First challenge on a dirt course with the JA22 Jimny! Aiming for the Omiya-Hiko Super Forest Road in Gunma Prefecture

I aimed for the Omiya-Hiko (Mikaboyama) Super Forest Road in Gunma Prefecture with my JA22 Jimny. It was a tough result for a Jimny that hasn't had any suspension customization or maintenance, and for a driver with no experience on dirt courses. Nonetheless, it turned out to be a fun trip with beautiful views and delicious soba at the roadside station.

The goal is the dirt course of the Mikaboko Super Forest Road

This is the route for this time. It runs along the ridge of the Mikaboko Mountains (みかぼさんけい), the dirt course of the Mikaboko Super Forest Road. After conquering this, I plan to make a round trip from the Mikaboko Super Forest Road Observatory, crossing the Shizaka Pass back to Tokyo. However, this time I was unable to reach the observatory.

Before heading to the dirt course, let's have a meal

While traveling on National Route 462 towards the forest road, I discovered the Michi no Eki (roadside station) Jōshū Onishi. Since I hadn’t had lunch yet, I decided to stop by.

The roadside station has a retro appearance, and on the premises, there are remnants of Stone Age dwellings and the building of the former Yuzuhara Elementary School, making it a facility where one can touch upon the history of this area along with dining and shopping.

Here is the site of the Yuzuhara Stone Age dwelling, surrounded by sturdy buildings to prevent weathering. At first glance, it seems difficult to enter, but it is freely accessible, allowing you to casually view this precious dwelling site. It's surprising to find such ruins, like those seen in textbooks, at a roadside station visited casually.

I am heading to the desired dining hall. Various menu items are available in large portions, and after checking later, it seems that both taste and volume have a good reputation. Seeing the words "new soba," I quickly decided on the menu.

What I ordered was soba with tempura (1400 yen). The thin, white noodles are beautiful. I heard that the new soba was offered from the day before I visited, so it seems I arrived at a good time.

There was also a menu item typical of Gunma: konnyaku tempura.

The translucent soba has a nice firmness and a good mouthfeel, with a very good taste. The tempura was also freshly fried, and the side dishes had a homemade touch, making me very satisfied! This allowed me to gather energy for the drive ahead.

Now on to the Onikaboh Super Forest Road.

The Onigahoko Super Forest Road is an approximately 67km long forest road that boasts one of the longest stretches in the Kanto region, running from Fujioka City in Gunma Prefecture to Minakami Village in Kanra County. It is a popular route for off-road enthusiasts, characterized by sections that have dirt courses.

Leaving the roadside station and running along Route 462 with Kanra Lake in view, I enter Route 46, which connects to the dirt section. The weather has been nice up until this point, but it became cloudy as I approached the forest road. It felt as if it was hinting at the dark future ahead.

Here is the junction with the Onigahoko Super Forest Road. The blue sign indicates to turn right to join the super forest road, which confused me, but it seems I wasn't mistaken. With no mobile signal available for a re-search, I decided to trust the pre-entered route and turned left.

Although I finally arrived at the much-anticipated dirt course... I had to give up midway.

Finally reaching the dirt course! The moment I excitedly entered the dirt, the vehicle jolted with a loud bang, and my smartphone flew out from the car's phone holder. I was surprised because there weren't really any big rocks rolling around, and I had the impression it was a course that even beginners could enjoy.

After driving slowly for several dozen meters, the interior of the car was shaking so much that I decided to come to a stop. The dirt course continued for several kilometers ahead, so I started to worry whether I could continue at this pace. I pondered whether I was being too nervous as someone with no experience on dirt courses, but based on my past experiences, trying to push through often led to breakdowns, and I hadn’t had much luck, so I ultimately decided to retreat...

The view from the forest road was beautiful. I wanted to go to the observation deck ahead...

With a heavy heart, I arrived at the Shisaka Pass and headed home. I asked the mechanic if it was tough for a normal JA22 like mine, without any modifications, to drive on a dirt course, and he said it could go without any problem at all. However, he also mentioned that it might be possible that the original shock absorbers from back then are worn out, so I want to understand that it’s not just anxiety but a reasonable judgment.

This trip unintentionally revealed new challenges, so I would like to learn a bit more about the Jimny and apply that knowledge to my next drive.

Reporting/Text by Kazuma Tanaka

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