Departing from JR Soja Station
With the paperwork complete, it was finally time to set off!
It had been several years since I last rode a bicycle, so I was a little nervous, but its stylish design lifted my spirits.
Around JR Soja Station, signs for the bike path are posted beside the road, so follow them as you go.
After riding a little way from Soja City Sports Center, the route becomes a cycling path closed to regular cars.
It was so quiet that I could barely hear any traffic. The peaceful rural scenery was soothing.
Along the way, I came across Yayoi Plaza. I was curious, so I stopped by. A raised-floor storehouse has been recreated there.
One of the great things about cycling is being able to stop by whenever something catches your eye.
I could see Kinojo Castle on a distant mountain.
Tsukuriyama Kofun
I almost rode past it, but checked the map and turned back. I stopped at Tsukuriyama Kofun.
From a distance, it looks like an ordinary hill, but nearby there is a parking lot and a restroom.
Tsukuriyama Kofun has not been excavated, so its details remain unknown. However, studies of its construction suggest that it was built around the 5th century.
When seen from the air, keyhole-shaped burial mounds are striking, but climbing one in person gives you a much better sense of its three-dimensional form.
It is about 282 meters long, making it the 10th-largest kofun in Japan.
The size of a kofun was considered a symbol of a powerful clan's authority, and this one is believed to have been built for a great chieftain who ruled over Kibiji.
There was also a circular clearing that made me think, “So this is the round part of a keyhole-shaped kofun!”
Bichu Kokubun-ji Temple
After passing Tsukuriyama Kofun, Bichu Kokubun-ji Temple came into view.
It is one of the provincial temples built throughout the country by Emperor Shomu during the Nara period. The current buildings were restored during the Edo period and are designated Important Cultural Properties.
I rode along for a while, admiring the five-story pagoda, which stands about 34 meters tall.
Since cars do not use the cycling path, I was able to take my time enjoying photography.
This is a great cycling spot for enjoying seasonal flowers: rapeseed blossoms, plum blossoms, and lotus flowers in spring, and sunflowers in summer. A few lotus flowers were blooming.
Komorizuka Kofun
I stopped at Komorizuka Kofun, east of Bichu Kokubun-ji Temple. It is a keyhole-shaped burial mound built in the late Kofun period (late 6th century).
It is said to have been named “Komorizuka Kofun” because bats made their home there.
It is known for its horizontal stone chamber, built with large stones for the ceiling and walls. Amazingly, you can go partway inside!
It was cool inside. Peeking toward the back, I could see a stone coffin, which made my heart race.
Thinking that this stone chamber has been here for more than 1,000 years gave me a sense of the romance of history.
At Araki Rental Cycle, they told me, “The area around Matsui Pond, north of Komorizuka Kofun, is also worth visiting,” so I decided to go.
Carp were swimming in the pond.
On the east side of the pond, buildings such as the former Yamate Village Office and the former Matsui family residence have been preserved and can be viewed from outside.
The Kibiji Cultural Center is also on the grounds. It is a perfect place to take a leisurely stroll and rest during a cycling trip.
After recharging, I continued riding east. There are no shops from around here onward, so be sure to eat or shop at a convenience store before you get this far.
Tsukuriyama Kofun
As I rode through the rural scenery, I crossed from Soja City into Okayama City.
We arrived at Tsukuriyama Kofun.
From a distance, it looks like an ordinary hill, so you might almost pass it by. But just as the horse illustration on the map suggests, the nearby ranch is a landmark.
Believed to have been built in the first half of the 5th century, Tsukuriyama Kofun is about 350 meters long. It is the fourth-largest kofun in Japan.
It is also said to be the largest kofun in Japan that visitors can freely enter.
I was pretty exhausted after pedaling so much, but since I had come all this way, I decided to climb up.
You can really feel that it is taller and wider than Sakuzan Kofun. The paths are well maintained, and the views are excellent.
It feels like an observation deck, but you are actually standing on top of the kofun.
It gave me a strange feeling to think that an important person from long ago had been buried here.
Tsukuriyama Kofun is huge, and walking around it left me even more exhausted. But I set off east again, heading for Bizen-Ichinomiya Station!
After riding along a flat road for a while, I crossed into Kurashiki City. There was a sign for “Koikui Shrine.”
In the Momotaro legend, Momotaro turns into a cormorant and chases Ura, who has transformed into a carp to escape. The shrine stands at the place where Momotaro swallowed Ura (the carp).
I was too exhausted to stop, but after riding a little farther, I also saw Kibitsu Shrine, dedicated to Kibitsuhiko-no-Mikoto, the model for Momotaro.
A little farther on, I came across Kibitsuhiko-jinja Shrine as well.
This route really does take you around the places associated with the Momotaro legend.
Return the rental bike at Uedo Rental Cycle in front of Bizen-Ichinomiya Station
After making lots of detours along the way, I spent four and a half hours pedaling a Kibichari from the start.
I arrived at Uedo Rental Cycle in front of Bizen-Ichinomiya Station!
Even as a beginner cyclist, I was able to fully enjoy cycling along the Kibiji Cycling Road (though I was exhausted).
All that was left was to fill out a questionnaire about my experience using the Kibichari and return the bike.
Since I had parked my own bike at Araki Rental Cycle, I took a train on the JR Kibi Line (Momotaro Line) back to JR Soja Station. The trip takes about 30 minutes.
The Kibiji Cycling Road itself continues all the way to the Okayama Prefectural General Ground in Okayama City, so give the whole route a try if you have the stamina.
From the Writer
I usually get around by motorcycle, but cycling let me take in the scenery at a more leisurely pace.
I think one of the great things about cycling is that you can enjoy it at your own pace, stopping by places on a whim or taking a break when you get tired.
I also liked that hardly any cars use the cycling road, making it safe. The peaceful, quiet road was soothing.
And above all, I think riding around on the stylish Kibichari made the cycling trip all the more exciting.
The ride from JR Soja Station to around Bichu Kokubun-ji Temple seems manageable even if you want to take it easy, so I’d like to ride it again at a leisurely pace in a different season.
Why not rent a Kibichari and enjoy a casual cycling trip?
What would you like to know about Kurashiki?
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