Karuizawa to Kusatsu hot spring(E-14)⭐⭐⭐ ‘25.19th,July
This route E-14 is in Area-E, “Chubu-hokuriku". See Area-E map/ See Japan map
Sight & Entertainment ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Food & Drinks ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Easiness ⭐⭐
Road condition ⭐
Safety ⭐⭐⭐
Originally I was planning to visit Shikoku island’s UFO line which ran along high mountains’ ridges. But weather forecast had told that heavy rain continued until my landing at Shikoku area, so I felt risk of road closure and changed my plan to go to Kusatsu area with Mt.Shirane hill climbing just before one day.
Since wet season finally ended in the same timing there, I could expect good weather in this area. It was the first day of 3 day holidays, Tokyo station was very much crowded but since I reached there 1hr earlier of my Shinkansen’s departure, I could keep the best non reserved seat, the end of the car but at Ueno and Omiya stations, many passengers on board and the train was fully packed.
The Shinkansen reached Karuizawa station at AM7:32 and soon started to North. I took a shortest way toward Shiraito water fall on Mikasa street through a famous villa area(pic.2). Karuizawa is the most famous summer resort area for rich people. But I didn’t know bikes couldn’t go beyond the Mikasa toll gate(pic.3) and had to return to station and take R-146.
Hill climbing on R-146 lasted for 7km which was unexpectedly a little tough(pic.4). I thoght turning right just within 1km would lead me to Shiraito water fall but when I came to the junction, I noticed again that the bike could not enter the route to the water fall. Only the way to the water fall was to walk the nature promenade(pic.6) for a few km.
There were few hiking persons on the way, so I rang the bell to avoid bears. After up & downs I reached the water fall. Those passengers were coming on the vehicles(pic.7).
I had to walk back to the entrance of promenade again but thanks to the high altitude and the forests, it was not so hot. The next spots would be “Oni-Oshidashi“, a lava garden of Mt.Asama.
The shortest route from the entrance to Shiraito water fall(pic.5) seemed a motorway, so I took R-146 toward north and turn left which seemed shortest from that corner but after climbing 3km, I met a cyclist who returned from the direction and told me the bike couldn’t enter the last few hundred meters just before Oni-Oshidashi. Again I had to take a detour on gravel roads in the villa and forest area. The owner of this park doesn’t seem to accept cyclists.
Unfortuntely the top of Mt.Asama was shrouded by clouds at AM11:30(pic.9-1). After paying entrance fee(\700-), I took wide view of landscape from an observatory(pic.9-2) and took a lunch there.
There were many promenades inside the park. I walked around for 30min and enjoyed many lavas and plants of the plateau(pic.9-5).
Now the time was PM0:30 and 25km seemed remained. I had enough time to reach my hotel but I wanted to enjoy the famous Kusatsu hot spring. So I resumed cycling in the summer sunshine.
Again I had to take a rough gravel road to come to a normal road which connected to prefectural R-59 directly but still I had to make a detour since the R-59 was still motorway as far as the point pic.11.
Then soon the R-59 connected to R-406 once and soon departed at Mihara big bridge towared left. Then soon hill-climbing on R-59 started(pic.12). It was not so steep but due to low altitude, it was hot. After 7km climbing, I came to the cabbage field(pic.13). Here is the Tsumagoi village which produces cabbage most in Japan.
After cabbage field, the final steep hill climbing was waiting on R-292. It was just 3km long but as usual, final steep approach after loose climibing was always tough. I couldn’t help but stop twice..(pic.14).
I could barely arrive at Kusatsu town at PM2:30. There were so many people in a small town, so I dragged my bike near the main hot spring square which was so famous in the guide books. My hotel was very close to the square. After checking in and soaking in the hot spring at the hotel and taking an hour rest, I went to the tavern “Saitama-ya" which I booked just after hotel checking-in. Luckly I could book my seat though it was fully packed with customers. Recommendation here is pork dishes(pic.15-3).
I came out of the tavern around PM7:30, just getting dark time. Light up of hot spring area could be seen and there were many people in the square(pic.15-4).
<Transportation info>
From Tokyo to Karuizawa: AM6:28 Hakutaka No.551 → AM7:32 , \5,490-
<Connected routes>
E-10: Chikuma river cycling
E-11: Usui pass down hill