Cycling holiday on a tropical island Fun for everyone, Okinawa main island pottering from beginners to advanced Okinawa main island cycling ridersԛ Pottering & Cycling in remote islands Try cycling all the way around Okinawa main island! A new kind of cycling holiday Rental bike Resorts, nature, history and culture. Experience the real Okinawa on a captivating tropical bike ride. We invite you on a cycling holiday to experience with all your senses the real Okinawa, including the sugarcane fields swaying in the gentle sea breezes, the exotic feel of the unique towns and villages and historic rock walls once walked by kings. Convenient tools Kume Island to get the most About 35 minute flight out of your from the main island cycling holiday About 3 hours and 15 minute by ferry You can check out detailed information about the cycling courses introduced in this guidebook on “Google Maps” or “Velodash.” Okinawa Main Island Google Map Miyako Island Google Maps can be used all over the world to search maps, for GPS About 55 minute flight from the main island navigation or to receive routes from your current location to your final destination. This guidebook uses Ishigaki Island Google My Maps to create and share About 1 hour flight from the main island cycling courses. velodash INDEX Velodash is a dedicated cycling App. Record your #FGPSFZPVTFUPVU routes or see where your friends 0LJOBXBNBJOJTMBOEDPVSTF are on group rides. You can also look 3FNPUFJTMBOEDPVSTF for recommended routes or create routes on a map and share them 0LJOBXBNBJOJTMBOESPVOEUSJQDPVSTF with other riders. "OFXLJOEPGDZDMJOHIPMJEBZ 3FOUBMCJLF 6TFGVMJOGPSNBUJPO d know abou houl t cyc u s lin Yo g Basic things of cycling you s before et out Observe cycling rules Safety comes first when riding. Cyclists, pedestrians and and general manners. cars should respect each other while sharing the road. Cyclists are expected to use the roads, not the sidewalk. 1 *In Japan, bicycles are left-hand traffic as cars. 2 Keep to the left-hand side of the road. Pedestrians always have right of way on the sidewalk. 3 Slow down and keep to the road-side of the sidewalk. 4 Always ride safely. Do not ride under the influence of alcohol, only one rider per bicycle, do not ride in parallel and use a light when riding at night. Obey traffic signals and stop when required. Look both ways before crossing. 5 Always wear a helmet. Hand signals not only show consideration for the safety Hand signals of those around you, but also help to keep you safe. Use *When riding in a group hand signals to others in your group and to the cars *The hand signals shown here apply in Japan. travelling behind you. Turning Turning Obstacle Please Stopping right left on the road overtake Before you set out Check your bike before setting out. ӗDo you have a bell ӗPosition and does it work? (The height of your seat should be set so that your knee is slightly bent when Okinawa main ӗCheck that your island course the pedal is at its lowest point) lights work ӗChain ӗIs your tire (Is the chain not too loose?) pressure OK? (The appropriate tire pressure is shown on the side of the tire) ӗMake sure Remote island course everything is tight (Is anything loose or rattling?) ӗDo your brakes* work properly? *In Japanese bicycles, it is common that the right lever for front wheel brake and the left lever for the rear. Things you ӗSpare tube and portable bicycle pump ӗWet weather gear might want to ӗPlastic bags ӗDrink bottle (for your phone and wallet when it rains) Sunscreen take with you ӗ Okinawa main island round trip course Things to be aware of when cycling around Okinawa 1 Stay hydrated. Drink water frequently before you start to feel thirsty. Replenish cycling holiday cycling minerals with brown sugar and salt to avoid heatstroke. A new kind of 2 Don’t forget your sunscreen and protective clothing. The sun can be hot in the middle of the day. We recommend wearing arm covers and sunscreen. You may want to avoid riding in the middle of the day in the peak of summer. Rental bike 3 Slippery asphalt Ryukyu limestone is used to make the asphalt around Okinawa, making it more slippery. Particular care should be taken when braking in wet weather. Useful information 4 Cars that don’t indicate when turning There are drivers that do not use their indicators or check both ways before turning. Please be aware of your surroundings. Okinawa Main Island Difficulty Ԃ er Sunset in Onna Village Pott ing Recommended cycling courses Choose from 6 carefully selected pottering courses between about 10 km to 35 km. Scan the QR code and look at the maps to check major sightseeing google spots and elevation! ԂWhat is pottering? Like taking a stroll, only on a bike 505 Nakijin Village Motobu Town 449 Difficulty Yunta farmers market /Toya Ԃ fishing port/Zakimi-jo castle Site Distance About 12 km Elevation gain 92m Time About 2 hrs. (includes rest time) Onna 58 Village Kin Town 329 Zakimi-jo castle Site 02 velodash Yomitan Yomitan Village pottering, Village 03 history and culture course Okinawa 03 58 City 329 Reduce your speed on the narrower roads Uruma City and areas around the local residences Kadena Town Palette Kumoji/Miegusuku Tower/ 58 Naminoue Beach/Naminoue Shrine Chatan Difficulty Wakasa Seaside Park Town Kitanakagusuku Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Ԃ Village Art Museum Shintoshin Park Ginowan Saion Ufu Shisa/Kokusai St City Okinawa Prefectural Office 58 Nishihara IC Nakagusuku Village Urasoe Distance About 12 km 05 City Nishihara Town Naha Airport Elevation gain 30m Naha IC Yonabaru Time About 2 hrs. (includes rest time) Haebaru Town Naha City Town 331 Tomigusuku/ Nanjo Nakachi IC Yaese City City Tomigusuku 507 City 06 331 331 Use the bike share scheme and explore Itoman City velodash Ou Island 05 Naminoue Beach and Kokusai Street *See page 15 for more in Naha! information about You can also use any of the bicycle docking stations. the bike share scheme. Use the 1 day pass for added convenience. Difficulty Onna Village pottering Before you set out 02 and sunset resort course ԂԂ Don’t forget to put on your lights at sunset. Onna no Eki/Nakadomari site/ Maeda fishing port/MAEDA BREEZE Distance About 8 km Elevation gain 60m velodash Time About 2 hrs. (includes rest time) Haneji Inlet Photo provided by: Nago city Okinawa main island course Cycle to Haneji Inlet, one of Okinawa’s Kunigami Village 01 top 8 spots and other scenic areas 58 Don’t overdo yourself on the steep hills. It’s ok to get off and push. Remote island course Haneji Inlet/Warumi Ohashi Bridge/ Distance About 29 km Kouri Ohashi Bridge /Yagachi Branch, Nago City Office Elevation gain 170m Kouri Island Higashi Village velodash Time About 4 hrs. (includes rest time) 01 Ogimi Village Yagaji Island 58 Difficulty Ԃ Okinawa main island 58 Nago City round trip course 331 329 Kyoda IC Ginoza Village OKINAWA Hamahiga Beach cycling holiday cycling Power spot pottering from A new kind of ISLAND 04 Kaichu Road to Hamahiga Island Ikei Island Watch out for the cross wind on the bridge Miyagi Island when the wind is strong Henza Island Kaichu Road/Amamichu/ Distance About 24 km Shirumichu/Takaesu Salt 04 Elevation gain 65m Factory in Hamahiga Island/ velodash Ocean Culture Museum Hamahiga Island Time About 3 hrs. (includes rest time) Rental bike Useful information Difficulty Explore Nanjo and sacred sites ԂԂԂ 06 of the Ryukyu kingdom There are a lot of ups and downs of the slope, it is recommended to enjoy with E-Bike! (Bicycle with electric assist) Ganju-eki Nanjyo/Ou island/Valley of Gangala/Gusuku Road/Tamagusuku Castle Ruins/Nirai Kanai Bridge Cape Chinen Distance About 31 km Elevation gain 324m Time About 4 hrs. (includes rest time) velodash Okinawa Main Island clin Cy g Cycle around Motobu Peninsula 01 and enjoy the blue sea Recommended and views from the bridge. courses This relatively flat course makes it ideal for your first long ride! Nago Agripark/Bise no Fukugi Tree Road/Warumi Choose from 4 carefully selected Ohashi Bridge/Kouri Ohashi Bridge cycling courses between about Distance About 58 km 40 km to 100 km. Scan the QR Elevation gain 267m code and look at the maps to Time About 6 hrs. (includes rest time) check major sightseeing spots google and elevation! velodash Difficulty ԂԂ 01 Nakijin Motobu Town Kouri Ohashi Bridge 58 Kin Onna Village 58 Difficulty ԂԂԂ Yomitan 03 Village Okinawa 58 City 329 Uruma City Kadena Town 58 Chatan Town Kitanakagusuku Village Ginowan City 58 Nishihara IC Nakagusuku Village 04 Urasoe City Nishihara Town Peace Memorial Park Naha IC Yonabaru Town Naha City Haebaru Naha Airport Town Spiritual ride around the southern part Nanjo 04 Tomigusuku/ 331 Yaese City City of the island Nakachi IC Tomigusuku 507 City This course has a lot of hills so use your lower gears. Ou Island Itoman Lake Man/Seaside along Distance About 68 km City Yonabaru Town/Ganju-eki Nanjo/ Ou Island/South Station Yaese/ Elevation gain 443m Heiwa souzou no mori Park/ Time About 7 hrs. (includes rest time) Cape Kyan/Michi-no-eki(Roadside Station) Itoman velodash Before you set out Difficulty ԂԂԂ Okinawa main island course Kunigami Haneji Dam 58 Village Enjoy the natural beauty of Nago and Remote island course 02 challenge yourself on some hill climbs Higashi Kouri Island Village Includes three challenging hill climbs. Ogimi Village Watch your speed on the way down. Yagaji Village Island Ooura Bay/Wansaka Ooura Park/ Haneji Dam 58 02 Distance About 42 km Elevation gain 610m Time About 5 hrs.