Hi, I’m Kei.
Last weekend, I went cycling with my mother around 138 Tower Park in Aichi Prefecture. About 25 km over three hours. I’d told myself it would be “just a light ride,” but by the end I’d covered more ground than expected.
I’d Been Sitting in Front of a Screen Too Long
It’s been about six years since I switched to remote work, and last week was a particularly bad stretch. I’d gotten deep into studying Claude Code and spent most of the weekend in front of a screen.
My back had stiffened, my eyes were tired. The tricky thing about remote work is how easily the line between work and hobby blurs — I kept telling myself “it’s study, not work” while staying planted in my chair. My body was clearly sending signals that it was time to go outside; I’d just been pretending not to notice.
The weekend forecast came up partly cloudy turning clear. That was enough. I invited my mother and we set off for 138 Tower Park — drove to the site, parked, unfolded the bikes.
I ride a DAHON folding bike I bought during my Tokyo years, a decent purchase at the time. I used to ride along the Tama River and Arakawa cycling courses a lot back then. Since moving back to Aichi it’s still going strong — foldable means it fits in the car, which makes it useful for exactly this kind of outing.
25 km Along the Kiso River
The route follows the Kiso River, on the dedicated cycling path on the Aichi side. Paved lane running alongside the river — no traffic lights, no cars to worry about, just riding.
I’d ridden along rivers before (Tama, Arakawa) so riverside cycling paths were familiar. But the Kiso River is on a different scale. Wide river, almost nothing blocking the view in any direction. The sight line stretches far out, and there’s an openness to riding through it that felt genuinely good.
I’ve been back in Aichi for a few years now and somehow didn’t know this course existed. A little embarrassing. Living in Tokyo, I think I’d vaguely assumed regional areas were more limited for that kind of infrastructure — apparently not so much.
Two breaks across the 25 km, about three hours total. A good distance for that kind of outing — enough to feel like I’d moved my body, without going so hard I was out of breath. A useful reset for a body that had been sitting too long.
My mother skipped the cycling and went up the observation deck in 138 Tower instead — she said you could see from Gifu all the way to Nagoya. When she came back she said it had been clear and beautiful. Same place, different experiences — that’s how it works. The park was full of families with small children running on the grass.
Wrapping Up
The Kiso River cycling path is a solid route. Long dedicated lane, open river views. Slightly annoying to have lived in Aichi without knowing it existed, but from now on I’ll be back regularly.
When you work remotely, a whole week indoors can slip by without you noticing if you’re not deliberate about it. Getting outside for something like cycling — where your body moves and the scenery changes — does more for mood and energy than just about anything else. And it doesn’t have to be complicated. You just ride.
— Kei