東武日光駅を出発し、国道120号線を中禅寺湖方面へ。細尾大谷橋を渡り、国道122号線に入ります。日足トンネルには入らず、旧道の細尾峠越えをします。細尾峠の道路は交通量はかなり少ないのですが、道はしっかりしており、走りやすいルートです。再度、国道122号線戻り、足尾銅山等の観光地や、渡良瀬渓谷鉄道の駅を見ながら、東武線の相老駅から戻りました。
Starting from Tobu Nikko Station, head towards Lake Chuzenji on National Route 120. Cross Hosoo Otani Bridge and enter National Route 122. Do not enter Hiashi Tunnel, but cross Hosoo Pass on the old road. There is very little traffic on the road at Hosoo Pass, but the road is well maintained and it is an easy route to ride. Returning to National Route 122, we returned from Aioi Station on the Tobu Line, passing tourist spots such as the Ashio Copper Mine and the Watarase Valley Railway Station.
東武日光駅から、観光客の多い神橋方面へ緩やかに上ります。神橋を過ぎると、観光客は減少し、静かな道を走ります。細尾大谷橋を渡り、細尾の集落を越えると人気がなくなります。国道を離れ、細尾峠方面の旧道に入ります。舗装もされておりますし、傾斜も厳しくはないので、結構簡単に上がれると思います。ただ、東武日光駅の標高が543mに対し、細尾峠の標高は1197mあるので、獲得標高はそこそこになります。
From Tobu Nikko Station, there is a gentle climb towards Shinkyo Bridge, which is popular with tourists. After passing Shinkyo Bridge, the number of tourists decreases and the road becomes quieter. After crossing Hosoo Otani Bridge and passing the Hosoo village, the road becomes less crowded. Leave the national highway and enter the old road towards Hosoo Pass. It is paved and the slope is not steep, so it should be quite an easy climb. However, while Tobu Nikko Station is at an altitude of 543m, Hosoo Pass is at an altitude of 1,197m, so the elevation gain is moderate.
細尾峠を越えると足尾エリアに入ります。細尾峠を越えたらずっと下り基調なので、すごく楽です。まずは、渡瀬渓谷鉄道の終点間藤駅を越え、銅親水公園へ。車両が入れる終点であり、足尾銅山精錬所の煙突や古河機械金属の工場など、有名なな足尾銅山関連の施設を眺めることができます。再度、足尾の町に戻り足尾銅山観光で旧足尾銅山の見学をしました。
Once you cross Hosoo Pass, you will enter the Ashio area. Once you cross Hosoo Pass, it's mostly downhill, so it's very easy. First, you pass Mato Station, the end of the Watase Valley Railway, and head to Doshinsui Park. This is the end of the line where vehicles can enter, and you can see the famous Ashio Copper Mine related facilities, such as the chimneys of the Ashio Copper Mine Smelter and the Furukawa Co., Ltd. factory. We returned to Ashio town again and toured the old Ashio Copper Mine.
足尾を過ぎると、大きな集落はなく、関東の水瓶の一つ草木ダムまで観光地も少ないです。ただ、渡良瀬渓谷鉄道の駅が個性的でかわいいので、立ち寄ることをお勧めします。車では面倒ですが、小回りの利く自転車ならではの旅だと思います。
After Ashio, there are no large settlements and few tourist attractions until Kusaki Dam, one of the water reservoirs in the Kanto region. However, the Watarase Valley Railway Station is unique and cute, so I recommend stopping by. It would be a hassle to go by car, but I think it's a trip that can only be done by bicycle, which is easy to maneuver.
インスタもよろしくお願いします。
