Touring Above the Clouds at 1,600 Meters
When you turn off the engine, all you hear is the sound of the wind.
Every rider has probably encountered a road at least once where the ride itself becomes the destination. Shiga Kogen Ichinose is exactly that kind of place.
In the morning, you swing a leg over your bike in the crisp, clear air.
Each time you pass through another winding section, the scenery changes. Ahead of you stretch endless blue skies and white clouds. Even in summer, the coolness here feels like another world compared with the city, and the breeze flowing into your helmet is pure comfort.
In winter, the area around Ichinose is filled with skiers from around the world. But in the green season, it is also a hidden scenic area that riders should know about.
As in the photos, simply parking your bike with the slopes in the background is enough to create a picture-perfect scene.
A vintage Shovelhead and the latest touring bike both blend naturally into the landscape here.
What we especially recommend is not just riding through, but getting off the bike from time to time.
Watch the clouds drift by while drinking coffee.
Feel the highland breeze.
And simply look at your bike.
For riders, the best moments are not always the ones spent moving.
Ichinose offers that luxury of doing nothing.
If you are looking for that kind of mature touring experience, Shiga Kogen Ichinose will not disappoint.
On your next day off, why not ride closer to the clouds?
