【Cruel Road Drive】At the summit of the hidden gem, Jiggokuto Pass, there is a breathtaking view overlooking the peaks of Gunma

After completing my coverage in Nagano, I decided to head towards Tokyo via back roads, with the goal of driving through Jiggokuto Pass, which connects National Route 299 known as the "Cruel Road," from Sakuhoku Town in Nagano Prefecture to Ueno Village in Tano District, Gunma Prefecture, in a Jimny. Unexpected scenery awaited me ahead.

After finishing the interview in Nagano, I head towards National Route 299

Before departing, I enjoyed soft serve ice cream while watching cows napping in a breezy ranch, and then aim for National Route 299. On the way, I make an early departure to indulge in the road that is mockingly called a “difficult road” near Jukko Pass.

While driving along the straight road by the ranch, I spotted a cute little deer walking along. What a peaceful scenery it is!

From Sakuhomachi, I head towards National Route 299 in the direction of Chichibu, to Jukko Pass

I drive through Sakuhomachi towards National Route 299 in the direction of Chichibu.

By the way, if you head in the opposite direction from this point, you can reach the highest point of the Fairy Tale Road, Mukkurasa Pass. Mukkurasa Pass is the second highest elevation after Shibu Pass, which is the highest point on the national road, and the Fairy Tale Road is an attractive route featuring the unique scenery of the highlands. No matter which direction you head, you won't regret the journey.

The mountain trail leading to Jisshokudō begins

The greenery gradually deepens and the road narrows. Finally, the road to Jisshokudō begins, but here it is indeed National Route 299.

Certainly, as it's called a rough road, the width is difficult for passing and the surface is also uneven. However, the scariest part was not the road itself but the heavy traffic. Normally, I rarely encounter cars on such mountain roads on weekdays, but on this route, there were several instances of passing other vehicles. There are almost no curve mirrors, so oncoming cars were the more fearsome presence than the road itself.

I safely arrived at the observation deck located at the top of Jisshokudō. It's a small, charming observation deck along a narrow road.

The sign indicating the prefectural border has a nice atmosphere. From here, I aim for the Saitama prefectural border.

Unexpectedly encountering a spectacular view

While driving along the mountain road on the Gunma Prefecture side, I sensed the presence of a breathtaking view through the gaps in the trees. While searching for a good spot to take in the scenery, I found a viewpoint at the junction with the Yayuyuzawa Forest Road.

Yayuyuzawa Forest Road is also known as a detour route for the often-closed Jikkoku Pass (Gunma Prefecture side).

The mountains stretch as far as the eye can see, offering a view that rivals the Venus Line I saw in Nagano. Although a few power towers are visible, the untouched greenery that continues endlessly is unlike anything I've seen before.

The mountain road on the Gunma Prefecture side has a quite wild atmosphere, being a route with steep slopes. This mountain road continued for a long time, and it took quite a while to reach the urban area.

After descending the mountain road and passing through Ueno Village, I finally saw the sign for the Saitama Prefectural border. When traveling on the convenient expressway, one doesn’t pay much attention to the border sign, but taking a longer route on the local roads gives a sense of accomplishment.

Cheers with the local Todab Coffee sold by Todai Dairy at a convenience store in Shiozaki Town, and this trip comes to an end. I always used to take the highway to my destination, but I found that taking back roads can lead to unexpected spots. From now on, I want to include back road trips in my plans and pursue unseen hidden gems and breathtaking scenery through continued research.

Research and text by Kazuma Tanaka

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