Machida to Hakone to Enoshima and Back: A 128km Ride to Reach 1,000km
The purpose of today's ride, October 31st, was to push my monthly total past 1,000km—a goal I set a month ago. Despite challenging weather throughout the month, today’s warm and sunny conditions made this milestone achievable.
A Speed-Focused Ride: Machida to Hakone
This route, from Machida to Hakone, isn’t for countryside or backstreet exploration; it’s designed for straight, fast road riding. It’s ideal if you want an hour or four of steady, flat roads. I even spotted a few triathletes enjoying the smooth coastal stretches.
Photo: Ebina, Kokubukita
Starting Out: Machida to Ebina
I began in Machida at 7:30 am on a Thursday, anticipating traffic through urban Ebina. The slow-moving vehicles allowed me to pass easily, even though Ebina's roads are crowded with trucks. From my experience, while truck drivers in Ebina are courteous, the area is best avoided due to the heavy vehicle concentration.
Photo: Ebina, Nakashinden
Photo: Ebina, Kadosawabashi
Riding Along the Sagami River
Past Ebina, the route opened up to the Sagami River path. Here, I passed the Ken-O Expressway and caught views of Atsugi. The raised riverbanks and wide pedestrian walkways made for a pleasant ride. The elevated paths, designed with Japan's susceptibility to tsunamis in mind, are popular with runners, cyclists, and students.
Photo: Oiso, Kokufuhongo. Mt. Fuji in centre of frame.
Kokifuhongo – A Historic Stop
In Kokifuhongo, I caught sight of Mt. Fuji, surprisingly snow-free—the first time this late in October. It has made it to the national news that this is the first time since records began 130 ago that there has been no snow. I also passed a tsunami inundation sign. Being in a coastal area, the altitude is marked frequently, a somber reminder of the 2011 tsunami. Since learning that waves reached up to 40 meters, I've reconsidered my plans to retire by the coast.
Photo: Odawra, Maekawa
Odawara and Beyond
Near Maekawa in Odawara, I glimpsed the Seisho By-pass and the distant Izu Peninsula. From there, passing Kazamatsuri signaled that I was nearing Hakone. The final flat section approaching Hakone Station was scenic, with views of the Hayakawa River. I took a quick break on Yumoto-Ohashi Bridge and enjoyed lunch from a 7-11 by the river.
Photo: Odawara, Kazamatsuri
Photo: Hakone, Yumoto
Photo: Hakone, Yumoto, Bianchi Infinito
Photo: Hakone, Yumoto, Bianchi Infinito
Enoshima and the Coastal Path
After Hakone, I turned toward Enoshima. En route, I took a photo of a castle-like building that GPS labeled as a supermarket. The smooth, flat, sea-level stretch from here to Enoshima is one of my favorites, running alongside Sakawa Beach and other beaches like Kozy, Tsujido, and Shonan. The path is frequented by cyclists and triathletes, with surf shops and rental places lining the way.
Photo: Odawara-Honcho-Cycling
Photo: Chigasaki, Nakakaigan, Enoshima Island & Lighthouse shown.
Photo: Enoshima Trains Station
Wrapping Up: Enoshima to Machida
Before heading back inland, I stopped at Enoshima Station for a photo, waiting a while for a passerby to clear the frame. My final stop was Kamiidacho, Yokohama, capturing the late afternoon sun across the river. This amazing 128km ride on a warm, sunny day brought my total to just above my 1,000km goal at 1,026km.
Strava - Route
Bike Tech Update: KNOG Rear Light (video & review)
My new KNOG rear light (Amazon) held up well, lasting almost the entire ride in rolling flash mode. Its advertised 5.5-hour battery life proved accurate, though I can't recharge it on the go due to the mount design. A few cyclists asked about it at a stop—its high visibility is a plus, and it’s an excellent light despite this minor limitation.
Thanks for reading along on today’s journey!
— Mr. Tim
