Lake Hamana One-Day Cycling Model Course｜Spectacular Lakeside Views, Hot Springs, and Exceptional Eel

One of the best things for beginners is that the cycling course around Lake Hamana is flat and easy to ride.
With few ups and downs, it allows for a relaxed ride that can also be enjoyed by parents and children together.
If you rent an e-bike with electric assist, you can ride even more comfortably with motorized support.

One of the attractions of Lake Hamana cycling is how the scenery changes as you ride.
One moment you are crossing a bridge that makes it feel as if you are riding over the lake itself, and the next you are greeted by open views that feel almost seaside-like, followed by roads rich with greenery and a hot spring town farther along.
The more you pedal, the more new scenery you will encounter.

Another attraction is the abundance of places to stop during your ride, such as cafes where you can enjoy local food and observation spots with sweeping views of Lake Hamana.
By making stops here and there while enjoying the scenery, your journey around Lake Hamana becomes even more fulfilling.
After a long ride, reward yourself with Shizuoka’s famous eel.

Your journey begins at JR Bentenjima Station.
From Bentenjima Station, whose platforms are set at a relatively high position, you can see Lake Hamana and immediately feel the mood of travel.
In front of the station, there is also a bicycle assembly space for cyclists traveling with bikes in bags, as well as the Bentenjima Tourist Information Center.
Now, it is time to set off.

Pass through the underground walkway in front of JR Bentenjima Station and walk about 3 minutes to Bentenjima Cycle Gate.
Rent your bicycle here.
Beginners should choose an e-bike with electric assist to make riding easier and more comfortable.
The guidance video explaining how to ride the bicycle and important safety points also includes English subtitles, so you can use it with confidence.

Your first stop is Bentenjima Seaside Park, where Bentenjima Cycle Gate is located.
Take a commemorative photo with the Bentenjima Symbol Tower, one of Bentenjima’s signature landmarks, in the background.
This park is also loved by locals, and you will often see people walking their dogs or going for a run.
Breathe in the crisp morning air deeply and begin your Lake Hamana cycling adventure.

After riding for about 10 minutes with Bentenjima Station behind you, you will arrive at Hamana Ohashi.
This bridge, which draws a great arc across Lake Hamana, offers an exceptional sense of openness and a 360-degree panorama.
If the weather is clear, you may even be able to see Mt. Fuji on your right, making it a perfect photo spot.
The distance from Bentenjima to Kanzanji is about 15 km.
Enjoying the lakeside scenery as you go, it takes about 1 to 2 hours at a relaxed pace.

After riding for about 30 minutes with Lake Hamana on your left, you will arrive at Uchiyama Coast.
This is a hidden gem known mainly to those in the know, where you can spend quiet time gazing at the scenery at your own pace.
Looking for pretty seashells is also part of the fun.
At low tide from spring to autumn, you may even come across hermit crabs.
Spend a soothing moment here that brings out your childlike side.

The destination for the outward leg is lunch at Kanzanji no Gyozaya inside HAMANAKO ENGINE, a complex filled with restaurants and shops.
You will find Shizuoka-style menu items such as soft-serve topped with plenty of Mikkabi mikan, sweet soy-glazed rice dumplings made with rich eel extract, and Hamamatsu Gyoza.
With options ranging from light snacks to heartier meals, it is nice that you can choose according to how hungry you are.

Once you have finished lunch, take an aerial stroll above the lake on the Kanzanji Ropeway, the only ropeway in Japan that crosses over a lake.
The observation deck at the summit is the most spectacular viewpoint of the day, offering a panoramic view of Lake Hamana, the surrounding townscape, and the Kanzanji Onsen area.

After enjoying the view, it is time to begin the return ride.
Because the lake now appears on the opposite side from the outward trip, you can enjoy a different perspective on the scenery.
Stop whenever something catches your eye, take short breaks as needed, and enjoy the relaxed ride back to Bentenjima along the lakeshore.

Gu Choki Pan is a bakery that feels as though you have wandered into the world of an animated film, and it has been loved by locals for nearly 30 years.
The bread, made with delicious water and fresh air, together with the warm atmosphere of the interior and the staff, is sure to leave you feeling relaxed.
Because it is a popular shop, it closes once everything is sold out.

Once you are back at Bentenjima Cycle Gate, return your bicycle.
If you left luggage there, do not forget to pick it up.
Bentenjima Cycle Gate closes at 4:00 pm, or 4:30 pm from April to September, so be sure to return with time to spare.

Bentenjima Seaside Park at dusk shows a very different side from the morning.
When you think back to how your journey began here this morning, the moment feels a little moving.
For about one month around the winter solstice, from late November to late January, there is also a spectacular viewpoint where the setting sun drops directly into the center of the Bentenjima Symbol Tower, so try strolling through the park and looking for the best twilight viewing spot.

After such a full day of riding, treat yourself to dinner at Hamanabo, a Japanese restaurant beloved by locals.
While enjoying exceptionally fresh seafood landed at Maisaka Fishing Port and Hamamatsu-born sake that changes with the seasons, take time to gently reward your body after a full day of cycling.

For cycling at Lake Hamana, it is recommended to use JR Bentenjima Station as your starting point.
Near the station is Bentenjima Cycle Gate, which was introduced in the model course, making it easy to access by train.
You can also rent electric-assist bicycles there, making it suitable even for longer rides around the lakeshore.
Because Bentenjima Cycle Gate also allows multi-day use, it is easy to plan a trip that includes an overnight stay in Kanzanji Onsen or Mikkabi Onsen.
In the Kanzanji Onsen area, the tourism association also offers city bike rentals for 500 yen without electric assist, making it easy to enjoy a casual ride around the area.
Use a route around the lakeshore from Bentenjima as the basis of your trip and enjoy Lake Hamana cycling in a style that suits you.

Lake Hamana cycling is a relatively flat and easy-to-ride course, but beginners are overwhelmingly best off choosing an e-bike with electric assist.
Because it supports the force of your pedaling, you can ride long distances without overexerting yourself.
Another nice point is that it also helps you keep moving smoothly even into a headwind, making it easier to avoid feeling tired during the trip.

Rental bicycles around Lake Hamana require advance reservations, though same-day use is possible only if bicycles are available.
Because more people use the service on weekends and during sightseeing seasons, it is recommended to reserve early if there is a particular bicycle you want.
E-bikes with electric assist are especially popular, so if you want to be sure you can use one, making a reservation in advance will give you peace of mind.