JR吾妻線の万座・鹿沢口駅をスタートし、国道406号線沿いを走り、須坂市へ。時間に余裕があったので、長野駅までさらに自走しました。一つ先の終点である大前駅でも構いませんが、距離は近く、コンビニ等もあるので万座・鹿沢駅を使うことをお勧めします。電車の本数も増えますし。
さて、万座・鹿沢口駅の標高は約850mで、ここから県境の鳥居峠（標高1362ｍ）までゆっくりとした登りとなります。500ｍ今日登りますが17㎞の道のりですので、3％くらいの登りです。途中、愛妻の丘などのビューポイントがあるので、行ったことない人は寄ることをお勧めします。鳥居峠のふもとの田代地区までは民家が結構あり、峠越えというのに結構町中を走ります。鳥居峠の手前、2㎞くらいからは民家が途絶えますが、道はしっかりしており、交通量もまずまずあるので、熊とかの心配はありますが、心強いです。
鳥居峠を越えると国道144号線との合流までは下りになります。400m近く下ります。国道144号線に合流をし、菅平ダムを越えると一気に高原の雰囲気が出てきます。こんな場所に平坦な地形があること、入植により多くに人が移住してきたこと、おしゃれな避暑地の高原リゾートであることを感じました。ここで、ちょっと自転車を降りてダボスの丘をハイキング。足はきついですが、雄大な四阿山と菅平高原を一望できました。
再度、国道406号線に戻り、須坂市方面へ。約18㎞の下り坂になります。結構スピードが出ますので30分程度で市内に到着します。登りの苦労は、なんだったのやら。須坂市は、重要建造物群保存地区に指定された歴史ある町で、ポタリングには最適。臥龍公園など大きな公園もあります。
時間があったので、長野までさらに延長。オリンピックで使われたエムウェーブは改装中でした。
Starting from Manza-Kawazawaguchi Station on the JR Agatsuma Line, I drove along National Route 406 to Suzaka City. I had time to spare, so I continued to Nagano Station. I could have gone to Omae Station, the next stop, but I recommend using Manza-Kawazawa Station, as it is closer and there are convenience stores. There are more trains running.
Now, the altitude of Manza-Kawazawaguchi Station is about 850m, and from here it is a gentle climb to Torii Pass (1362m above sea level) on the prefectural border. Today I will climb 500m, but it is a 17km journey, so it is about a 3% climb. There are view points such as Aisan Hill on the way, so if you have never been there, I recommend stopping by. There are quite a few houses up to the Tashiro area at the foot of Torii Pass, and even though it is a pass, you will be driving through the town quite a bit. About 2km before Torii Pass, the houses stop, but the road is solid and there is a fair amount of traffic, so although there are concerns about bears, it is reassuring.
After Torii Pass, the road is downhill until it joins National Route 144. It goes down nearly 400m. Once you join National Route 144 and cross Sugadaira Dam, the highland atmosphere suddenly appears. I felt that there is a flat terrain in such a place, that many people have moved here due to settlement, and that it is a stylish highland resort. Here, I got off my bike for a bit and hiked up Davos Hill. It was hard on the legs, but I could see the majestic Mount Azuma and the Sugadaira Plateau.
Return to National Route 406 again and head towards Suzaka City. It's about 18km downhill. You can go quite fast and arrive in the city in about 30 minutes. I wonder what the difficulty of climbing was all for. Suzaka City is a historic town designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Buildings, and is perfect for pottering. There are also large parks such as Garyu Park.
Since I had time, I extended my route to Nagano. The M-Wave, which was used during the Olympics, was under renovation.
万座・鹿沢口駅は嬬恋村の観光交通の拠点になります。観光案内所や、コンビニなどサイクリングに役立つ施設もあるので、ここで準備をしていくことをお勧めします。万座・鹿沢口駅を過ぎても町中を走る感じになります。集落の最終地点である田代地区まで結構人が住んでおります。キャベツのおかげでしょうか。キャベツ畑は圧巻ですので、一見の価値があります。
その時のレポートは
を参照。
Manza-Kawazawaguchi Station is the tourist transportation hub of Tsumagoi Village. There are facilities useful for cycling such as a tourist information center and a convenience store, so we recommend that you prepare here. Even after passing Manza-Kawazawaguchi Station, it feels like you are riding through the town. There are quite a few people living in the Tashiro district, the end of the village. Is it because of the cabbages? The cabbage fields are impressive, so it is worth seeing.
For a report on that time, see DAHON K3 [Hill Climb] Tsumagoi Village Cabbage field and Mount Asama - Various bicycles starting with the dahon-k3
鳥居峠を過ぎ、国道144号線までの下りはスピードが出るのであっという間です。しかしながら標高1362ｍから950ｍくらいまで下り、さらに1300ｍくらいまで上げるというのは、なかなかメンタルに来ます。ただ、登り返しをすれば、素晴らしい景色が待っております。
After passing Torii Pass, the descent to Route 144 goes by in a flash as you pick up speed. However, descending from an altitude of 1,362m to around 950m and then climbing back up to around 1,300m can be quite mentally taxing. However, once you climb back up, a wonderful view awaits.
菅平高原を過ぎると、一気に下り坂です。須坂の町は、見所満載です。余裕があったので、長野駅まで自走しました。
After passing the Sugadaira Plateau, the road suddenly starts to go downhill. The town of Suzaka is full of things to see. Since I had time, I drove to Nagano Station.
インスタもよろしくお願いします
