Former Usuitouge View Point
Nagano Prefecture · Japan
Grab your camera and go take a panoramic shot from Former Usuitouge View Point (Kyu Usui-toge Miharashidai), located at the border between Nagano and Gunma. Whether you take the bus or climb up there, for sunrise or sunset, the view of all those mountaintops, among which Mt. Asama and the Yatsugatake volcanic group, will leave you absolutely breathless!
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation
Welcome to the Former Usuitouge View Point, a location of profound historical and geographical significance situated on the mountainous border between Gunma and Nagano prefectures. For centuries, the Usui Pass has been a critical…
Listen in the app2Apto no Michi: The Trail of Abandoned Rails
The history of Usui Pass is inextricably linked to the 'Heisen'—the abandoned railway lines that once served as the backbone of Japanese transit. Below us lies the 'Apto no Michi' or Apt Road, a hiking trail that follows the…
Listen in the app3Meganebashi: The Four-Arched Brick Sentinel
Perhaps the most iconic structure in the Usui Pass area is the Usui Third Viaduct, popularly known as Meganebashi or 'Spectacles Bridge.' While many bridges in Japan share this nickname due to their twin arches, the Usui…
Listen in the app4Kumanokaira: The Ghostly Mid-Pass Station
Continuing along the abandoned railway path, one reaches the former Kumanokaira Station. This was once a vital operational hub located in the middle of the steep pass, serving as a point where trains could pass each other or…
Listen in the app5The Engineering Tunnels: Darkness and Echoes
A significant portion of the journey through the Usui Pass involves navigating a series of brick-lined tunnels. These tunnels were essential for maintaining a manageable gradient for the trains, but they also created a…
Listen in the app6Toge no Kama-meshi: A Culinary Legacy of the Rails
One cannot discuss the Usui Pass without mentioning its most famous culinary contribution: Toge no Kama-meshi. This iconic 'ekiben' or station bento was first sold at Yokokawa Station in 1958. …
Listen in the app7Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park: Bunkamura
At the base of the pass, near Yokokawa Station, lies the Usui Pass Railway Heritage Park, also known as Bunkamura. This expansive outdoor museum is a sanctuary for decommissioned rolling stock, particularly the specialized…
Listen in the app8Closing
As we conclude our journey at the Former Usuitouge View Point, reflect on the layers of human effort that have been superimposed onto this rugged landscape. From the ancient footpaths of the Nakasendo to the towering brick arches…
Listen in the app
What is Former Usuitouge View Point?
Former Usuitouge View Point is a place in Nagano Prefecture · Japan with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Nagano Prefecture · Japan |
|---|---|
| Type | Activity |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 36.3679, 138.6580 |
| Last updated |
