Tsuetsuki Pass to Takato

While out on a drive more than a year ago, I stumbled across this view by accident.  As soon as I discovered this place, I knew I wanted to try getting here by bike.

The Tsuetski Pass of Chino City, Nagano, I later learned is not impossible to navigate by cycle.  Following a route a friend described, I chose Chino station as my start point.  With the goal of Ina City at about 40k one-way, I took the train there.  A reasonable feat on the less crowded JR Iida line, there’s only one morning train at 6:40am that avoids hauling around the awkward bike bag for transfers.

The route from the station until the Ankokuji tunnel is fairly flat.  After the tunnel, it’s a grueling 22+ curves of climb until the lookout area at the top. Road signs number most of the curves so keeping track wasn’t nearly as difficult as fighting up the pass itself.

With perfect timing, the little coffee shop at the lookout point had just opened by the time I reached the top.  Mochi-cheese bread, coffee, and an awesome view were my reward for a brief but much needed break.

From there, the 152 allows for downhill coasting almost the entire way to Takato.

traffic calming methods in Takato…

Eventually, the course meets the recreational path along the Mibu river that passes Haibara-kasen Park and goes into Ina.

Takato, Hase by cycle

Early spring is always a restless time.  The slopes melt away but the rocks are not quite crag ready.  With the drying-up of the roads and longer, clearer days, a long route on the road bike satisfies the need for mountain.

Introduced to me last year by a friend, one of my favorite cycling trails begins at Mibukawa-haibara-kasen Park (三峰川榛原河川公園) of Ina City, Nagano.  Running along to the Mibu river toward Takato, the recreational trail is automobile-fee and backed by the stunning Kiso mountain range.

The trail runs along on both sides of the river here; the south side eventually winding through the forest is a bit more sheltered from the wind.  However, it turns out to be a bit early yet with some patches of melting ice.

The trail ends near Takato, but the route is easily continued by roadside up the hill through the small town, then right through the Hakusan(?) tunnel onto the 152 toward Hase.

From here, slopes in the road roll along with just the right ups and downs for gliding past the Miwa dam.  At the end of “lake Miwa,” the 152 continues onward past Hase Inchinose toward Oshika, becoming gradually steeper until it narrows into one lane.  Here the scene becomes a steady uphill grind, but around each turn reveals new secrets of the forest that it’s hard not to push on in curiosity.

Finally, the legs reach their match for the day, and the reverse route is a breeze all the way back into Hase.  Just before the south tip of the Miwa dam reservoir, there is a road to the right that leads up the mountain to a little kabuki theater.  Certain times of year, the little village puts on fairly authentic kabuki shows at no charge to the public.

Back at the other end of the dam, there is a roadside “michi-no-eki,” or road station stop called Minami Alps Village.  With a croissant-famous bakery, a small coffee shop and souvenir store, it is a good place to refresh.