自転車で京都から大津市までFor Kyotoites wanting to do the Lake Biwa circuit - or just ride over to Otsu for the day - the biggest impediment is the Meishin Expressway.
The massive pile of raised concrete slams through the narrow pass where the Old Tokaido highway (which ends at Sanjo Dori in central Kyoto) runs just east of Yamashina Station.
However, there is a car-free route that is except for one short steep stretch easy as can be.
Riding out of Kyoto on Sanjo Dori, a short gradual climb takes you into Yamashina, a nondescript suburb. After passing JR Yamashina Station - it will be on the left, down a street, and well marked - turn left off of Sanjo at Shinomimya Dori（四ノ宮）. There is a police box, or Koban, on the far right corner.
Ride down this narrow street, past the small train station, and under the JR tracks. Then follow the canal.
There will start to be signs for hikers; see below left. The route to follow to Otsu is the Kozekigoe （小関超え）. Once you pass under the Meishin Expressway, there will be a fork. (A public toilet is to the left.) We went on the right fork, following the sign and the advice of a kind hiker, but suspect it is possible to head left as well.
The road is steep, narrow, and beat up but only for a short while. Except for the very fit, it means ten minutes of pushing the bike up to the top. From there a 10-minute coast into Otsu awaits.
The main attraction of Otsu is of course Japan's largest lake: Lake Biwa (pictured above). It has incredible vistas, and in many places there is a bike path along the edge of the lake.
Map
© CycleKyoto.comTags
Japan
Touring
Kyoto
Cycle
Otsu
No comments:
Post a Comment