Nakatsugawa

A bit of a later start than I hoped for, and I was off to Nakatsugawa by the Chuo Line. My original intention was to climb past Chubu Gakuin University on 413 and descend to Agi, but after a significant climb, a warning sign blocked the road due to a landslide. I checked the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism's (MLIT) website, and the road is out of commission for the foreseeable future.

Back into town, I found the old Nakasendo, and traced it between Nakatsugawa-juku and Ochiai-juku. There were some extremely steep climbs that had me pushing my bike.

Some of the views were great though. I didn't have the time or energy (it was 31°C today) to make it over the pass to Magome-juku; I'll have to wait until next time.

The road was well-marked and dotted with historical signage. This spot was a collection of Buddhas that were found along the way, along with descriptions and resting benches.

This was my first time on the Nakasendo. It is obvious that the locals take a lot of pride in it and have kept at least this section very well-maintained. Here is a pedestrian underpass crossing National Route 19.

I'll remember to reapply more sunscreen next time.