If anything, the latter half of the Katsura River section of the bikepath gets even greener, even though it does cross the occasional highway as if to remind you of how close you are to civilization. Don't get too caught up in the scenery and forget to keep one eye on the road, though - although this bikepath is practically unknown to foreigners, on most sunny weekends it's visited by dozens of Japanese cyclists either out for a short ride or training for more arduous events. Some even go one way and then back the other way, a distance of 90 km.

Here is yet another photo that could be anywhere in the countryside in Japan, rather than minutes away from major Kansai tourist attractions...