（click on map to enlarge）
Mount Haruna
Mount Haruna is an old volcano sitting just above the city of Shibukawa in Gunma Prefecture. I have always had a fondness for riding in Gunma and Mt. Haruna was on my list of rides to explore. So, I used my Seishun 18 Kippu (summer train pass) and headed up to Takasaki Station where I began the ride.
The cities in Gunma lie in valleys that get really hot in the summer so a major concern was to get up out of the valley before it got too hot. I got on Hwy 28 and headed up into the mountains. I had read a blog that said Hwy 28 was the best route so I chose it as my main route. The elevation profile from the PJAMM website showed it having an average grade of 7.9% over 10 km gaining 786 meters.
Earlier in the week I had conquered Odarumi Pass in Yamanashi and felt as if I were invincible and thought that, in comparison, this would be a walk in the park. It was not what I was expecting. The grades were more challenging than I had expected. I encountered another unexpected surprise when, about half way up, I rounded a curve only to find that the road was closed. I searched my map and discovered a small service road 1 ½ km behind where I had come that went west up over a ridge and down to meet Hwy 126.
I wasn’t pleased about losing elevation but enjoyed the winding road through the forest. Once on Hwy 126 I began to climb again and soon found it getting steeper. PJAMM lists it as having an average of 8.2% grade. It was torturous with my computer showing grades of 17%. One of the signs on the many curves showed the grade at 20%. It was a humbling experience but slowly but surely, I made my way to the top and began to get a glimpse of the lake.
Lake Haruna is a crater lake at the base of Mt. Haruna at one end and some other interesting shaped peaks along the border of it. It is not as developed as some of the other mountain lakes in Japan. There appears to be a hotel on the east end and a few restaurants and campgrounds along the shore. The weather was perfect. A dark blue sky and a cool breeze off of the lake.
After enjoying the lake for a while, I went up and over Hwy 33 and began the long descent along the curvy road down into the valley. This road and area have become popular as the setting for the popular animation “Initial D”. It’s based on a street racing manga series by that name.
As you come down the slope you are presented with a superb view of the Shibukawa Valley down below and the mountains behind it. There is an especially nice view of Ikaho Onsen, a popular hot spring village that I would stop at. It’s a historic place built on the side of the mountain. It features 365 steps that climb up to the shrine at the top. There is a small stream of brown tinted onsen water running down through the stairs and the steps are lined with clusters of shops, inns and bathhouses. Climbing the stairs it feels as if you are going back in time.
I bought a skewer of steamed konnyaku balls to munch on while resting on the bench. Konnyaku is made from the starch of the roots of a taro like plant. Gumna is famous for it. It doesn't have much of a flavor but is famous for being extremely low in calories (though, at this time I could have used some). I would love to return to Ikaho sometime and spend some time in the hot springs.
Back on Hwy 33 it is a swift descent down into the city of Shibukawa. After enjoying my lunch I bagged up my bike and headed home.
Mount Haruna Gallery
