Riding in Osaka, Japan?

[irablumberg]

I have a business trip to Osaka next week. Are there relatively safe and fun places to ride in the city of Osaka? I'll be staying at the Hilton next to Osaka train station, so that is where I'd like to start my rides.

TIA,
Ira

[maunakea]

Ira, you should ride between sunrise and 7:30 a.m. in "downtown areas", or more accurately, areas of high-rige sprawl. Downtown areas of Osaka (OH saka) are populated with day commuters. Once populated, the streets are dangerous and the sidewalks are congested. Be esp. on guard for automatic doors on taxis. Assuming you are from a dirve on the right country, before the first pedal stroke, repeat the mantra, "Drive on the left" five times and for the first five minutes of the ride keep repeating it.

Were I you, I would bag the bike and go by train to Nara, the earliest preserved capital of Japan (circa 600 A.D. to 800 A.D., the world's oldest wooden building, ~1000 A.D.) Late May to June 10th is some of the best weather of the year in Japan. Tsuyu (hot sticky rainy miserable spring weather) traditionally starts on June 10th.

Cycling through the parks of Nara (full of domesticated deer, be on guard for droppings) and visiting the temples is a peak experience.

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/map/021_Nara.html
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/map/index_map.html#

See also http://www.japancycling.org/v2/

[irablumberg]

thanks. I've been to Nara many times already. I don't want to drag my bike on the train to Nara. I have limited time so early morning rides in downtown Osaka sounds like just the ticket.

ira

[LittlePixel]

Try to remember the Japanese, like all the civilised world (kidding) drive and ride on the left... :)