Senba Lake Cycling — Lakeside Loop Trail

Senba Lake is a narrow, 12-kilometer-long reservoir on the northern edge of Mito City, created by damming the Naka River in the 1960s for irrigation and flood control. The lake is surrounded by a paved cycling path that loops the entire perimeter, offering flat, car-free riding through mixed woodland, wetlands, and small fishing villages. The route is popular with local cyclists but largely unknown to tourists.

The western shore passes through forest and offers views across the water to Mount Tsukuba in the distance. The eastern shore skirts rice paddies and lotus marshes that bloom in July–August. The northern tip features a bird sanctuary where herons, egrets, and seasonal migratory waterfowl gather. The full loop is 20km and takes 90 minutes at a casual pace, with multiple rest stops, public restrooms, and small cafés. It is a peaceful, low-key experience — the opposite of Hitachi Seaside Park's crowds.