[Beautiful Mie Bicycle Route Note: Iga Edition] Enjoy hill climbing and gourmet food in a hilly mountain village

IgaCity, located in the western part of Mie Prefecture, is located in the Iga Basin, surrounded by mountains, and is an attractive place for cyclists due to its rugged terrain and rich nature.
If you use Oyamada Onsen Sarubino in the eastern part of Iga as your base, you will have easy access not only to Iga but also to Kameyama, Seki, and the mountainous area of Tsu, with many attractive cycling routes available.
This time, we'll be introducing a luxurious course that will take you around the northeastern part of Iga, with Sarbino as your base, and will be full of gourmet spots and other sights to see, ending with a refreshing hot spring!

Course: IgaCity
Mileage: 52.8km
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!
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■Visit ancient post towns and ancient temples, and take on kabuto Pass and Kabutogoe.
Iga is a well-known tourist spot such as the castle town of Iga Ueno, places related to MatsuoBasho, and ninja mansions, but this time, few of the so-called standard spots will be featured.
Still, the reason I would like to introduce this course is that there are places that are attractive to cyclists even if they are not standard tourist spots, where even locals say, ``There is nothing here,'' and this course is exactly that. Because I am convinced that

This time, we will be traveling around the northeastern part of Iga, using Oyamada Onsen Sarubino in Iga Province as our base. There are plenty of parking lots in Sarubino, so if you use the hot springs or restaurants before or after cycling, you can park your car while cycling (if you're coming in a large group, try carpooling with several people). consideration).

Today I will be guiding you through the course by myself. Let's save Sarubi's famous hot springs and special gourmet food for last, and go cycling first!

◆ Nenobi village and Hiramatsu-juku
This time, one of the best mountain passes on the course will appear right after the start, so let's first warm up by taking a walk around Konobe, where Sarubino is located.

From Sarubino, go south on Prefectural Route 668, turn right at the first T-junction, and the watermill will appear on your right. It is said that rice has been used in this area for a long time to be harvested using waterwheels, and this waterwheel was built by local volunteers to recreate the appearance of the past.

It matches the idyllic mountain village scenery and looks great in photos.

Turn left on the road in front of the watermill and continue south until you reach a short bridge with a historic stone railing.
This is Konobu Bridge. Crossing the bridge is Hiramatsu-juku on Iga Kaido.

Hiramatsu-juku was relocated to this location in 1697 after the nearby Kamiawa-juku suffered a large fire for three consecutive years in the early Edo period, and was once one of the largest post stations on the Iga Highway. It was. There are still a few old-fashioned houses with latticed latticework left, reminiscent of those days.

◆ Shindaibutsuji Temple
If you go west from Hiramatsu-juku down an alley in the rice fields, you will see Shindaibutsuji Temple on your right. The magnificent daimon is the landmark.

Shindaibutsu-ji Temple is an old temple built in the Kamakura period as the Iga branch of Todai-ji Temple by Shunjobo Chogen Shonin, who rebuilt Todai-ji Temple. The 5-meter-tall wooden carved Buddha that is enshrined as the principal image was created by Kaikei and is designated as an important cultural property.

There are 11 halls and buildings in the precincts, including the Great Buddha Hall, which is a cultural property.The haiku haiku poet MatsuoBasho wrote during his visit to the temple is engraved in the precincts: ``Joroku and Kagero are high on the stone.'' There is also a haiku monument.

Shindaibutsuji Temple is also known as a famous place for flowers, and from spring to summer you can enjoy camellias, cherry blossoms, hydrangeas, and Japanese camellias, and in autumn you can enjoy autumn leaves, which are designated as natural monuments, and autumn leaves.

The photo was taken during the autumn leaves season. It's really stunning. I would also like to visit during the flower season.

◆ Bat Pass
After leaving Shindaibutsu-ji Temple, it's time to take on the first challenge of this course, Bat Pass!

Bat Pass is a mountain pass on Prefectural Route 668 that connects IgaCity and KameyamaCity. IgaCity side that we will be climbing this time has a relatively gentle slope compared to KameyamaCity side, making it easier to climb. However, it is about 4.5km to the peak and the average gradient is just under 7%, so there is still a long way to go, so if you are not good at climbing, choose the lightest gear possible and don't worry about speed, just relax while spinning your legs. let's go.

When you see the Iga no Kuni monument on your left, the peak is right there. After the peak, there is an exhilarating descent to the Minamizaike Interchange on the Meihan National Highway, but there are many sharp curves, and the road is on a northern slope, so there is a risk of the road freezing during the winter. Be careful not to speed too much!

◆ kabuto
After passing the Minamizaike Interchange, go through the village of kabuto to near the Itaya Interchange, then take National Route 25 through kabuto and enter Iga again. National Route 25 runs parallel to the old Yamato Kaido and the Meihan National Highway, which is reserved for cars, but bicycles use the old Yamato Kaido.

The gentle slope continues for about 3km until the peak of kabuto. After about 1km from the start of the ascent, you will see the Yamato Kaido Bridge, which is made of stone arches and brick walls, in front of you.

This is an overpass for the Kansai Railway (currently JR Kansai Line) that was built to cross the Yamato Kaido Road, and was completed in 1888. At 4.5m long and 15.1m wide, it is said to be the largest overpass bridge in the area.

After passing the Yamato Kaido overpass, there is a quarry before heading towards kabuto. There used to be some sections that were unpaved, but now the entire area is paved. However, large vehicles frequently pass by, and gravel is floating in places, so be careful when driving.

After passing kabuto and following the road for a while, you will see Karasuyama Pond on your left. The JR Kansai Line also runs close to the national highway in this area, so if your timing is good, you might pass by the train.

■ Travel through Basho's hometown and enjoy freshly baked bread at a bakery directly managed by the factory!
◆ Tortarosso bread
After passing the Iga Interchange, National Route 25 passes through the village of Tsuge. Tsuge is the birthplace of the haiku poet MatsuoBasho, and a stone monument stands quietly in an empty lot along a narrow alley. Although not shown in the photos, this route data also includes a stop at the birthplace of Basho, so please be sure to stop by.

Continue west from Kami-Tsuge, the birthplace of Basho, and turn right at the Shimo-Tsuge intersection. If you follow Prefectural Route 133 for about 3km, you will see Tortarosso Bakery on your left, with a kitchen car as a landmark.
I'm just getting hungry, so let's stop by.

Tortarosso Bread is a bread factory that manufactures bread for distribution to famous hotels in Osaka, and it is said that it used to be located in Osaka.
In search of a better environment, we relocated to Iga, where the air and water are clean. They built a factory in what was once a sake brewery, and decided to take advantage of the move and set up a direct sales shop so that as many people as possible could enjoy freshly made delicious bread. Its reliable quality and reasonable prices have earned it a reputation through word of mouth, and the restaurant is so popular that customers come from outside the prefecture.

When it comes to popular bakeries, there are many shops where cyclists are hesitant to enter, but this shop has a cycle rack prominently placed near the kitchen car and welcomes cyclists. I'm glad to hear that you're doing it!

I hung my bike on the bike rack, climbed the stairs in front of the store, and headed inside.
When you open the door, you'll see freshly baked bread lined up on the shelves. At a quick glance, there are over 100 types!

There are high-quality breads that are limited to 50 pieces a day, deli breads that can be eaten as a meal, and sweet breads that can be eaten as sweets, all of which look delicious!
Moreover, many deli breads and sweet breads are sold at very reasonable prices, ranging from 130 yen to 200 yen.
Hmm, I'm seriously having trouble deciding what to choose.

This is Tsuyoshi Takahashi, the representative director. When I asked how many types of bread there were, I was told that there were about 180 types! When I asked him for a recommendation, he seemed a little confused and answered as follows.

``All of the breads are made with love and attention to the ingredients, so I'm attached to them like my own children, and if I had to choose one, it would be difficult...That's why I recommend them all (lol) ).
By the way, the matcha melon bread uses matcha from Iga, and the roast ham used in the whole grain epi is also made from high-quality ingredients. I also make sure that my French bread is crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside."

I see, it seems like it would be a good idea to visit this place many times and conquer the entire menu!

I couldn't decide, so this time I chose matcha melon bread (130 yen) and whole wheat epi (200 yen). You can also enjoy Furuyama Coffee (200 yen), which is made from hand-picked and carefully selected coffee beans that are roasted in-house.

There is a terrace seat outside the store where you can eat in, or you can sit in the kitchen car and eat. The weather was nice that day, so we decided to sit in the kitchen car and eat outdoors!

The cookie dough of the matcha melon bread is crispy and fluffy on the inside. The matcha scent and bitterness were a nice accent.
The whole wheat epi is delicious with a salty taste from the high quality roast ham and cream cheese. You can tear it up and eat it, so it's also recommended as a portable meal.
Furthermore, the coffee was highly fragrant and had a good balance of bitterness and acidity, and I was impressed by how delicious it was not only when it was hot, but also when it was cold!

◆ Iga Corridor Road
I enjoyed the delicious bread and talked about various things with Mr. Takahashi, so I ended up staying at Tortarosso for a long time. We're only halfway through this course, so let's hurry.

Enter Prefectural Route 673 from Prefectural Route 133, follow the road for a while, then continue on to Prefectural Route 50 and then Prefectural Route 4. Prefectural Route 50 and Prefectural Route 4 form part of the Iga Corridor Road, a wide-area agricultural road that connects the Iga and Nabari areas.

The prefectural road No. 4 that we will be passing this time has steep ups and downs intermittently on the south side of the Meihan National Highway Kamitsuge Interchange. Each climb is not very long, but the slope is quite steep, so use a light gear and spin your legs to get through it at your own pace.

■ Enjoy steep climbs and waterfalls at Takiyama Valley! Enjoy Sarubino Onsen and Iga gourmet food!
◆ Takiyama Valley
After walking along Prefectural Route 4 for a while, you will see a signboard on your left that says ``Shirafuji Falls''. If you turn left here, you will go up to Takiyama Valley, where three waterfalls, Shirafuji Falls, Nii-no-taki, and Sanpo-no-taki, are lined up at approximately 500m intervals along the Takigawa River.

It is about 2km from the entrance to the first Shirafuji Falls. It's a gentle climb for a while, but the slope gradually becomes steeper. As the slope started to get steeper, a sign for Shirafuji Falls appeared on the left.

You can only see a small amount of the waterfall from the forest road, but you can walk along the promenade to get close to the waterfall. There are walking trails to the other two waterfalls that allow you to get close to them. However, there are some steep stone steps and rocky areas that can be slippery with road bike shoes, so if you want to get close to the waterfall, we recommend carrying lightweight, compact shoes like barefoot shoes.

Shirafuji Falls has a height of about 15m and is the most spectacular of the three waterfalls. This area is also famous for its autumn leaves, so you can enjoy the spectacular view of autumn leaves and waterfalls in autumn.

We say goodbye to Shirafuji Falls and continue up the forest road. After passing Sanpo Falls, the road becomes a little narrower and the slope becomes even steeper.

The slope near Lake Tashiro just before the peak is a whopping 14%!
Even 7% is quite a steep slope, so it is no exaggeration to say that 14% is a steep slope that is hard to see. Even those who are familiar with their legs should be satisfied. If you are not confident about climbing, we recommend that you try wearing the lightest gear possible.

◆ Iga Country/Oyamada Onsen Sarubino
Once you pass Lake Tashiro, you will go down and then go up again for a short time. Once you clear this, the ascent is almost over. If you follow the forest road, which has a series of sharp curves on the way down, you will come to a point on the way up to Bat Pass, which you first passed.
Once you've come this far, all that's left to do is go down towards Oyamada Onsen Sarubino in Iga Province.
The exhilarating feeling of gaining speed without having to pedal is a reward only experienced by cyclists who climb on their own. Be careful not to speed too much!

I'm back at the starting point, Sarubino!
I chose this place as my base this time because not only does it have a parking lot, but it also has a hot spring and restaurant, making it a perfect place for cycling.

First, let's heal your fatigue at the hot springs.
Oyamada Onsen is a colorless and transparent sodium bicarbonate/chloride hot spring that can be expected to be effective for muscle pain and joint pain, making it the perfect hot spring for those who are tired!
In addition to the hot spring bath, there is also a large stone and wooden bath and an open-air bath (men and women alternate daily).

After sweating and refreshing in the hot springs, I started getting hungry. Enjoy some delicious local food at the in-house restaurant "Kureha"!

When you look at the menu, you can see that they are strongly promoting Iga beef.
According to the facility staff, Iga beef is characterized by its tender meat and sweet fat, and is a valuable brand of beef that is produced in small quantities and can only be tasted in a limited area around Iga.
There were set meals of sukiyaki, grilled meat, stamina bowl, and hamburger steak, but this time I decided to have the Iga beef sukiyaki set meal (1700 yen)!

The long-awaited Iga beef sukiyaki set meal has been delivered!
The vegetables in the sukiyaki are also grown in Iga, especially the watercress that is grown in Sarubino.

The time it takes to have your sukiyaki heated and wait for the pot to simmer is unbearable, but the feeling of happiness when you taste perfectly cooked Iga beef is exceptional. The combination of the sweet and salty warishita and the sweetness and flavor of the meat's fat was so delicious that it cannot be described in just one word, ``delicious.''
Needless to say, this deliciousness is spiced up by the moderate fatigue and sense of fulfillment that comes from cycling through Iga.

The northeastern part of Iga is one of the courses I personally ride often, but through cycling this time I was able to discover new attractions that I had never known before.
Mie Prefecture is sure to have many unknown roads, attractive places, and gourmet foods that can only be eaten locally. Now, where should we go next?

Article creation / Masanori Asano

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◎ Bicycle writer goes! Beautiful country of Mie: Bicycle route notes

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