RENT & RIDE JAPANNorthern Chichibu – Higashichichibu to Yorii
Sadamine Pass & Hachigata Castle Culture Ride
A half-day culture ride over the winding Sadamine Pass into the Okumusashi hills, ending at the Sengoku-era Hachigata Castle ruins along the Arakawa River.
- DISTANCE
- 140 km
- DURATION
- 6 h
- LEVEL
- Intermediate
Starting from TASHILOG GARAGE, this half-day culture route carves through the Okumusashi hills of western Saitama. Route 11 over Sadamine Pass offers mid-speed corners that light up with autumn foliage, while the finale is Hachigata Castle, a famous Sengoku-era fortress perched on cliffs above the Arakawa River.
Highlights
- Sadamine Pass: An 840 m pass linking Higashichichibu and Chichibu, famous among riders and featured in the manga Initial D.
- Washi-no-Sato Higashichichibu: Home of UNESCO-listed Hosokawa washi paper, with handmade soba and udon.
- Hachigata Castle ruins: A nationally designated historic site and one of Japan's Top 100 Castles, set on river cliffs.
Riding tips
Watch for tight corners and rough patches on the pass. The loop is comfortably short for a half day, so an early start in the autumn foliage season is ideal.
- 1START
Tashilog Garage
Start point (Hachioji)
TIPSCheck fuel and tire pressure before heading into the passes.
- 2VIEW~30 min
Sadamine Pass
An 840 m pass with popular winding roads linking Higashichichibu and Chichibu
TIPSMostly mid-speed corners, but the road is narrow with some tight bends, so ride at a safe pace. Known as a setting in the manga Initial D. Autumn colors usually peak around November.
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Photo: Nyao148 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 3.0 - 3FOOD~60 min
Sukifune (at Washi-no-Sato Higashichichibu)
A restaurant serving handmade soba and udon with locally milled flour
TIPSThe signature dish is zaru soba with tempura. Freshly handmade soba and udon from local flour are highly rated, with tempura and mountain-vegetable sides. Located in the UNESCO-listed Hosokawa washi village, with paper-making experiences and a farm stand nearby. Please confirm opening hours.
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Image - 4SPOT~60 min
Hachigata Castle Ruins (Hachigata Castle Park)
Sengoku-era castle ruins built on cliffs above the Arakawa River
HISTORYSaid to have been built in 1476 by Nagao Kageharu, a retainer of the Yamanouchi Uesugi clan. It was later greatly expanded by Hojo Ujikuni as a key base for the Hojo clan in the northern Kanto. During Toyotomi Hideyoshi's 1590 Odawara campaign it was surrounded by a force of some 50,000 under Maeda Toshiie and Uesugi Kagekatsu, surrendering after roughly a month-long siege. Designated a National Historic Site in 1932 and one of Japan's Top 100 Castles.
TIPSThe Sannokuruwa enclosure features reconstructed stone-reinforced earthworks and a four-legged gate. The adjacent Hachigata Castle History Museum holds the Top 100 Castles stamp. Enjoy the river cliffs and nature walk as well.
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Image - 5GOAL
Tashilog Garage
Return (Hachioji)