South Korea gives cyclists a passport. Buy the booklet at a certification centre, stamp it at red phone-box booths along 633 km of riverside path from Incheon to Busan, and the government sends you a medal. That level of organisation runs through the region: Japan built bike lanes onto the bridges of an inland-sea expressway, and Taiwan signposted a 968 km loop around the whole island.
The three classic rides are the Shimanami Kaido between Onomichi and Imabari, Taiwan’s Cycling Route No. 1, and Korea’s cross-country path. Each has rental bikes, convenience stores every few kilometres and trains to bail out on, so you can ride them without a support van.
China is rougher and more varied: the loop around Erhai Lake below the mountains of Dali, the countryside between Guilin and Yangshuo, and the warm coast roads of Hainan in winter.
At a Glance#
- Best day ride: the Shimanami Kaido, about 70 km from Onomichi to Imabari across six islands and seven bridges in the Seto Inland Sea.
- Best long tour: Taiwan’s Cycling Route No. 1, about 968 km around the island in 9 to 12 days, with the Pacific coast between Hualien and Taitung the highlight.
- Best organised path: Korea’s cross-country route from Incheon to Busan, 633 km of mostly traffic-free path with stamp booths and medals.
- Island loops: the 234 km Jeju Fantasy Bicycle Path around Jeju Island, and Lake Biwa’s Biwaichi loop of about 200 km near Kyoto.
- Summer escape: Hokkaido, with quiet roads, cool weather and flower farms around Biei and Furano in July.
- Lake and countryside rides: Sun Moon Lake in Taiwan, Erhai Lake in Yunnan and the Yulong River valley at Yangshuo.
Japan#
The Shimanami Kaido links Honshu and Shikoku over the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, with a blue line painted on the road to follow. The full ride from Onomichi to Imabari is about 70 km and takes most of a day with stops; the climbs are short ramps up to each bridge. The official Shimanami rental terminals charge about 3,000 yen (about 20 USD) a day for a cross bike and 4,000 yen for an electric-assist bike, plus a refundable deposit, and you can drop off at a different terminal for an extra fee. Cyclists’ bridge tolls of a few hundred yen were waived through March 2026; check whether the waiver has been extended.
Biwaichi, the loop around Lake Biwa in Shiga, is about 200 km of mostly flat lakeside road and path, starting from Otsu or Nagahama and easy to reach by train from Kyoto. Many riders do the shorter northern half in a day.
Hokkaido is Japan’s touring island: long distances, light traffic, campsites and rider houses, and summer temperatures in the low 20s °C when the rest of the country swelters. The rolling farm roads of Biei and Furano near Asahikawa are at their best for lavender in July, and the east around Shiretoko and Lake Akan is wilder. The Noto Peninsula in Ishikawa was a classic coastal ride but was badly damaged by the January 2024 earthquake and later floods, so check road conditions before planning a route there.
To take a bike on Japanese trains you must bag it in a rinko bag with the wheels off.
Taiwan#
Cycling Route No. 1 circles Taiwan in about 968 km, signposted the whole way, with repair stations at police posts and convenience stores. Most riders go anticlockwise from Taipei in 9 to 12 days, and bike shops rent touring bikes and run supported tours. The west coast is flat, busy and urban; the east coast, from Hualien through the East Rift Valley or down Highway 11 to Taitung, is the reason to go, with mountains on one side and the Pacific on the other. Many cyclists skip the Suhua Highway between Yilan and Hualien, a narrow road with tunnels and trucks, by putting their bikes on a train. The area around Taroko National Park was hit hard by the April 2024 earthquake, and some roads and trails there remain closed, so check before including it.
For a short ride, Sun Moon Lake in central Taiwan has a lakeside bikeway out of Shuishe and a full loop road of about 30 km with some climbs; rental shops are by the pier. In cities, YouBike public bikes cost a few Taiwan dollars per half hour with an EasyCard.
South Korea#
Korea’s national bike path network is mostly separated from traffic and runs along the Han, Nakdong and other rivers. The cross-country route starts at the Ara West Sea Lock in Incheon and ends at the Nakdong Estuary in Busan, 633 km in about 6 to 8 days, with a climb over the Ihwaryeong and Saejae passes in the middle. Buy the certification passport at a staffed centre at either end (not at the airport), stamp it at each booth, and register at the finish for a certificate and medal. Motels and convenience stores sit beside the path.
The Jeju Fantasy Bicycle Path loops about 234 km around Jeju Island in 10 stamped sections, usually ridden in three to five days, past black lava coast, beaches and the slopes of Hallasan. In Seoul, the Han River paths run for kilometres through the city, with Ttareungyi public bikes for short hops.
China#
China has few dedicated long-distance routes, but plenty of good riding. Around Dali in Yunnan, the road around Erhai Lake is about 120 km, flat, with a lakeside greenway on the western shore below the Cangshan range; e-bikes and bicycles are rented in the old town. At Yangshuo, rental bikes take you through rice paddies and karst along the Yulong River. Hainan’s coast roads are a winter escape for mainland cyclists, and the highland roads from Lijiang towards Shangri-La are for fit riders who can handle altitude and heavy traffic on some stretches.
When to go#
Spring (April and May) and autumn (October and November) are best almost everywhere. Japan’s rainy season runs through June and early July, and typhoons can hit Japan, Taiwan and Korea from about August to October. Hokkaido is best from June to September. Taiwan’s east coast is good from October to April, though the north-east is wet in winter. Southern China and Hainan are pleasant from November to March.
On Taiwan’s Route 1, ride anticlockwise from Taipei. You stay on the sea side of the road along the east coast, with nothing between you and the view.
Costs and booking#
Rental bikes are easy to find on the classic routes: a day bike on the Shimanami Kaido costs about 3,000 yen, and Taiwanese shops rent touring bikes by the week. Budget accommodation is the main cost in Japan and Korea, with business hotels and motels near the routes. Bring lights and a lock, carry cash for small towns in Japan, and keep to the left in Japan and to the right in Taiwan, Korea and China. For more rides across the continent, see Cycling in Asia and Road Trips in East Asia.
Best places to cycle in East Asia#
More Things to Do#
East Asia cycling FAQs#
How long does it take to cycle the Shimanami Kaido?
Most people ride the 70 km from Onomichi to Imabari in a day, six to eight hours with stops. Two days with a night on Ikuchijima or Omishima is more relaxed.
How long is the round-Taiwan cycling route?
Cycling Route No. 1 is about 968 km. Most riders take 9 to 12 days, and many skip the Suhua Highway between Yilan and Hualien by train.
How does Korea's bike path certification work?
Buy a cycling passport at a staffed certification centre, such as at Incheon or Busan, and stamp it at each red booth along the route. Present it at a staffed centre at the end to register for a certificate, and complete the full cross-country or Four Rivers routes for a medal.
Can you take a bike on trains in Japan?
Yes, but only in a bag, called a rinko bag, with the wheels removed. Full-size bikes are not allowed on trains otherwise.
When is the best time to cycle in East Asia?
April to May and October to November. Avoid Japan’s June rains and the August to October typhoon season, and go to Hokkaido in summer.