Narita International Airport, one of Japan’s leading international airports, is a land-based airport, so you can start cycling from the airport.
From Narita International Airport, the “Gateway to the Sky,” which is easily accessible not only by air, but also by rail from the Tokyo metropolitan area, we introduce an approximately 80-km cycling tour to enjoy Kujukuri Sea overlooking the Pacific Ocean and the delicious food grown in Chiba’s land.
*All photos in this article were taken with special permission.
Contents
Narita Airport Cycle Station
A cycle station is located on the first floor of Narita Airport Terminal 2, near bus stop No. 18.
Not only are there cycle racks and air fills, but there are also benches set up to make it very easy to get ready.
There is a changing table in a private room in some restrooms in the airport terminal, and coin lockers are available for cycle bags (soft cases) and luggage.
If you need tools, they can be borrowed free of charge at the Tourist Information on the 1st floor of Terminal 2 (8:00-17:30).
In addition, showers only are available at Nine Hours Narita Airport (1,000 yen per hour).
When you are ready, purchase water from the vending machine and follow the posted directions to Narita Airport Onsen Soranoyu Spa Resort.
Narita Airport Onsen Soranoyu Spa Resort
Narita Airport Onsen Soranoyu Spar Resort is located approximately 4km from Narita Airport Terminal 2.
Known for its natural hot spring open-air baths with a view of airplanes, this facility also features a restaurant, fitness studio, sports massage, and lodging facilities.
“Bicycle Place Kurin” offers a rental service for road bikes and mountain bikes, etc. Visitors can also go cycling to Kujukuri or enjoy mountain biking to the fullest at the nearby Narita Airport Sky Ride MTB Park.
From the Sky (Narita Airport) to the Sea (Kujukuri)
Starting from Soranoyu Spar Resort, ride about 14km to Yokoshibahikari Town to “Community CAFE & Farmer’s Kitchen LABO FARM TO…”.
This restaurant, which offers farmers’ café food with plenty of local ingredients, is run by the owner, a former pastry chef who now grows rice, pears, and vegetables. The restaurant offers a menu that is rich in local ingredients and farm products grown by the owner.
Then, we went to JR Yokoshiba Station, about 2km away.
Yokoshiba Station on JR Sobu Main Line, said to be the oldest station building in Chiba Prefecture, has a nostalgic atmosphere.
Bicycle rentals are available at Yokoshiba Station Information Exchange Center Yoridokoro.
A 7-km ride from Yokoshiba Station will finally take you to Kujukuri Beach.
Kujukuri Beach is one of the largest sandy beaches in Japan, stretching 66km along the Pacific Ocean coast from Cape Gyobu to Taitozaki in eastern Chiba Prefecture, which straddles five cities, four towns, and one village.
The vast dune-like sandy beach gives visitors a sense of nature.
Enjoy Kujukuri Gourmet
If you ride 1km inland from Hasunuma Seaside Park, you will find Roadside Station Orai Hasunuma.
The name “Orai” means “my house”. It is a roadside station where you will feel at home and at ease.
Kujukuri has a strong image of seafood, but we learned that it is also rich in vegetables.
At the roadside station, you can find many fresh vegetables from Chiba.
Returning to the ocean side from the roadside station, we rode along Kujukuri Beach Line and crossed Kido river to Sommelier Farm.
The name of the store, “Mr. Watanabe’s Vegetables,” suggests that it is a place where one can get a feel for the lifestyle of a farmer.
We selected salad lunch set from the three daily lunch selections.
Starting with a hearty salad, spinach bread, cauliflower potage, and a deli using vegetables, all are full of flavor.
You can enjoy Chiba’s vegetables with three kinds of original dressings.
The restaurant is also full of fun, with maniacal items here and there that are the hobbies and obsessiveness of the owner, the Watanabe family.
From Sommelier Farm, ride about 4.5km along the industrial road by the sea to Horse Riding Club Sunshine Stables.
Horse Riding Club Sunshine Stables includes a horse riding club and a restaurant “THE MARVERIC” with an old western atmosphere.
The vast grounds also include stables and trailer houses, which can be used as filming locations for various movies and music videos.
From Satoyama Scenery to the Hill with a View of the Airplane
The wind blowing from Kujukuri pushes us back and we ride through the pleasant satoyama landscape at a stretch.
About 18km from the seaside is Arinomi-en Auto Camping Ground.
In addition to the campground, there is a farm, restaurant, and store, where visitors can also enjoy strawberry picking.
Among the strawberries on sale, select the mix picked at the time.
The strawberry mix is a great way to replenish your body with vitamins and water after a hard day’s run, and you can enjoy a variety of flavors.
Here, too, you can enjoy the delicious fruit grown in the land of Chiba.
(You can also experience harvesting various kinds of fruits depending on the season.)
A 10-km cycling from Arinomi-en Auto Camping Ground takes you to Hikoki-no-oka (Airplane Hill）.
Hikoki-no-Oka is located about 600m from Runway A of Narita International Airport, so you can enjoy a panoramic view of the airplanes above.
Although the direction of takeoff and landing changes depending on the wind direction, it is a great location to feel the realistic sound of aircraft engines during “takeoff” and to watch the planes take off over the heart monument.
As the sun was setting, we returned to Narita Airport Hot Spring Soranoyu Spar Resort 2.7km away to end our cycling tour.
We then relax and enjoy the last part of our cycling trip in the natural hot spring.
Course Introduction
Distance: 78.7km Elevation gained: 206m
▼Narita Airport-Kujukuri Cycling
https://www.cycling-nrt-99beach.com/
▼Narita Airport Hot Spring Soranoyu Spa Resort
https://soranoyu.com/en/
▼Bicycle shop Kurin
https://www.kurin.fun/kurin
▼Yokoshiba Ekimae Information Exchange Center Yoridokoro
https://yoridokoro.chiba.jp/
Summary
Cycling based at Narita International Airport is easily accessible not only from Japan and abroad but also from the Tokyo metropolitan area.
First of all, the cycle stations are very well equipped, utilizing the airport’s facilities, so they are very safe and convenient for wheeled cyclists.
Then, the bicycle rental service available at Soranoyu Spa Resort is attractive even for those who hesitate to take their bikes by train or do not own a sports bicycle.
The approximately 80km ride, which is moderately hilly, takes you from the great nature of Kujukuri overlooking the Pacific Ocean to the satoyama mountains, and after enjoying Chiba’s gourmet, you can work up a sweat in the natural hot spring baths. You can enjoy such a luxurious cycling experience in a single day.
Written by HANADA
Advertiser: Narita International Airport Corporation (NAA)
Narita Airport – Kujukuri Cycling Course
This 80-km cycling course starts from Narita International Airport.
There are moderately hilly roads, riding through satoyama from Kujukuri’s great nature overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and after enjoying Chiba’s gorumet, you can work up a sweat in a natural hot spring.
https://tabi-rin.com/archives/course/90731
