[Scenic Touring Spot] [Gunma Prefecture] Bike trip to Mt. Myogi! A solo trip on a Harley in search of spectacular views of strangely shaped rocks and cherry blossoms
Hello, this is _hiroyuki.ta. This time, we took a motorcycle tour to Mt. Myogi, located in Gunma Prefecture and one of Japan’s top three scenic spots. On my beloved Harley-Davidson FLSB Sport Glide, I headed for Mt. Myogi, which is about two and a half hours from central Tokyo. Mt. Myogi is a rocky mountain with sharp, jagged rock walls that look like a saw, and is characterized by its rugged scenery. In spring, 5,000 cherry trees of 45 different varieties bloom in Sakura no Sato, located at the foot of Mt. Myogi. This time, I was able to enjoy the collaboration of Mt. Myogi and cherry blossoms. In this article, we will introduce what kind of place Mt. Myogi is, the route to get to Mt. Myogi, highlights, motorcycle parking, etc.
Mt. Myogi is a famous mountain that represents Gunma Prefecture and is included in the Jomo Sanzan along with Mt. Akagi and Mt. Haruna. The altitude is 1103.8 meters, and the highest peak is Soma-dake. Mt. Myogi is thought to have been formed from volcanic rock that was formed by volcanic activity about 6 million years ago, and was carved out by weathering and erosion over many years. The result is a unique landscape with thick, folding screen-like rock walls and strangely shaped rock masses. Mt. Myogi is considered one of Japan’s three great scenic spots, along with Yabakei in Oita Prefecture and Kankakei in Kagawa Prefecture. It has also been designated as a nationally designated scenic spot and natural monument.
Mt. Myogi is also a mecca for mountain climbing and hiking. There are many mountain trails, and everyone from beginners to advanced climbers can choose from a variety of courses. The most famous course is the one called Daimonji Rock, which takes you to a rock wall with a giant character for dai'' engraved on it. This character fordai” was carved in the Edo period and has been used as a landmark for travelers and mountain climbers. There are also some thrilling spots, such as the iron staircase called the “Hakuun Ladder” and ropes and chains set on the rock wall. Mt. Myogi is also a mountain of challenge and adventure for climbers.
Route to Mt. Myogi
This time, we toured by motorcycle from central Tokyo to Mt. Myogi. The starting point was Hakozaki-cho, Nihonbashi, and I took the Shuto Expressway Inner Loop Line and entered the Shuto Expressway No. 5 Ikebukuro Line from Takebashi JCT. The Metropolitan Expressway No. 5 Ikebukuro Line passes through Tokyo Dome and Ikebukuro before connecting to the Shin-Omiya Bypass. From the Shin-Omiya Bypass, I transferred to the Tokyo Gaikan Expressway and headed for the Kanetsu Expressway. The Kanetsu Expressway is an expressway that crosses Saitama and Gunma prefectures, and there are service areas such as Hanazono SA and Honjo SA along the way.
From Hanazono SA, take the Kanetsu Expressway again and drive on the Kanetsu Expressway for a while, then branch off to the Joshinetsu Expressway at Fujioka JCT. The Joshinetsu Expressway is an expressway that runs parallel to the Kanetsu Expressway, heading towards Nagano and Niigata prefectures. After driving about 40 kilometers on the Joshinetsu Expressway, I got off at Matsuida Myogi IC. From Matsuida Myogi IC, I headed to Mt. Myogi via National Route 18 and Prefectural Route 51. National Route 18 is the main road that runs from Nagano Prefecture through Gunma Prefecture to Niigata Prefecture, with stops such as Shibukawa-Ikaho IC and Tomioka IC along the way. Prefectural Route 51 is a road that branches off from National Route 18 and extends towards Mt. Myogi. This road curves around the base of Mt. Myogi, making it a fun road to ride on a bike. When the rock walls of Mt. Myogi come into view, you will know that you are nearing your destination.
When we arrived at Mt. Myogi, we first went to see the Daimonji Rock, the symbol of Mt. Myogi. Daimonji Rock is a rock wall on the southwest side of Mt. Myogi, and is carved with a huge character for dai'', approximately 100 meters high and 50 meters wide. It is said that this character fordai” was carved by the priest of Myogi Shrine during the Edo period. Daimonji Iwa is located about a 15-minute walk from Myogi Shrine. Myogi Shrine is a shrine that has been worshiped since ancient times at the foot of Mt. Myogi, and flowers such as cherry blossoms and azaleas bloom within the grounds. The mountain trail from Myogi Shrine to Daimonji Rock has some steep stairs and ropes, but it is not very difficult. When you arrive at Daimonji Rock, an impressive rock wall will spread out in front of you. From Daimonji Rock, you can also see other strangely shaped rocks of Mt. Myogi and the surrounding scenery. If the weather is good, you can see Mt. Akagi and Mt. Haruna in the distance. Daimonji Rock is a representative spot of Mt. Myogi, one of Japan’s three great scenic spots.
Next, we went to see “Sakura no Sato” at the foot of Mt. Myogi. “Sakura no Sato” is a park with 5,000 cherry blossoms of 45 different varieties, and the cherry blossoms bloom all at once in the spring. At Sakura no Sato, you can see not only common cherry blossoms such as Somei Yoshino and Yamazakura, but also rare cherry blossoms such as weeping cherry and Yaezakura. From Sakura no Sato, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the cherry blossoms and the strangely shaped rocks of Mt. Myogi. The contrast between the cherry blossoms and the strangely shaped rocks is breathtaking. “Sakura no Sato” also holds events such as the cherry blossom festival and cherry blossom illumination at night. “Sakura no Sato” is a spot where you can enjoy the beauty of Mt. Myogi and cherry blossoms at the same time.
Myogiyama motorcycle parking lot
There are several motorcycle parking lots on Mt. Myogi. I used the “Myogiyama Municipal Parking Lot”. The Myogisan Municipal Parking Lot is free to use, but the number of spaces is limited. Mt. Myogi has many parking lots that are convenient for those touring by motorcycle.
summary
This time, I took a motorcycle tour from central Tokyo to Mt. Myogi. Mt. Myogi is a rocky mountain that is considered one of Japan’s top three scenic spots, and is known for its rough rock walls and strangely shaped rock masses. Mt. Myogi is also a mecca for mountain climbing and hiking, but this time I went to see Daimonji Iwa and Sakura no Sato. Daimonji Rock is a rock wall carved with the giant character “Dai”, which is the symbol of Mt. Myogi, and offers an impressive view. Sakura no Sato is a park where 5,000 cherry trees of 45 different varieties are planted, and you can enjoy a spectacular view of the cherry blossoms and the strangely shaped rocks of Mt. Myogi. There are several motorcycle parking lots on Mt. Myogi, but I used the free Mt. Myogi Municipal Parking Lot. Mt. Myogi is also an attractive spot for people who tour by motorcycle.
The above was sent to you by _hiroyuki.ta. Next time we look forward to!
*The English name for Mt. Myogi is Myogi Mountain.
[Scenic Touring Spot] [Gunma Prefecture] Bike trip to Mt. Myogi! A solo trip on a Harley in search of spectacular views of strangely shaped rocks and cherry blossoms
