I introduce cycling report in Ninosegoe-Lake Biwa-Nakasen-do. Lake Biwa was was certified National Cycle Route on November 2019.

First, cross the Ibi River and the Tsuya River on the Satsuma Kaikozu Kaido Road. The river looks like a mirror in a windless state on this day.

[Fukuoka Ohashi Bridge on the Ibi River and Tsuya River]

Then, after about 30 minutes of hill climb, you go to the top of Mt. Niwata. I’m surprised because the faster one climbs in about 15 minutes. You can enjoy a full view of the Nobi Plain in the mountaintop park! You can also see Mt. Ontake on a fine day.

[Viewing from Niwata-Sancho Park]

Go west of Mt. Niwatayama and climb National Route 421 to get over the second mountain. I was going to go to the famous Ishigure Pass if it was true, but on this day, Ishigure Pass was closed. So I slowly passed through the Ishigure Tunnel. There are many trucks too, so it is safer to go slowly along the sidewalk.

[Ishiguretoge Pass, which was closed]

After passing through the Ishigure Tunnel and going down the slope, they took a rest at “Michi-no-eki Okueigenji keiryu no sato”, a roadside station. There’s also a bike ruck right there! You can taste Eigenji dam curry and Iwana tempura bowl! It’s also famous for its autumn leaves!

[Michi-no-eki Okueigenji keiryu no sato]

[Bike ruck are also available]

From here, we will go north on Prefectural Route 34 and aim for Inukami Dam Lake. On the way, We went through the severe slope of over 15%, and it is a little more to Lake Biwa. The mountain stream on the way is so clean with water.

[Very beautiful clear stream]

We aim for Michi-no-eki Seragi-no-Sato Kora, a roadside station that crosses a mountain path with the width of one vehicle. And this roadside station has a pizza restrant! The Chef, the owner of PIZZERIA UNO, an Italian restaurant that has been loved for 10 years in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, moved to Shiga with his beloved stone kiln for many years, and opened it in November 2015 as a takeout-type pizza specialty shop. The best collaboration between the cooking techniques polished in Nihonbashi and the local ingredients nurtured by Shiga’s land and producers!

[Michi-no-eki Seragi-no-Sato Kora “PIZZERIA UNO”]

[There’s a bike ruck]

[PIZZERIA UNO’s Pizza Margherita!]

I’ve also finished a meal, let’s go to Lake Biwa!

[Lake Biwa and My bike]

I was able to see Lake Biwa, and I will be on my way back soon. Riding only a little on National Route 21, avoiding large cars and passing through Nakasen-do Road.

[Nakasendo]

[The old streets are beautiful!]

[There is also a rest spots]

[Bike rucks too]

The course this time was a good training with a long total journey of about 170km, but it was a very satisfying journey with mountains, hills, mountain slopes, mountain streams, lakes, and roads, and a delicious pizza! The training while having fun is superb!