Cycle Routes in Kanagawa
1. Hakone
Odawara-Ashinoko-Gotemba-Odawara (109 km loop, road)
Access: Starts & finishes at Odawara Station.
A one-day ride on quiet roads (except for a short stretch on Route 246). There is a 1000-metre climb on the old Route 75 from Yugawara to the Daikanzan Observation Deck. There are stunning views of Mt. Fuji on a clear day. The route around Ashinoko takes in a cycle path with lots of leaves and sticks. It is also possible to ride from the north end of Ashinoko on a marked cycle course to Route 138. There is only one nasty bit of road when you hit Route 246 for a few kilometres. This can be avoided by climbing the brutally steep Ashigaratoge.
2. Tsurumaki - Mikuni Pass - Tanzawa Loop
Tsurumaki Onsen - Ashigara Pass - Mikuni Pass - Doshi - Miyagase - Tsurumaki (163 km loop, road)
Access: Starts & finishes near Tsurumaki Onsen Station.
This is a challenging loop through the hills east of Mt. Fuji and the Tanzawa mountain range. It includes the iconic Mikuni Pass which featured in the Olympic men's road race course, as well as Ashigara and Tosaka Passes. Most of the route is on quiet mountain roads.
The leaderboard for the Strava segment up Mikuni Pass shows the times of all the top pro cyclists during the Tokyo Olympics: https://www.strava.com/segments/29203193
3. Tsurumaki - Miyagase Dam - Yabitsu Pass Loop
Tsurumaki Onsen - Miyagase reservoir - Yabitsu Pass - Mt. Kobo - Tsurumaki (59 km loop, road)
Access: Starts & finishes near Tsurumaki Onsen Station.
This route loops around Mt. Oyama in an anti-clockwise direction, avoiding the traffic as much as possible. The long, mostly gentle climb from Miyagase Dam follows the Fujino River through beautiful scenery up and over Yabitsu Pass at 761 metres. Before returning to Tsurumaki Onsen, the route winds on a pretty road around Mt. Kobo.
4. Tsurumaki Onsen to Hayama backroads
Tsurumaki Onsen - Sagami River - Hiratsuka-Enoshima coastal path - Kamakura Hills - Hayama Town Hall (41.6 km one-way, road, gravel tracks, cycle path)
Access: Starts Tsurumaki Onsen Station, finishes Hayama Town Hall.
A route from Tsurumaki Onsen at the foot of the Tanzawa Mountains to Hayama, via the Hiratsuka-Enoshima beachside cycle path and Shonan Hills. Wider tyres are advisable, as there are some gravel tracks through the rice fields at the start of the route, and the beachside path usually has some sand blown up by the wind. (Both the gravel tracks and the beachside path can be avoided.) It is quite a climb up to the Shonan Hills road, but the views make it worth it.
This route can be combined with Route 3 to include a ride up Yabitsu Pass. You could swim in Hayama in the morning, ride up Yabitsu in the afternoon, and take the train home from Tsurumaki Onsen station.
5. Miura Peninsula Loop 1
Hayama-koen - Miura-kaigan - Hayama-koen (60 km loop, road)
Access: Starts & finishes at Hayama-koen; nearest train station Zushi.
This route starts at one of TnT's regular swim spots, Hayama-koen, and winds down to the southern coast of Miura Peninsula, avoiding most of the traffic.
6. Miura Backroads
Hayama Town Hall - Miura-kaigan - Hayama Town Hall (32 km loop, road)
Access: Starts & finishes at Hayama Town Hall (Hayama machi-yakuba); nearest train station Zushi.
This short ride loops through the middle of Miura Peninsula, mostly on backroads.
Food: Hayama Bread Club, right near the start/end of the ride, does healthy lunches, including vegan options.
7. Miura Coastal Loop
A circular route which closely follows the coast around the southern half of Miura Peninsula (60 km loop, road)
Access: Starts & finishes at Hayama Town Hall (Hayama machi-yakuba); nearest train station Zushi.
This route starts in Hayama and cuts across to Yokosuka before following the coast all the way back to Hayama. There are a few busier sections, but for the most part, it is on quieter roads.
Food: Dark Arts Coffee is halfway between Zushi Station and the start of the ride. Excellent lunches, including vegan options.
8. Kamakura & Zushi Hills
Hayama - Zushi - Kamakura Hills - Kita Kamakura - Hayama (41 km loop, road)
Access: Starts & finishes at New Chandani Indian restaurant, Hayama; nearest train station Zushi.
This ride winds through hilly residential areas of Zushi and Kamakura on mostly quiet roads.
Food: New Chandani Indian restaurant in Hayama has excellent food. Raitei in Kamakura Heights is a traditional kaiseki restaurant, but they do very reasonably soba lunches in a tranquil setting.