Watch the Relive video here: https://www.relive.com/view/veqzd1rEXBO
On the Road – Distance 92km / 57mi | Elevation 1867m / 6125ft
Matsumoto Castle bidding farewell…
A challenging but beautiful day riding towards the Kirigamini and Utsukushigahara Highlands (translates literally as ‘Beautiful Highlands’).
A sumptuous breakfast and off we rode through Torii Gate of Matsumoto and off to the mountains…
We climbed right from word go and was a day of climbs and clinches, spattered with some great descents and just one singluar flat 13kms late morning along Lake Suwa.
Lunch along Lake Suwa..
I should not have eaten so much because shortly after lunch had a 5km climb @9% with the first 1km at 16%….it hurt!
Our route skirted the Ougatou ‘King’s Head’, which crosses Mt Kirigamine and the Tobira Pass and ended with our traverse through densely forested roads with glimpses out over the valley. It is an amazing view which will have accompianied us all day today. We saw the towns below interspersed with rice paddies…..the epic Japanese Alps on the other side of the valley, with the rolling hills of the Venus line and even the occaisional sight of Mt Fuji when you spot a gap in the foliage!
Our first opportunity to see Fuji San was along Lake Suwa but clouds covered up that chance. But I finally caught my first view of Mt Fuji at Km 67, and even at such a far away distance it was amazing to see!
A final short descent to our hotel just to finish this challenging day on an easy note.
Venus Line
Surrounded by the 3,000-meter-high mountains of the Japanese Alps, Nagano Prefecture is called “the Roof of Japan.” Its gorgeous alpine scenery and breezy highlands attract visitors year-round.
In Central Nagano, several highland areas extend from the base of the Yatsugatake mountains past Lake Suwa towards Matsumoto. Ranging in heights from 1,400 to 2,200 meters, the lofty plains here have panoramic views of the Northern, Central and Southern Alps. They’re the perfect place to escape the summer heat and enjoy a scenic drive. On these roads, you’re at eye level with the clouds – like you’re riding through the sky.
Chino City is at the entrance to these highlands and this is where we turned up into the hills!
The hunt for FujI San is on! We search him out tomorrow!
Life is Good in Yatsgatake!
Sayonara
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