Nakasendo Walk (10) Sakamoto-Kutsukake: May 1, 2016

I walked today from Sakamoto, the 18^th shukuba station, through Karuizasa to Kutsukake. The course included steep mountainous roads around the Usui Pass and fashionable shopping streets in Karuizawa.

Today’s walk started in Gunma Prefecture and finished in Nagano Prefecture.

The altitude of Sakamoto station is about 460 meters. I climbed up the mountains in the Gunma-Nagano border area. The mountains were covered with fresh green. Some parts of the roads were very steep. (see also the photo 2nd fro the top)

I met tourists including those from Australia. Exchanging ideas is always a fun. 

The samurai soldiers in the Edo era ran up the roads. A marathon race is now held in the course. The sign boards of the marathon race were placed at the roadsides.

It took about two and half hours before arriving at the Kumano Shrine, which is about 1200 meter high. The prefectural border runs at the center of the shrine.

The panorama from the viewpoint was fantastic. I saw famous mountains including Mt. Asama, the Yatsugatake mountains, Mt. Myogi and Mt. Akagi. People can see Mt. Fuji when it is fine. (see the top photo)

I walked down the slope about 30 minutes and arrived at Karuizawa, the 18^th shukuba station. The town has been developed as a summer resort after the Meiji period.

A Canadian priest Alexander Shaw was one of the first foreign residents stayed here. His church remains.

The old shukuba area has turned into a modern shopping street. Local people, tourists, Japanese, foreigners, old and young people and doge – all enjoyed their times.

I saw many cyclists in the town. Most of them were Chinese.

I walked westward and entered into the Kutsukake, the 19^th station. Mr. Asama is quite near from here.

The Naka-karuizawa railway station is quite near from the old sukuba station. The building is also used as a library and a community center.