Route 292, the highest point on a national road in Japan　日本国道最高地点

Oct. 29th. 2025

Michi no eki Kawaba　　道の駅川場田園プラザ

Michi no eki Shirasawa has only the onsen and a  leafy parking area to recommend it. The facilities are minimal, no washlet, no heated seat and no flower arrangement. There are rubbish bins only for cans and pet bottles.

So, after leaving and driving for perhaps 10 minutes, we pull in at michi no eki Kawaba which has an abundance of rubbish bins. Not to mention the 7 car parks, maybe 4 with their own toilets. There are a number of fancy restaurants quite expensive plus a pond with resident geese.

We have stayed here in the past and, on reflection, should have done so last night.

Shima Onsen Sekizenkan　　四万温泉積善館

From Kawaba we drive to Shima Onsen. D. wanted to see a famous onsen building ‘Sekizenkan‘. We discover that the building is nothing special and the whole place has seen better days.

There is a rushing river that may provide a walk but this year we are too bear conscious to comfortably enjoy such excursions.

Manza Onsen Nisshinkan　　万座温泉日進館

We leave, a little deflated, and drive the Nippon Romantic Strasse and then the Manza Highway. This is a toll road, pricey at 1,070 yen, but great scenery.

At Manza Onsen we take a bath. There is a choice of inside or outside the two not being connected. We choose the inside, a very timbered decor with hot, satisfying, sulphurous water. My silver ring is still quite black.

＊Manza Nisshin-kan ; 1000 yen /adult

Route 292 viewing point ‘Yokoteyama drive-in’　横手山ドライブイン

From Manza we climb up Route 292 to the highest point on a national road in Japan at 2172 metres.

On this road, we pass the closed off section that runs down to Kusatsu. This road is closed due to volcanic activity of Mt. Kusatsu-Shirane and we can see the gas pouring out of the mountainside in several places.

The border of Gunma and Nagano on route 292 is ‘Shibu Toge’ and near by there is Yokoteyama Drive-in (2,100m). This offers splendid views and today the low cloud creates a truly spectacular sight. It is getting late in the day and photographers are gathering to catch the sunset.

Kitashinshu Yama no Uchi　道の駅北信州やまのうち

We have to move on to shop before reaching our michi no eki at Kitashinshu Yama no Uchi.

Again we drive through magnificent scenery rendered magical by the late sun and autumn leaves as we pass through Shiga Kogen.

The michi no eki is not large but the toilets are good. There are already ten to a dozen overnight visitors when we arrive. The number of people traveling by shachuhaku has increased dramatically in the almost ten years we have been doing it.