm up and you’ll feel comfortable in the crisp winter air.

In winter, when the daylight hours are short, you can increase your satisfaction by not focusing on the distance, but by taking in some sightseeing spots and delicious restaurants. And above all, soaking in the bathtub after returning home is a blissful moment.