Epic Downhill Ride: Hinohara Forest to Lake Okutama | Cycling Japan
This was a particularly memorable cycling adventure in Japan — my first 100-mile ride!
Starting in Machida, I cycled through Hachioji and continued into the mountains of western Tokyo, following a route shared by Half Fast Cycling.
The ride combined challenging climbs, beautiful forest scenery, cooler mountain temperatures and an incredible descent towards Lake Okutama.
Cycling From Machida to Lake Okutama
Here's the route I followed, including the climb through Hinohara and the descent towards Lake Okutama.
Climbing Into the Tokyo Mountains
I began with my regular route from Machida to Hachioji before heading towards the mountains.
The first significant climb took me towards the FamilyMart convenience store at Konakano, at approximately 200 metres elevation.
From there, the road continued uphill through increasingly beautiful mountain scenery.
I'd fitted an additional water bottle holder to my Bianchi, which turned out to be an excellent decision. Once you're properly into the mountains, convenience stores and vending machines become much less frequent.
The climbs were challenging but manageable, with gradients reaching approximately 9%.
One of the nicest surprises was the temperature. The trees, rivers and higher elevation made the mountain roads noticeably cooler than the city.
Hinohara Tokyo Citizens' Forest
The YouTube video begins at Hinohara Tokyo Citizens' Forest, approximately 69.6 km into my ride and at an elevation of 992 metres.
I stopped here for a break and to refill my water bottles before tackling the final section of the climb.
From the forest, there was a relatively short climb to the highest point on the road, at approximately 1,151 metres.
After all that climbing, the reward was waiting on the other side.
The Epic Descent to Lake Okutama
This was easily one of the highlights of the ride.
The road descended through beautiful mountain scenery towards Lake Okutama, with smooth tarmac and long stretches without needing to stop.
My maximum recorded speed was 65.3 km/h.
After spending so much of the day climbing, it was wonderful to finally enjoy the downhill sections!
The route continued past Lake Okutama, Mito Bridge and Miyama Bridge before descending further towards Fussa.
Notable Waypoints
These are some of the key locations recorded during my ride.
| Location | Distance | Elevation |
|---|---|---|
| Hinohara Citizens' Forest | 69.6 km | 992 m |
| Mountain viewpoint | 71.6 km | 1,112 m |
| Lake Okutama | 86.4 km | 520 m |
| Convenience store lunch | 103.2 km | 299 m |
Other memorable locations included Mito Bridge, Miyama Bridge and a welcome food stop after the mountain descent.
Cycling Data and Camera Settings
For anyone interested in the data displayed in the video, I used the following settings:
- Power output displayed as a 3-second average
- Speed in km/h and mph, using a 3-second average
- Maximum recorded climbing power: 498 W
- Average recorded climbing power: 140 W
Some of the tunnels along the route affected the GPS signal, so you may notice occasional irregularities in the recorded data.
My Cycling and Camera Equipment
If you're interested in the bicycle equipment and cameras I use to record my rides in Japan, you can find more details in these articles:
Full Cycling Route on Strava
This was my first 100-mile ride and an incredible experience from start to finish.
If you decide to follow the route yourself, I'd recommend riding it clockwise, as I did.
You can explore the complete ride, elevation profile and activity details below.
Turn Your Favourite Cycling Route Into Wooden Map Art
I create handcrafted wooden cycling maps here in Japan. Whether it's your first century ride, a challenging mountain climb or a memorable cycling holiday, I can turn your GPX or Strava route into personalised wall art, complete with an elevation profile and ride details. Free design mock-up available before ordering.
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