Hello, this is _hiroyuki.ta. This time, we took a motorcycle tour to Mt. Kisokomagatake, the highest peak in the Central Alps in Nagano Prefecture. Mt. Kisokomagatake is a beautiful mountain that has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains and 100 Famous Flower Mountains, and is home to one of Japan’s most scenic spots, Senjojiki Cirque. If you go by bike, you can enjoy not only the mountain scenery but also the route along the way. This time, we will introduce the route from central Tokyo to Mt. Kisokomagatake, highlights, motorcycle parking, etc.
Mt. Kisokomagatake is a mountain with an altitude of 2,956m, located on the main ridge of the Central Alps (Kiso Mountains). From the summit, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Southern and Northern Alps, Mt. Ontake, and more. There are also mountain huts near the summit called Summit Sanso and Summit Kiso Hut where you can stay and eat. In summer, you can enjoy nature such as Senjojiki Cirque and Kengaike Pond, where alpine plants are in full bloom. In autumn, the leaves turn beautiful colors. In winter, the snowy scenery becomes magical. Kisokomagatake, whose appearance changes with the seasons, is a popular mountain for climbers and tourists.
This time, I set out on my favorite Harley-Davidson FLSB Sport Glide. The distance from central Tokyo to Mt. Kisokomagatake is approximately 350 km. It will take more than 4 hours even if you use the expressway, but there are many spots along the way where you can enjoy the scenery and gourmet food. I’ll show you the route I took.
From the Shuto Expressway Inner Loop Line to the Chuo Expressway
First, head from the Shuto Expressway’s Inner Loop Line to the Chuo Expressway. The Shuto Expressway Central Loop Line is an expressway that circles around the center of Tokyo, offering views of the city, including buildings and Tokyo Tower. However, you need to be careful as there are traffic jams and high tolls. I entered from Ningyocho-dori/Suitengu-dori and drove to Takaracho IC-Tatsumi JCT. After that, I took the Shuto Expressway Route 4 Shinjuku Line from Miyakezaka JCT. The Shuto Expressway No. 4 Shinjuku Line is an expressway that passes through downtown areas such as Shinjuku and Shibuya, and you can see landmarks such as the Shinjuku subcenter and the National Stadium. As you drive along this expressway, you can feel the diversity and vibrancy of Tokyo.
If you continue on the Shuto Expressway No. 4 Shinjuku Line, you will connect to the Chuo Expressway. The Chuo Expressway is an expressway that connects Tokyo and Nagano, and along the way you can see mountains such as Mt. Fuji and Mt. Yatsugatake, as well as plains and lakes such as the Kofu Basin and Lake Suwa. The Chuo Expressway is about 230km from Tokyo to Nagano, and about 200km of it is dedicated to highway buses. This is a measure to increase the number of express bus users and alleviate traffic congestion. Motorcycles cannot ride in express bus lanes, but the regular lanes are often relatively empty, so you can ride comfortably.
From Chuo Expressway to National Route 361
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If you are driving on the Chuo Expressway, you will enter Nagano Prefecture. Nagano Prefecture is a prefecture rich in nature, with many mountains such as the Japan Alps and Shinshu Gogaku. It is also rich in history and culture, with sightseeing spots such as Zenkoji Temple, which has long been known as a place of worship, and the ruins of Matsushiro Imperial Headquarters. I got off the Chuo Expressway at Ina IC and entered National Route 361. National Route 361 is a national highway that crosses southern Nagano Prefecture from east to west, running through beautiful valleys such as Kiso Valley and Ina Valley. Kiso Valley is a valley that spreads along the Kiso River, and you can see mountains such as Mt. Kiso-Komagatake and Mt. Ontake. Ina Valley is a valley that stretches along the Tenryu River and is home to historical spots such as Takato Castle Ruins Park and Ina City Museum.
As you drive along National Route 361, you will arrive at Agematsu Town, which is the access point to Mt. Kisokomagatake. Agematsu-cho is the town where the Suganodai Bus Center is located, which has a bus stop for Shirabidaira Station, which is the platform for the Kiso-Komagatake Ropeway. Agematsucho is also famous as the birthplace of Kabuki, and is home to facilities such as the Kabuki Birthplace Memorial Museum and Kabuki-za. In Agematsu-cho, the Kiso-Komagatake Ropeway is about 20 km away, so you can’t get there by bike. Therefore, you will need to park your motorcycle at the Suganodai Bus Center and then transfer to the bus.
It takes about 30 minutes from Suganodai Bus Center to Shirabidaira Station. From Shirabidaira Station, take the Kiso-Komagatake Ropeway to Senjojiki Station. Kiso-Komagatake Ropeway The Kiso-Komagatake Ropeway is the highest ropeway in Japan, and it takes about 7 minutes from Shirabidaira Station to Senjojiki Station. While riding the ropeway, you can enjoy views of mountains such as Mt. Kisokomagatake and Mt. Ontake, as well as valleys such as Kiso Valley and Ina Valley.
When you arrive at Senjojiki Station, the Senjojiki Curl, the highlight of Mt. Kisokomagatake, will spread out in front of you. Senjojiki Curl is a flat terrain located at an altitude of approximately 2,700m, and its name comes from the fact that it looks like Senjojiki tatami mats have been laid all over the place. At Senjojiki Cirque, alpine plants bloom profusely in the summer, and the leaves turn beautiful colors in the fall. In winter, the area is covered with snow and you can enjoy winter sports such as skiing and snowshoeing. To take a stroll around Senjojiki Cirque, there is a promenade called Senjojiki Nature Trail. This promenade is about 1.5km from Senjojiki Station to the summit lodge, and takes about 30 minutes. Along the promenade, there are small ponds such as Kengaike and Shirakabaike, as well as observation decks and rest areas. As you walk along the promenade, you can see mountains such as Mt. Kisokomagatake and Mt. Ontake, as well as valleys such as Kiso Valley and Ina Valley.
Once you arrive at the mountain hut, there is a mountain trail that leads to the summit of Mt. Kisokomagatake. This mountain trail is about 1.5 km from the mountain hut to the summit and takes about 60 minutes. Although the mountain trail is relatively well-maintained, there are some rocky areas and steep slopes, so please be careful. As you climb the mountain trail, you will arrive at the summit of Mt. Kisokomagatake. From the summit, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Southern and Northern Alps, Mt. Ontake, and more. There are also mountain huts near the summit called Summit Sanso and Summit Kiso Hut where you can stay and eat.
If you are going to Mt. Kisokomagatake by motorcycle, you will need to park your motorcycle at the Suganodai Bus Center. The Suganodai Bus Center has a parking lot exclusively for motorcycles. Parking fee is 200 yen per day. The parking lot is located in front of the Suganodai Bus Center, and it is about a 5-minute walk from the ropeway stop. The parking lot is available 24 hours a day, but please note that there is no lighting at night. Also, the parking lot does not have a roof, so be careful of rain and snow.
Summary
This time, I went on a motorcycle tour to Mt. Kisokomagatake. Mt. Kisokomagatake is a beautiful mountain that has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 Famous Mountains and 100 Famous Flower Mountains, and is home to one of Japan’s most scenic spots, Senjojiki Cirque. When you go by bike, you can enjoy not only the mountain scenery but also the road along the way. The distance from central Tokyo to Mt. Kisokomagatake is approximately 350 km, but you can travel comfortably using expressways and national highways. To get to Mt. Kisokomagatake, you need to park your bike at the Suganodai Bus Center and then use the ropeway and mountain trail. If you take the ropeway and mountain trail to the top of the mountain, you will be rewarded with a panoramic view of the Southern and Northern Alps, Mt. Ontake, and more. You can also stay and eat at the Summit Mountain Lodge and Summit Kiso Hut. Kisokomagatake is a mountain whose appearance changes with the seasons, making it a popular mountain for climbers and tourists. This touring course is also recommended for those who love motorcycles.
The above was sent to you by _hiroyuki.ta. Next time we look forward to.
