Hello, this is _hiroyuki.ta. This time, I toured Usui Pass, a historic mountain pass on the border between Gunma and Nagano prefectures, on my Harley Sports Glide. Usui Pass was known as a difficult point on the Nakasendo road during the Edo period, and was the site of the Abt-style railway that ran during the Meiji period. Currently, there are two roads: the old road and the new road (bypass), but this time I took the old road. The old road is a winding road with a series of steep gradients and sharp curves, making it an irresistible route for motorcycle enthusiasts. There are many sights to see along the way, including the Usui Third Bridge (Megane Bridge), a brick bridge that has been designated as a national important cultural property, and the Abt Road, where you can stroll through the ruins of an abandoned railroad. In this article, we will introduce the route to Usui Pass, highlights, motorcycle parking, etc.
Usui Pass is a Japanese mountain pass located on the border between Sakamoto, Matsuida-cho, Annaka City, Gunma Prefecture and Karuizawa-cho, Kitasaku District, Nagano Prefecture, and has an altitude of 956 meters. It is the central watershed that separates the Shinano River system and the Tone River system, and rain that falls on the Nagano side of the pass flows to the Sea of Japan, and rain that falls on the Gunma side flows to the Pacific Ocean. In ancient times, it was called Usuhinosaka, Usubisaka, and Usuhizaka, and in the Middle Ages, it was also written as Usui Pass and Usui Pass. Since early modern times, the area has been unified by Usui Pass. “Usui Pass” and “Usui Pass” are incorrect spellings.
During the Edo period, this historic road was developed as Nakasendo, one of the five main roads, and was positioned as a key transportation hub connecting the Kanto region with the Shinshu and Hokuriku regions. The Usui Checkpoint was established as a barrier to entry into the Kanto region, and was used to monitor the entry of firearms and the entry and exit of women. In the Meiji era, the Shinetsu Main Line was opened, but this section was said to be JR’s most difficult point due to its continuous steep slopes. Therefore, the Abt type railway was introduced, but it was abolished in 1963 in favor of a new electrified line.
Currently, there are two roads, the old road and the new road (bypass), but the old road is a winding road with a series of steep slopes and sharp curves, and is also a one-way pass (a pass with a large elevation difference on one side). The new road passes through Iriyama Pass on the south side of the old road, and is wider and somewhat easier to ride than the old road. The Joshinetsu Expressway and Hokuriku Shinkansen also run nearby.
Route to Usui Pass
This time, we will introduce the route from central Tokyo to Usui Pass. The route searched from the URL below is used as a reference.
From central Tokyo, take the Shuto Expressway Chuo Loop Line and enter the Tohoku Expressway at Kawaguchi JCT.
Go north on the Tohoku Expressway and enter the Kanetsu Expressway at Omiya JCT.
Go west on the Kanetsu Expressway and enter the Joshinetsu Expressway at Takasaki JCT.
Go south on the Joshinetsu Expressway and exit at Matsuida Myogi IC.
Enter National Route 18 and proceed towards Old Road Usui Pass.
Our destination is Usui Third Bridge (Megane Bridge) near the top of Usui Pass.
The distance of this route is approximately 150 kilometers and the journey time is approximately 2 and a half hours. The expressway toll is approximately 2,000 yen. However, times and prices may change due to traffic congestion, construction, etc., so please check in advance.
Usui Pass has many attractions that you can enjoy both running and sightseeing. Here, we will introduce the main attractions.
THE・Wingly road!
The biggest highlight of Usui Pass is the twisting road, which has a series of steep slopes and sharp curves! At Usui Pass, there are a series of hairpin curves with small radius. There is also a steep slope, so if you are banking the car comfortably, you can easily scrape the steps. Although the average gradient of the 15-kilometre-long route is about 4%, which is not that steep, the hike climbs up in the mountains with an elevation difference of about 570 meters. Keep your speed moderate and try to ride with plenty of room to make turns without having to lean the bike that far.
Usui Third Bridge (Megane Bridge) is a nationally designated important cultural property!
The charm of Usui Pass is not just the road. Because it is a historic road where people and goods have come and gone, culture has developed there. In particular, the brick bridge “Usui Third Bridge (Megane Bridge)”, which has been designated as a national important cultural property, is a highlight of sightseeing.
Usui Third Bridge is a four-arch brick bridge spanning the Usui River, and is a representative structure of Usui Pass. It was completed in 1893 as part of the Abt-style railway on the section of the JNR Shinetsu Main Line from Yokokawa Station to Karuizawa Station. The Abt type railway is a type of railway in which gears are engaged in the center of the rail to climb steep slopes, and it was used only in this section in Japan. Usui Third Bridge is located at the highest point of the Abt-style railway, and is a magnificent bridge with a height of 31 meters and a length of 91 meters.
This bridge is made of brick, an unusual material. At that time, there were no brick factories in Japan, so bricks imported from England were used. For this reason, the bricks are engraved with the British manufacturer’s name and year of manufacture. Also, the bricks are painted black instead of red. This was because Japanese people at the time were not used to seeing red bricks and found it eerie.
This bridge has been designated as a national important cultural property due to its beauty and historicity. It is also a candidate site for the “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution,” which aims to be registered as a World Heritage Site. This bridge can only be seen from the old road, but the old road is a one-way street and you can only drive in the up direction (from the Nagano Prefecture side to the Gunma Prefecture side). Therefore, if you are coming from the down direction, you will need to use the Usui Pass Old Road Entrance, where you can exit from the new road to the old road. Please note that this entrance is difficult to see from the new road.
Usui Pass motorcycle parking lot
There is a Meganebashi parking lot at Usui Pass, where you can park your motorcycle for free.
Near Usui Third Bridge (Megane Bridge)
There is a Meganebashi parking lot at Usui Pass, where you can park your motorcycle for free.
This time, I toured Usui Pass, a historic mountain pass on the border of Gunma and Nagano prefectures, on a Harley Sports Glide. Usui Pass is not only a winding road with steep gradients and sharp curves, but it is also full of cultural attractions such as beautiful brick bridges and abandoned railroad tracks. There are also several motorcycle parking lots, but please note that availability may vary depending on space and season.
This time, we introduced the route from central Tokyo to Usui Pass, highlights, motorcycle parking, etc., but this alone cannot explain the charm of Usui Pass. At Usui Pass, you can also enjoy the beautiful nature that changes its appearance with the seasons. In spring, cherry blossoms and rapeseed flowers are in full bloom, and in summer, fresh greenery and flowers decorate the area. The autumn leaves are spectacular, and the snowy landscape is magical in the winter. However, in winter, the road may be closed due to snow or ice, so please check in advance.
Usui Pass is the perfect place to tour with your Harley Sports Glide. Please try a motorcycle trip to Usui Pass where you can enjoy history, nature, and riding!
