Cycling Day 44: To Nakatsugawa
So it turns out the free campsite is really popular both for walking from up the nearby hills and there was even a nursery group there with one of the teachers singing and playing banjo as I got ready to leave.
Unfortunately the mozzies were hanging around as I packed up too - if the nursery group has been watching me maybe they'd have joined in my curious leg-swatting dance!
19 May 2026 - 11:18
Much nicer than the main road!
I tried national highway 19 for a short stretch, but after many noisy lorries passing and an unnecessary hill I switched to little route 421 and it was so much quieter and more scenic!
19 May 2026 - 12:57
An excessive lunch
A pumpkin salad (150g) sandwich, 2 deep-fried sweet potato slices and these teriyaki with vanilla ice cream, chocolate and red ben paste (yes, there were 5 of them!).
Nice little rest area though - on the Nakasendo trail.
19 May 2026 - 15:40
19 May 2026 - 16:21
The Nakatsu trail seems quite well provided for in terms of shady spots, signs, standing stones and even some benches. Lots of lovely old and manicured gardens along bits of it too!
19 May 2026 - 16:41
19 May 2026 - 16:47
19 May 2026 - 16:56
Over-indulging?
I did give 2 away to a couple also sat in the park...and they were only small!
Accommodation!
I've booked myself 3 nights in Nakatsugawa (not cheap by my standards on this trip so far, and I hope the 'smoking permitted' in the guesthouse isn't taken advantage of!). It seems like I should be able to get a train up the valley and then walk some of the Nakasendo trail back over Magome pass, which is supposed to be quite nice. I think I'll have a go at that tomorrow.
Then the weather forecast for Thursday looks pretty stormy, so it may be a good day to rest/plan.
Guesthouse
I've been put in room 101!
There's a washing machine and dryer I can use, and I have my own fridge. Only a microwave for cooking things though.