Sakura, in northern Chiba, was a castle town in the Edo period, and some of its old samurai residences survive on a quiet street, with thatched roofs and earthen walls, giving a glimpse of how the warrior class lived. The castle itself is gone, but its grounds now house the National Museum of Japanese History, one of the best museums in the country, covering everything from prehistoric times to the twentieth century.
Just outside the town, beside the lake of Inba-numa, stands a Dutch-style windmill, surrounded by tulip fields that bloom in brilliant colour in April. The windmill commemorates Sakura's historical links with Dutch learning, rangaku, which flourished here in the Edo period. The Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art, set in a park nearby, has a fine collection of modern art, including a room of paintings by Mark Rothko.
The landscape around Sakura is a gentle mix of low hills, rice paddies, woods and lakes, and it makes for pleasant, relaxed riding. The roads around Inba-numa are flat and open, with views over the water, and the routes through the hills are winding and wooded. Traffic can be heavy on the main roads, especially near Narita airport, but the minor roads are quiet.
As a start and finish, Sakura offers a calm, cultural setting, with plenty of places to eat and drink. Fuel is available in town. The lake at sunset, with the windmill silhouetted against the sky, is a lovely way to end the day.