A captivating road made of three distinctly appealing segments.

This triangular road is in the town of Hanawa, Fukushima Prefecture. The path has everything it needs to make it an entertaining place to ride your bike.

Starting at the Iwaki Hanawa station, houses begin to disappear as you get closer to the mountain. Entering counterclockwise into the southwestern segment of the triangle, you will find yourself on a narrow road as though you have entered the world of Matsuo Basho. As the road slopes gently along the river, you will lightly pedal along, enjoying the shower of light filtering through the trees and the soft murmurs of the brook. The time you spend riding uphill can be a time to appreciate the natural scenery that unfolds along the road: leaves that have fallen on the pavement, the small flowers and plants that live along the sidelines, and the sound of waterfalls. Perhaps the most appealing part of biking is the sense of becoming one with nature. The river is lined with a wild forest of Japanese maples. This diverse foliage will surely create an otherworldly sight in autumn.

As the uphill comes to an end, you will be pleasantly surprised to find a hot spring. You can choose to take a break here, or you can continue onto the southeastern segment of the triangle, which follows the mountain ridge as it undulates up and down. The gently winding road will fill you with excitement as you anticipate the unseen landscape awaiting over each turn. After a long uphill, the sense of change feels pleasant.

As soon as you turn onto the final northern segment, you will be surrounded by a dynamic and expansive scenery. The thrill intensifies on the long gentle downhill path. As you surrender to the speed of going downhill, houses and villages will begin to reappear, signaling the end of the road. This is the perfect finish to blow away your fatigue.

This triangular roadーstarting with a long uphill climb, followed by a ride across the mountain ridge, and ending on a dynamic downhillーis a rare combination of three completely different experiences. Since each segment of the triangle is 25 km long, advanced bikers can use it as an interval training course while beginners can enjoy a leisurely ride. There are no signal lights along this road, and since traffic is limited, you can bike this path without stopping. Along the way, the option of stopping at the hot spring is a bonus.

The houses that stand along this path are impressive, reflecting the native Japanese traditions and culture that intertwine with the natural environment. This unique local landscape is part of what makes this road a special experience.