Cycling from Abiko to Narita Airport | 78 km Round Trip by Cross Bike

I rode a cross bike from Abiko to Narita Airport.

The bicycle I used was a KhodaaBloom RAIL LIGHT (400 mm) cross bike.

The distance was approximately 39 km one way, and the ride took about 2 hours.
If you also return to Abiko by bicycle,
the total round-trip distance is approximately 78 km.

The route follows Prefectural Route 356 from Abiko,
then continues from around Fusa via Prefectural Route 189,
National Route 464, and National Route 408 to Narita Airport.

Overall, the route is relatively easy to ride,
but there are fewer bicycle shops along the way,
so it is necessary to prepare for unexpected problems such as flat tires or mechanical trouble.

In this article, I will introduce the route I actually took, road conditions, hills,
places to rest and replenish supplies, bicycle parking around Narita Airport,
and nearby spots where you can watch airplanes.

Distance and Travel Time

On the route I took,
the distance from Abiko to Narita Airport was approximately 39 km one way.

The ride took about 2 hours.

If you also return to Abiko by bicycle,
the total round-trip distance is approximately 78 km.

Travel time will vary depending on traffic lights, road conditions, and rest breaks,
so it is better to allow plenty of extra time when planning the ride.

The Route I Took

The general route I took was as follows.

Abiko City → Prefectural Route 356 → Prefectural Route 189 from around Fusa →
National Route 464 → National Route 408 → Narita Airport

This route heads from Abiko toward Narita,
passing through the Fusa area before continuing to Narita Airport.

Compared with routes heading toward Tokyo,
there are fewer sections where traffic and the number of traffic lights continue to increase as you approach the destination,
so overall I found the route relatively easy to ride.

Relatively Easy to Ride, but Preparation for Trouble Is Necessary

This route does not require you to spend a long time riding through extremely busy urban areas,
making it a relatively easy course to ride.

On the other hand, there are fewer bicycle shops compared with urban areas.

If you get a flat tire or experience a mechanical problem,
there may not be a bicycle shop nearby where you can immediately take your bicycle.

For this reason, it is reassuring to carry basic equipment for dealing with minor problems,
such as a puncture repair kit, spare inner tube,
and portable pump.

It is also important to check the tire pressure, brakes,
chain, and other parts of the bicycle before departure.

Are There Any Hills?

There were no extremely steep hills on the route I took.

Since this is not a route with a series of major climbs,
the hills themselves are not a major burden.

Therefore, the approximately 39 km one-way distance,
places to replenish supplies, and preparation for bicycle trouble
are more important points to keep in mind than the hills.

There Are Fewer Convenience Stores and Other Places to Rest or Replenish Supplies

There are convenience stores along the way,
so you can replenish drinks and food.

However, there are not as many stores as in urban areas,
and they are not necessarily located at short intervals.

Since you may not always find a convenience store immediately when you need one,
it is better to carry a reasonable amount of drinking water from the start.

Temperatures can become particularly high during the summer,
so it is reassuring to prepare plenty of water
and replenish it at convenience stores along the way as needed.

Bicycle Parking at Narita Airport

There are places around Narita Airport where bicycles can be parked.

I only used one bicycle parking area during this trip,
and it did not give me the impression of being particularly well maintained.

For that reason,
I did not feel that it was particularly suitable for leaving a bicycle there for a long period of time.

If you are cycling to Narita Airport,
I recommend checking the location of the bicycle parking area in as much detail as possible before you go.

You Can Walk Your Bicycle on the Airport Grounds, but Be Aware of the Distance

You cannot ride a bicycle on the grounds of Narita Airport,
but you can get off and walk while pushing your bicycle.

However, Narita Airport is extremely large,
so if you search for bicycle parking while pushing your bicycle around the airport grounds,
you may end up walking a considerable distance.

I actually moved around while pushing my bicycle during this trip,
but because it involved walking a long distance while searching for bicycle parking,
I would not particularly recommend doing this.

If you are cycling to Narita Airport,
it is better to check the location of the bicycle parking area in advance
and approach it directly using the roads around the outside of the airport.

Research the Airport Layout in Advance If You Plan to Use the Terminal

Narita Airport is extremely large,
and there are many different facilities inside the terminals.

Even if you want to rest or eat after arriving by bicycle,
it may take more time than expected to reach the facility you want to use.

Therefore, if you plan to use convenience stores, restaurants,
observation areas, or other facilities inside the airport,
it is better to check their locations carefully before setting out by bicycle.

If you decide in advance which terminal you will head to from the bicycle parking area
and where you plan to take a break,
getting around after arrival will be much easier.

Sakura no Yama Is Also Recommended for Watching Airplanes

Sakura no Yama, a spot where you can watch airplanes,
is located northwest of Narita Airport.

If the weather is good,
rather than only going inside the airport terminal,
visiting nearby airplane-viewing spots by bicycle is also recommended.

A bicycle makes it relatively easy to move around the airport area,
so you can enjoy not only Narita Airport itself
but also nearby attractions.

You Can Watch Airplanes Up Close at Hikoki no Oka

Southwest of Narita Airport is an airplane-viewing spot called Hikoki no Oka.

When I visited,

airplanes approaching to land passed directly in front of me at a rate of about one every 10 minutes.

Large passenger aircraft pass overhead at a low altitude,
making the experience extremely impressive.

If watching airplanes is one of your main purposes,
on a clear day it is worth visiting Hikoki no Oka
in addition to the observation areas at the airport terminal.

However, the direction of flights and the number of aircraft vary depending on the time of day,
flight operations, and other conditions,
so you should not expect to see airplanes at the same frequency every time.

The Areas Around Narita Airport Can Also Be Destinations in Their Own Right

If you cycle to Narita Airport,
the airport terminal itself does not necessarily have to be your only destination.

Narita Airport covers a very large area,
and after parking your bicycle,
it can take a considerable amount of time to move around inside the terminals.

On the other hand, when the weather is good,
there are also places around the airport where you can watch airplanes,
such as Sakura no Yama and Hikoki no Oka.

Especially when visiting by bicycle,
another way to enjoy the trip is to ride around the airport area while watching airplanes.

My Impressions of Cycling from Abiko to Narita Airport

From Abiko to Narita Airport,
the route I took was approximately 39 km one way and took about 2 hours.

If you also return to Abiko by bicycle,
the total round-trip distance is approximately 78 km.

There were no extremely steep hills,
and overall the route was relatively easy to ride.

On the other hand, there are not many bicycle shops or convenience stores along the way,
so it is better to prepare drinks in advance
and be ready for flat tires or mechanical problems.

One thing to be particularly aware of after arriving at Narita Airport
is just how large the airport grounds are.

You can get off and walk while pushing your bicycle,
but if you move around the airport grounds while searching for bicycle parking,
you may end up covering a considerable distance on foot.
It is easier to check the location of the bicycle parking area in advance
and approach it directly from the roads around the outside of the airport.

If watching airplanes is one of your goals,
Sakura no Yama northwest of the airport
and Hikoki no Oka southwest of the airport are also recommended.

At Hikoki no Oka in particular,
when I visited, I was able to watch approaching aircraft pass nearby
at a rate of about one every 10 minutes,
which was extremely impressive.

If you would like to cycle from Abiko to Narita Airport,
this route can be enjoyed as a cycling course of approximately 39 km one way
and approximately 78 km round trip.