Hello, this is _hiroyuki.ta.
This time, I will tell you about my Harley touring to Saijin Pass in Saitama Prefecture. Sejin Pass is a mountain pass at an altitude of approximately 500m on the border of Yorii Town and Nagatoro Town, and is also part of the Kanto Fureai Road.
This pass is also a place associated with history and culture, such as the Chichibu Incident and the Chichibu Pilgrimage.
It is also known for the abundance of green rock called chlorite schist. This time, it took about 2 and a half hours to reach Sejin Pass from central Tokyo via the Shuto Expressway and Kanetsu Expressway. We will introduce the highlights of Sejin Pass and information on motorcycle parking lots.
Route to Sejin Pass
This time, I took the Shuto Expressway Inner Loop Line from central Tokyo and entered the Shuto Expressway No. 5 Ikebukuro Line from Takebashi JCT.
The Metropolitan Expressway No. 5 Ikebukuro Line allows you to enjoy views of the cityscapes of Ikebukuro, Sugamo, and other cities while driving.
I took the Shin-Omiya bypass from the Takashimadaira exit and transferred to the Tokyo Gaikan Expressway at Matsunokijima.
The Tokyo Gaikan Expressway is an expressway that runs through northern Saitama Prefecture, connecting to the Kanetsu Expressway from Oizumi JCT.
The Kanetsu Expressway is an expressway heading towards Niigata, and I got off at Hanazono IC and entered Saikai Kaido. Saikai Kaido is a road that doubles as the West Kanto Connecting Road and National Route 140, heading toward Chichibu. I got off at Yoriikafupu IC and headed towards Kanao, then turned left and arrived at Sejin Pass.
Highlights of Sejin Pass
Sejin Pass is a mountain pass at an altitude of approximately 500m on the border of Yorii Town and Nagatoro Town.
This mountain pass is also a place related to history and culture. During the Edo period, Chichibu pilgrims would cross Kamabuse Pass and Sejin Pass to reach Chichibu.
During the Meiji period, when a peasant revolt called the Chichibu Incident occurred, a battle was fought near Sejin Pass. Even today, a monument called “Chichibu Incident Monument” stands at Sejin Pass. You can also see a rock called “Kikusui Rock” with a pattern similar to the Kikusui pattern.
Another highlight of Sejin Pass is the green rock called chlorite schist.
This rock is often found in an area with geological features called the Sanbagawa metamorphic belt. This rock is made up of volcanic ash from submarine volcanoes that was deposited on the ocean floor and metamorphosed due to changes in pressure and temperature.
This rock is also exposed on the roads and tunnel walls of Sejin Pass, and has a beautiful green luster. This rock is also used as a special product of Sejin Pass, and chlorite schist accessories and ornaments are sold.
Motorcycle parking lot at Sejin Pass
There is no motorcycle parking lot at Sejin Pass, but there are several spaces along the road.
You can park your bike here, but there are some things to keep in mind.
First of all, this space is not an official parking lot, so you must park at your own risk. Parking in this space must also be done in a manner that does not obstruct the passage of other vehicles or pedestrians.
Furthermore, this space is a little far from the attractions of Sejintoge and the shops that sell specialty products, so you will have to walk to get there. Please keep these points in mind and enjoy the Sejin Pass.
Summary
This time, I told you about my Harley touring trip to Saitama Prefecture’s Saijin Pass.
Sejin Pass is a place associated with history and culture, and is also a place where you can see many green rocks called chlorite schist. There is no motorcycle parking lot at Sejin Pass, but there are spaces along the road where you can park your bike.
