[Kanto day trip] [Chiba Prefecture] Motorcycle trip to Yoro Valley! Travel alone on a Harley to a place where colorful trees decorate the valley in every season!
Hello, this is _hiroyuki.ta. This time, I went on a bike tour to Yoro Valley in Chiba Prefecture. Yoro Valley is located in the southwestern part of Chiba Prefecture and is a beautiful valley formed by the Yoro River. During the autumn leaves season, colorful trees decorate the valley. There are also other attractions such as Awamata Falls and Kobundo Ruins. This time, I would like to start from central Tokyo and introduce the route to Yoro Valley, highlights, motorcycle parking, etc.
Yoro Valley is a valley that straddles Otaki Town, Isumi District, Chiba Prefecture, and Ichihara City. This is an eroded valley created by the Yoro River, which originates from the Asawatahara Plateau, eroding the Kazusa Hills. The surrounding area is designated as the Chiba Prefectural Yoro Valley Okukiyosumi Natural Park, and is surrounded by rich nature. In 2007, the Yoro Valley/Kurotaki Unconformity was selected as one of Japan’s top 100 geological formations. It is also a geologically valuable place.
Yoro Valley is known as a tourist destination for its azaleas and wisteria in the spring and the beautiful autumn leaves of miscellaneous trees in the fall. There are also famous waterfalls such as Awamata Falls and Chiyo Falls, as well as historical spots such as Kobundo Ruins and Suigetsu-ji Temple. There are plenty of lodging facilities such as hot springs and campgrounds, and there are more attractions than you can see in one day.
Route to Yoro Valley
This time, I departed from central Tokyo and entered the Tokyo Bay Aqua Line via Shuto Expressway No. 9 Fukagawa Line and Shuto Expressway Wangan Line. The Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line is a 15km long road that consists of an ocean section and an undersea tunnel section, allowing you to cross Tokyo Bay. You can enjoy the view of the sea and sky in the underwater part, and you can also stop by the Umihotaru parking area, which has an aquarium and restaurants in the undersea tunnel part.
After passing through the Tokyo Bay Aqua Line, I entered the Metropolitan Area Chuo Expressway (Ken-O Expressway). The Ken-O Expressway is an expressway built around the Kanto Plain, providing convenient access to sightseeing spots in the suburbs far from the city center. After getting off the Ken-O Expressway at Kisarazu Higashi IC, I headed to Yoro Valley using National Route 410 and Prefectural Route 81 (Kiyosumi Yoro Line).
National Route 410 is a national highway that traverses the Boso Peninsula from north to south, and there are historical spots such as Kururi Castle Ruins and Otaki Castle along the way. Prefectural Route 81 is the entrance road to Yoro Valley, and you can drive along the valley. The road has many curves and is fun for bikers, but please be careful of oncoming cars and pedestrians.
Highlights of Yoro Valley
There are many attractions in Yoro Valley, including waterfall tours and the Eight Views of Yoro. This time, we will introduce Awamata Falls and Kobundo Ruins.
Awamata Falls
Awamata Falls is the most famous waterfall in Yoro Valley. It is an impressive waterfall with a height of 30m and a width of 100m, and is said to be the largest waterfall in Chiba Prefecture. There is a promenade around the waterfall that allows you to get close to the basin of the waterfall. You can feel the energy of nature while bathing in the spray of the waterfall. In autumn, the trees with their red leaves decorate the waterfall, and you can enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Awamata Falls can be reached in about 15 minutes on foot from Yoro Keikoku Station. There is also a parking lot nearby. Motorcycles can be parked for free at the town-run Awamata parking lot.
The Kobundo ruins are the ruins of a tunnel that goes around the river at the confluence of the Yoro River tributary, the Yuki River (also known as the Kaburai River), and the main stream of the Yoro River. It was built during the Edo period, and it gives you a sense of the amazing technology and labor power of that time. The tunnel is approximately 200 meters long, and although part of it has collapsed, you can still see what remains. It’s dark and humid inside the tunnel, so it’s a good idea to bring a flashlight and rain boots.
The Kobundo ruins can be reached in about 30 minutes on foot from Yoro Keikoku Station. There is also a parking lot nearby. Motorcycles can be parked for free at the town-run Kobundo Atoto parking lot.
Summary
This time, I went on a bike tour to Yoro Valley in Chiba Prefecture. It’s an easy place to access via the Tokyo Bay Aqua Line and the Ken-O Expressway, and I was able to enjoy nature such as valleys and waterfalls, as well as historical spots. There was a parking lot where you could park your bike for free, which is a great feature for bikers. Yoro Valley is one of the best tourist destinations in Chiba Prefecture and is recommended for motorcycle touring.
[Kanto day trip] [Chiba Prefecture] Motorcycle trip to Yoro Valley! Travel alone on a Harley to a place where colorful trees decorate the valley in every season!
