Riikka Ruokolainen thinks Riihimäki is both suitably small and large at the same time

Sinulle riksulainen is a series of stories in which people from Riihimäki share their thoughts about their hometown.  

Sports and hiking are important to Riikka Ruokolainen, and Hatlamminsuo is her favorite place in all seasons.

"I really like the beautiful, calming Finnish landscape. I've already carried both of my children there in a baby carrier. The two-kilometer long wooden path is nice with the children, and we often bake snacks in the lean-to."

Another favorite spot is the Vahteristo nature trail in the cottonwood forest right near the city center.

“There are wonderful trails and great running terrain. I enjoy trail running there and skiing in the winter. We first moved to Riksuu, right in Vahteristo, where our home was right next to the ski slopes and jogging trails. It was a luxury to go skiing from your own backyard. You wouldn’t have gotten anything like that in Helsinki for that price.”

Ruokolainen suggests that Riutta is the best hill training location for trail running, as the slope at the old ski center is suitably steep and demanding. He also likes the 141-step fitness stairs on the slope. The fitness stairs at the Sports Park come in a close second.

Everyday life is smooth

Originally from Saarijärvi but having lived in Helsinki for a long time, Ruokolainen and her husband moved to Riihimäki almost eight years ago. They needed more space and distance from the busy capital region.

"My husband Mikko got a job here, in his former hometown. He had family and friends here, and I was able to travel to Helsinki for work. As a small town, Riihimäki is both small and big enough for me. Saarijärvi would be too small, but Helsinki would be too big," laughs Ruokolainen.

He admits that it's not as easy to find friends as an adult as it was when he was young. Even his workmates weren't helpful in settling down.

"Through sports, I met like-minded people, because I played basketball for the Panthers for a while. But it wasn't until I had children that I started to find my own social relationships here. When Aino was born in 2021, I went to every baby club, and through them I met wonderful mothers and found both friends and peer support."

In early December 2025, Ruokolainen started working at the National Police Board's Lottery Administration office in Riksu. Life almost feels too easy when the workplace is just over a kilometer from home and there is no rush to catch the train in the mornings.

“I take Aino, 4, to Hirsimäki daycare center near home and Reino, 2, to grandma’s 500 meters away. Aino’s grandparents also took care of her until she was three. They are an irreplaceable part of our everyday life.”

Ruokolainen praises the smoothness of everyday life in Riksu. Everywhere is a ten-minute walk away at most, and all public services, from the health center to dental care, work well.

"Here, there is no rushing from one door to another, but there is always the right person to solve problems. I am really satisfied with the Kanta-Häme welfare area, especially compared to what I hear from my friends in Helsinki."

Affordable hobbies

As the family grew, the Ruoko family moved to a 120-square-meter semi-detached house in Hirsimäki a couple of years ago, with a small yard that doesn't require much maintenance. They are mobile and away a lot in the summer. They spent their last summer vacation in their camper van in Eastern Finland.

"We don't have a trampoline in our yard, because right next door, the wonderful Hirsimäki Park has just been renovated, which has, among other things, a zipline and a ground trampoline."

Ruokolainen notes that in addition to housing, hobbies are more affordable in Riihimäki than in the Helsinki metropolitan area.
The children's hobby fees are very reasonable. Aino attends dance classes and skating school, which cost 10 euros each. The family often goes to the indoor swimming pool and the outdoor swimming pool.

“I really enjoy living here because Riksu has enough of everything for us. But on the other hand, we can quickly go hiking to national parks such as Liesjärvi, Torronsuo or Evo. Every now and then I go to Helsinki to meet my friends and I might even stay overnight.”

Ruokolainen laughs that he is not a cultured person, but prefers a hardcore workout at CrossFit.

“Photography, especially in nature, is also my beloved hobby.”

Text: Reija Ypyä

Riikka Ruokolainen is one of three social media influencers with whom the City of Riihimäki has agreed to collaborate for a year. The goal is to highlight the everyday life of living in the city. Ruokolainen writes about her life in Riihimäki on Instagram under the account @maailmaynimpari.