Hello! This is Taisei.
I’ve completed the "Biwa-ichi" (Lake Biwa circuit) over 10 times, but this time I focused my ride specifically on the Northern Lake Biwa area.
I usually just breeze through Northern Lake Biwa in about two hours, but by focusing on specific spots, I caught a glimpse of a depth I hadn’t noticed before.
Joining me on this ride were Keita-san from Early Birds, Monja-san, and the crew from at the table est 2015 in Okazaki!
Two of them had just received their bikes recently and this was their first ride over 10km, but they successfully managed to... finish the whole thing!
To the Okubiwako Parkway, where the scenery is the reward.
Our goal this time was the Okubiwako Parkway.
It’s a 18.8km scenic route that runs longitudinally along the Tsuzurao Peninsula, which juts out into the northernmost tip of Lake Biwa.
From the Tsuzurao Observatory near the top, you can overlook more than a quarter of Lake Biwa.
The climb is also just the right amount of challenging.
The two riders attempting this for the first time were also able to make it to the top, taking breaks along the way.
The Tsuzurao Observatory has a rest area that’s perfect for catching your breath.
There’s an omikuji (fortune) you draw based on your name, and it turns out Monja-san is missing his window of opportunity for marriage (lol).
And personally, the highlight was the cheer we all let out after finishing the descent from the mountain pass.
Also, about 3,000 cherry trees are planted along the Okubiwako Parkway, showing a different side of the area in the spring.
It’s only about a 90-minute drive from Nagoya, so please go check it out!!
Our destination: Kinomoto-juku on the Hokkoku Kaido.
We arrived at our destination, Kinomoto-juku, and began exploring.
Kinomoto-juku flourished as a temple town for Jizo-in Temple, and is a post town where the Hokkoku Kaido road intersects with the Hokkoku Waki-Okan road.
Today, it’s a wonderful place to walk around, with old-fashioned streets blending perfectly with the modern era.
This is home to the main store of Tsuruya-pan, famous for its "Salad Pan."
Salad Pan is a bread roll with mayo and pickled daikon radish inside; it's a Shiga specialty, so be sure to try it when you visit!
I’ve attached the route, so please go give it a ride!
In closing
This ride was another reminder of the new charms Shiga has to offer.
Thoroughly exploring a single place leads to new discoveries, which is great.
Why don’t you try focusing your next ride on one of those places you always just pass right by!