Riding Through the City
Yokohama is a beautiful city and, with most places, it is best seen by bike. Living in Kawasaki, I frequently travel down through Yokohama to Kamakura or to the Miura Peninsula. I have 3 favorite routes for traveling north/south through the city. Near the coastline, along the Kashio River that runs through Totsuka, and further west on the Sakai River that flows from the Machida area to Enoshima. There is an entry for the Sakai River back on the Kanagawa Page.
Coastline Route
The most convenient route for me, and perhaps my favorite, is riding near the coastline. After riding Route 1 from Kawasaki I cut over towards the water at just past Higashi Kanagawa Station. (Yokohama Ice Arena is on the right). After crossing Hwy 15 (the large highway under the viaduct) I go past Chuo Ichiba (the wholesale market) out to a beautiful, new road that runs along the water and through the Minatomirai area passing in front of Pacifico Yokohama, the east end of Queen’s Square, and on past the Red Brick Warehouse.
It is a beautiful road with little traffic on it. This is one of the most recently developed areas of Yokohama and its well designed with a nice bike lane. It offers some fantastic views of the city that you may not have seen before.
Traffic picks up after Akarenga as you move into the older part of the city near Yamashita Park. I like to keep on the main road that runs past the doll museum (& the Mega Don Quixote) and keep riding near the water. An alternative would be to go up and over the bluff and rejoin the main road near Negishi Station.
Shortly after passing the big Konan Home Center the road intersects Hwy 357 passing on the viaduct overhead. There is a fairly nice cycling road on the left side under the viaduct that takes you up past Sankei Park and down in front of Negishi Station. I don’t really like riding under the viaduct and so it’s nice to get out into some sunshine. The road becomes Hwy 16 just past Negishi Station which will take you all the way down through Kanazawa Ward into Yokosuka.
I like to ride near the ocean so at Sugita, I move over to 357 again and ride under it for a short ways. It passes Torihama and Bayside Marina, a pleasant little outlet mall built on a marina theme. Just after Torihama you can move over to one of the parallel roads closer to the ocean. They are quieter and even offer some nice bike paths. I like to ride down to Hakkei Jima and take the road that skirts the Umi no Koen. You’ll be riding under the monorail at this point.
I recommend turning left at Nojima Koen station and riding across the little island. This road allows you to go around the busy areas of Kanazawa Hakkei and Bunko and provides some wonderful views. You’ll end up having to turn right and cross the water again putting you into Oppama, a town of Yokosuka. I like to continue riding as close to the water as I can and then coming up and rejoining Hwy 16 at Taura, not far from Yokosuka City.
The total distance of riding Yokohama north to south is a bit over 30 km. It’s a great city ride and is especially nice during those clear winter blue sky days.
Kashio River
I first began cycling by riding the bike paths along the Tsurumi and Tama Rivers. I have always loved the rivers and have used them as the starting point for my rides in and around the city. I like these smooth, quiet routes that provide a natural environment even in the midst of a heavily populated area. Most often they are also the most direct routes.
The Kashio River begins in Totuska Ward where the Akura and Hiradonagaya Rivers come together and flows 11 km down to Fujisawa where merges with the Sakai River. I get on the river near Higashi Totsuka Station. Coming from the north I take Hwy 40 from Hwy 16 at Tsurugamine Station and then turn left onto Shizen Koen Dori behind Futamatagawa Station. This road ends at Oike Park, one of Yokohama’s lovely city parks.
Turn left at the intersection and then soon take another right and the road that climbs through the park bisecting Yokohama Country Club. Oike is known for its beautiful cherry tree groves. It also has some nice plum blossoms in the winter. As you descend past the country club you come down into the area of Higashi Totsuka. I recommend turning left soon after the country club and riding through a housing area. You’ll end up intersecting 218, a bigger road with a Red Lobster and Cocos on it. Turn right there and go a short distance to a river that runs parallel to the main road.
Follow the river down and go left at the larger river it intersects. It will flow under the expressway and intersect the Kashio River shortly thereafter. Perhaps a map here would be helpful to explain it.
Once you get on the Kashio River it is smooth sailing down through Totsuka. There are some nice cherry blossoms lining the river in spring. You have the choice of riding either side of the river down to Ofuna. From there it continues a short distance further where it joins the Sakai River near Fujisawa Station. You can follow either the Sakai or Hwy 467 to Enoshima Island or you can take Hwy 32 into Kamakura.
