Shibu Pass Hotel is located right at the top of Shibu Pass and according to the owner, this spot is the highest point of Japan`s National Highways. Apparently, Norikura Skyline Road is a prefectural road and not a national highway.
Anyways, the owner said the sunrise from Shibu Pass was beautiful and and that on a clear day, you could even see the peak of Mount Fuji from the pass. So, I set my alarm for 4am in the morning.
Unfortunately, as you can see below, it was a foggy morning. As I strolled 10 minutes to the lookout point, I could barely see 10m in front of me. But still, I presevered in the hope that the fog would clear in the next few minutes.... I was wrong... haha...
A walk in the fog
Shibu Pass Lookout Point at 0430hrs
Shibu Pass Lookout Point at 0930hrs
The couple who owned Shibu Pass Hotel had a 12 year old golden retriever named Indy. She wanted to follow me for my 430am walk to Shibu Pass Lookout Point, but I didn`t know how to undo the chain that tied her to her little doghouse...
Indy
Breakfast by the fireplace
Another interesting point of Shibu Pass Hotel is that its built on the prefectural border of Nagano Prefecture and Gunma Prefecture. The white line that I`m standing on below is the prefectural boundary and the dark brown part of the building is Nagano Prefecture while the light brown part of the building is in Gunma Prefecture. Just in case you were wondering, I slept in Nagano Prefecture that night and had my meals in Gunma Prefecture....
The only guest for the night - ME
Leaving Shibu Pass Hotel at around 9 plus, I start the downhill ride towards Kusatsu Onsen. Along the way, I go through Yamada Pass. Since Shibu Pass is at a higher altitude than Yamada Pass, this is the only time in my entire journey that I got to go through a mountain pass without having to climb up to it first!
The Eastern Shiga Highlands
These slopes become a beautiful montage of red, orange, green and yellow in the autumn
The long winding downhill roads - Reward for climbing a mountain pass
About 5km downhill from Shibu Pass, I come across Mount Shirane. Interestingly, there are 2 Mount Shirane`s in Japan, only 1 prefecture apart. Here, in Gunma Prefecture is Mount Shirane of Kusatsu. Further east, in Tochigi Prefecture, is Mount Shirane of Nikko. The propietors of Shibu Pass Hotel said it would be worth the stop to take a look at Mount Shirane of Kusatsu, so I park my bike at the carpark in the area and hike up to the top of the mountain.
A small onsen pool at the top of Mount Shirane
A view of the carpark and Mount Shirane from a neighboring peak
Below, you see the 2 delicious pieces of bread the owners of the Shibu Pass Hotel gave me before I left. Apparently, the bread is so delicious that people come from all over the prefecture to their hotel to buy it in bulk!
After tasting the bread, I concur!
A small pond in the Mount Shirane area
This place is also beautiful in the autumn
After Mount Shirane, it was a simple downhill coast all the way to the onsen town of Kusatsu. Kusatsu onsen is known throughout Japan as the onsen having the largest amount of onsen water flowing from its origin. Its water is also one of the richest in minerals!
The `Yu-Batake` or onsen source in the middle of Kusatsu Onsen street
The streets of Kusatsu are lined with various onsen houses, ryokans and high class hotels. Within the town, there are even a few public onsen houses where you can soak in the hot spring water at no charge! Everywhere you go in town, you will see people of all ages walking around in their `yutakas` either returning or going to their favorite onsen spots.
`Jizo No Yu` - One of the FOC onsen houses in Kusatsu
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