[Beautiful Country/Mie Bicycle Route Diary: Iinan/Iidaka/Odai Edition] Along the clear stream, uphill and running are perfect! A greedy course where you can enjoy local gourmet food and hot springs
掲載日：2019.08.21
The Iidaka/Iinami area of Matsusaka MatsusakaCity, along the Kushida River basin, is one of the prefecture's leading tea producing areas. Iidaka, a town on the border of Nara Prefecture, has a rich forest, and you can cycle along the river while enjoying a forest bath. Beyond the mountain pass, you will reach OdaiTown Odai in the Miyagawa River basin, the clearest stream in Japan. It is a perfect area for cycling, with little traffic and very easy to ride. This time, we'll be introducing a course that's perfect for running, going back and forth between areas along two clear streams and two hill climbs! There are also spots where you can enjoy tea and gourmet food made with local ingredients, as well as hot springs, so stay tuned!
Iidaka, a town on the border of Nara Prefecture, has a rich forest, and you can cycle along the river while enjoying a forest bath. Beyond the mountain pass, you will reach OdaiTown Odai in the Miyagawa River basin, the clearest stream in Japan. It is a perfect area for cycling, with little traffic and very easy to ride.
This time, we will introduce a course that is full of thrills and runs along two clear streams, including two hill climbs!
There are also spots where you can enjoy tea and gourmet food made with local ingredients, as well as hot springs, so stay tuned!
Course: MatsusakaCity-OdaiTown- Iinanmachi, MatsusakaCity
Mileage: 67.2km
Difficulty: ★★★★☆
■Traveler bicycle writer Masanori Asano
I have been cycling for about 20 years. I love cycling as much as I love three meals and snacks. Because of his love for bicycles, he became a freelance bicycle writer. He rides his bicycle for work, and also enjoys racing and long rides in his private life.
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What is “Beautiful Country Mie Bicycle Route Diary”?
Bicycle writer Masanori Asano, born and raised in Mie Prefecture, will introduce you to the charms of Mie Prefecture while cycling!
Click here for other articles on the “Beautiful Country of Mie Bicycle Route”!
◆ Michi-no-eki /Iidaka Station
This time's start and finish was Iidaka Station, Michi-no-eki in Iidaka-cho MatsusakaCity.
There is a spacious parking lot, a restaurant, a coffee shop, and a shop selling produce, food, and sweets made by local farmers.
Another great thing about this Michi-no-eki is that there is a bathing facility where you can enjoy natural hot springs!
Let's save the hot springs for last and get ready for cycling first. The cafe corner is open from 7:30 a.m., so you can grab a bite to eat before heading out for a run. Shops selling local sweets and vegetables produced by local farmers are also open from 9am.
At the beginning of the course, there aren't many places where you can buy food while cycling, so we recommend that you prepare it in advance or buy it here.
In addition, in the Iidaka/Iinan area of MatsusakaCity, which is the setting for this course, the "Matsusaka Cycle Challenge in kahadavalley" is being held until December 1, 2019.
This is a free-ride event where you can earn points by riding your bicycle around famous sites and historic sites in the Hase and Oishi districts of the city. Depending on the ranking of points earned during the period, you may be able to get special products and other products!
You can apply to participate at Michi-no-eki Iidaka Station and Riverside Chakura, so we recommend participating while cycling.
Click here for details!
One is Dengara. It is a mochi filled with red bean paste wrapped in magnolia leaves.There are plain white mochi and mugwort mochi, and there are also koshian and grained bean paste. We will have one each of white mochi and mugwort mochi with strained bean paste!
It was simple but had a subtle sweetness and the scent of magnolia leaves that transferred to the mochi was refreshing and delicious!
``The name is said to have come from the overall shape, the veins of the magnolia leaves, and the way the ivy forms a cross that looks like the character ``field'','' says Shoichi Tanaka of Michi-no-eki Iidaka Station. Mr. Miss.
Another thing is darayaki, a simple sweet made from flour-based dough containing mugwort. According to Tanaka, it has been eaten in this area for a long time.
“When I was little, my mother used to make darayaki for snacks.It was baked fluffy and similar to pancakes, and while retaining the simple taste of those days, it has been given a modern twist.”
Indeed, the expression “pancakes with mugwort” is perfect! It's a delicious taste that leaves you wanting.
The restaurant opens at 11am.
If you leave early in the morning, it's only open by the time you get back, but you can also enjoy game dishes made with meat from deer and boar that were caught to prevent animal damage. Among them, the recommended one is the venison bowl. This is a dish that can only be tasted here!
After enjoying all the gourmet food in Iidaka and feeling full of energy, we headed out for a cycling trip!
Head west on National Route 166 towards Yoshino. The race starts to go uphill right after the start, so let's warm up first and ride in a lighter gear.
About 1km after leaving Michi-no-eki, you will see a huge red bucket on your left. The shrine across the street is Mizuya Shrine.
Although the water transport service stopped during the war, it has been revived for the first time in about 400 years since the beginning of the Heisei era. The large camphor tree of Mizuya, a prefectural natural monument, towers within the grounds.
This gigantic tree is 1000 years old, 35m high, and has a root circumference of 29m, and is definitely worth seeing!
Leaving Mizuya Shrine behind, continue westward up the Kushida River.
The road is wide and there is little traffic, and you can ride along the Kushida River with a view of Mt. Takami, making it a very pleasant cycling course.
After driving about 10km from Mizuya Shrine, turn left and cross the Kushida River onto National Route 422. From here, the ascent to the first mountain pass, Yutani Pass, begins. The route ascends gently along the Yutani River, a tributary of the Kushida River, and is on a slope on the north side, so even in summer it doesn't get much sun and is cool.
The distance to the peak, Yutani Tunnel, is about 5 km, but the average gradient is about 4%, which is not too steep. After passing through the tunnel and driving about 500m, you will see Yutani Fudo Myoo on your left.
There is spring water here, so you can replenish your water!
◆ Old Funaki Bridge
Leaving Yutani Fudo Myoo behind, we headed down the mountain pass.
The exhilaration of descending like the wind without having to pedal is the ultimate reward that can only be enjoyed by those who have climbed the mountain with their own legs. After about 7km, it merges with Prefectural Route 31. From here, follow this road for more than 10km along the Miyagawa River.
It's basically downhill, but there are occasional short uphills. Momijikan, located along the street, also has vending machines and a cafe space, so you can replenish your hydration here as well.
Well, as I was riding comfortably, I came to an intersection with National Route 42. There is Michi-no-eki nearby, but before that there is a place you should definitely check out. The former Funaki Bridge is a registered tangible cultural property.
Turn right at the Odai Police Station-mae intersection on National Route 42 and proceed toward Owase, where you will see the Funaki Bridge that crosses the Miyagawa River.
If you look to your left (downstream of the Miyagawa River) from the top of this bridge, you will see the old Funaki Bridge.
The old Funaki Bridge was built in 1905 (Meiji 38) and renovated into the current bridge in 1934 (Showa 9), but the brick piers are said to remain the same as they were from the Meiji era. The fact that a bridge could be built at such a high place shows the high level of technology at the time.
If you look upstream of the Miyagawa River on the way to the bridge, you can also see the Funaki Ohashi Bridge on National Route 42, the JR bridge, and the Misetani Dam.
When you look down...you can see the river surface quite far below. You can see that the bridge is built quite high up. Be careful if you are not good at heights! ?
If you cross the Old Funaki Bridge and continue along the road, you will come to a signalized intersection in front of OdaiTown Hall on National Route 42.
Turn right and immediately you will see Michi-no-eki Okuise Odai on your left. After this, the most difficult climb of the day, Aizu Pass, is coming up, so it's a good idea to stock up on drinks and food here.
There was also an interesting item called ``Oishika Burger'' made with venison patty sold at a food stall, so if you're interested, be sure to check it out!
◆ Aizu Pass
After leaving Michi-no-eki Okuise Odai, we will tackle the most difficult challenge of the day, Aitsu Pass.
The distance from the ascent (intersection of prefectural roads 429 and 720) to the peak is approximately 6 km, with a height difference of less than 400 m, and an average gradient of about 6%. This is the longest hill climb on this course. The early part of the trail runs through a grove of trees, but from the middle onwards, visibility opens up, and there are points where you can see the surrounding mountains and the waiting area at the foot of the mountain.
There are no steep slopes, so choose a light gear, maintain your own pace, and enjoy the scenery as you ascend.
I had run over 40km so far and was getting hungry.
Let's go down the mountain pass to Babun and Iinan-cho side of Matsusaka MatsusakaCity and have lunch soon.
I had decided on the restaurant before I left. "Achikochi Yamaka".
This restaurant is popular among cyclists for its filling and delicious food.
After going down Aizu Pass and exiting onto National Route 166, I passed Michi-no-eki Chakura Station and walked for a while, and on my right hand side I saw the wildflowers I was looking for.
There is also a cycle rack next to the shop, which shows that cyclists are welcome.
We were welcomed by the husband, Masa Hayashi, and his wife, Yukie. When you take a seat at the counter, you will see a spectacular view of the Kushida River right in front of you! I gulped down the tea they poured me and ordered a cycle lunch designed for cyclists.
Once I felt comfortable, I looked around the store.
There were also jerseys from teams I knew well. I can tell that this is a shop that is loved by cyclists. In addition, there are two road bikes with chromoly frames on display in the store that give you a sense of the owner's commitment, and the books in the store mainly include the bicycle manga ``Yowamushi Pedal'' and bicycle-related magazines and books.
Oh my God! There was even a magazine that published my article!
I'm kind of happy that cyclists are so welcomed.
By the way, the letters on the menu are hand-drawn by his wife, and the letters on the restaurant's signboard are carved by his wife. It's wonderful to see the couple's personalities reflected in the shop's handmade feel and homely atmosphere.
The food has been delivered! It's a huge volume!
``I want you to get a good amount of protein, so the main dish is tandoori chicken.It comes with turmeric rice and udon noodles.It's full of carbohydrates and gives you plenty of energy, right?'' says the husband.
I'm glad you're thinking about cyclists.
Let's have it right away! Tandoori chicken has a coconut flavor and is mildly spicy, making it easy to eat! Since I was hungry, the portion was quite large, but I ate it all in one go.
After the meal, coffee and dessert are included for 800 yen. It's a bit of a shame that it's so filling for this price.
When I spoke to him, he told me that his wife, Yukie, started riding bicycles after she turned 60, and now they ride together as a couple. That's why cyclists are welcome.
The shop is run by a cyclist couple and has a homely atmosphere, so I found myself staying there for quite a long time. Thank you for the meal!
[Wild flowers everywhere]
Address: 65 Yokono, Iinan-cho, MatsusakaCity
Regular holidays: Tuesdays and Wednesdays *Other temporary holidays may apply
Business hours: 11:00-14:00
I'm full, but I don't want sweets!
So let's go have some dessert after dinner. Since you want to eat local food anyway, let's visit Shinryoku Sabo Main Branch for tea and sweets.
If you go from Achikochi Yamaka towards Iidaka on the national highway for about 4 km, you will see the main branch of Shinryoku Sabo on your left. This store not only sells tea and sweets made with tea, but you can also enjoy tea and sweets at the cafe inside the store!
Looking at the menu, there are 5 types of tea, 7 types of tea sweets, and 6 types of tea-based sweets such as parfait, all of which look delicious.
I was also drawn to the limited-time summer ice cream topped with homemade tea honey (750 yen, available until the end of August), but this time I decided to try the tea and tea sweets that can be enjoyed all year round, with a relaxing sweetness recommended by the shop. I ordered a tea called Senju (500 yen), which is famous for its flavor, and a chacha daifuku (210 yen), which has fresh cream inside the tea paste.
For tea, there is a teapot and a hot water cooler, and it seems like you can brew the tea yourself while being taught how to make it. Mr. Toshiyuki Kobayashi from the store taught me how to put it in.
``For the first brew, pour 60 degrees hot water into a teapot and steep it for 90 seconds, then add the tea.This brings out the sweetness.For the second brew, pour 80 degrees hot water into a teapot and let it cool for 30 seconds. Set the temperature to about 70 degrees, pour the hot water into the teapot, and immediately pour it into the teacup.It will be a little bitter, so enjoy it with sweets.After the third brew, pour 80 degrees of hot water into the teapot and immediately pour it into the teacup. Pour it into a bowl.It will have a bitter taste.''
When I brewed it as instructed, I was able to make a delicious tea with a really strong flavor and sweetness!
I could clearly see that the taste changed with the second and third brewing. The experience of making tea is quite valuable, and I highly recommend you try it!
Chacha Daifuku has a rich tea flavor in the bean paste that goes perfectly with the sweetness of the fresh cream inside, making it even more delicious!
The synergistic effect of the sweets and tea made it really delicious! I leave the restaurant with both my stomach and my heart satisfied.
[Shinryoku Sabo main store]
Address: 4209-2 Kayami, Iinan-cho, MatsusakaCity
TEL: 0598-32-5588
Closed: Wednesday
Business hours: 9:00-5:30 (green tea cafe 10:00-4:00)
Official website: http://www.shinsabo.com/
Mie Prefecture is the third largest tea producing area in Japan, and the Iinan/Iitaka area in the western part of MatsusakaCity is known as one of the prefecture's leading tea producing areas.
Kahee Otani, a businessman involved in the tea trade and known as the Tea Saint, was born in Iitaka. Since you've come all the way to the Iinan/Iitaka area, let's enjoy a walk while looking at the tea fields before heading home.
After a long run, enjoy a relaxing hot spring! There is a hot spring bath called kahadavalley Iitaka no Yu at Michi-no-eki Iitaka Station. It is a clean facility with a refreshing wood scent, and you can enjoy both indoor and outdoor baths, and there are 11 types of baths for men and women.
You can enjoy the ``Akayuwa-no-Yu'' with a maki bath and the ``Tsubone-no-Yu'' with a sleeping bath, with men and women swapping every day. The spring quality is a carbon dioxide-sodium-chloride/bicarbonate cold mineral spring that is said to be effective in relieving back pain and fatigue, making it perfect for relieving the fatigue of cycling.
Soaking in the open-air bath, overlooking the Iidaka mountains and the Kushida River below, and looking back on the day's ride is such a luxury!
I wonder where I should go next time...
Article creation / Masanori Asano
*The information posted is as of August 2019.
[This route]
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◎ Bicycle writer goes! Beautiful country of Mie: Bicycle route notes
・ [Matsuzaka Edition] Relaxing cycling to enjoy Matsusaka beef gourmet food!
・ [HigashiKishu Edition] Run along Shichirimihama Beach and enjoy the delicious food of Kumano!
・ [Shima Edition] Cycling along the seaside, visiting lucky charms and gourmet food!
・ [TsuCity Misugi Edition] Cross the fresh green hills and visit the post station on Ise Honkaido Road
・ [Eastern Iga Edition] Hill climb and gourmet food in a hilly mountain village
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