Driving the Hiruzen-Daisen Skyline I was so captivated by Mount Daisen that my soft serve started to melt

I parked along the Hiruzen-Daisen Skyline and stepped onto the deck at Kimendai. I was wearing an orange sweater and a brown skirt, with a milk-flavored soft serve in hand. Through a gap where the trees dipped a little, Mount Daisen came into full view. A moment ago, I’d been following the road toward the mountain; now I was standing still, taking it all in. Just that pause made me feel how far I’d driven.

While I watched the mountain, the tip of my soft serve started to droop. “Oh!” I tucked my left hand underneath as a little melted cream began to drip. Even on a cool autumn day, soft serve melts if you linger over the view. After the initial chill of a bite, the milk flavor lingered. I wanted to keep watching the mountain and eat my soft serve while it was still good. It turned into a rather busy little break.

When I looked back toward the mountain from the far end of the deck, the trees closer to me and the ridgeline beyond seemed to overlap. Other mountains stretched between me and Mount Daisen; as I shifted my gaze from the autumn leaves to the ridgelines, I could see just how deep the view was. I lowered the hand holding my soft serve and slowly followed the mountain from its summit all the way down to the foothills.

This road links Hiruzen in Okayama with Daisen in Tottori. Kimendai sits on the prefectural border at about 900 m above sea level. That’s what I love about a long drive: I can stand in one spot and take in mountain scenery across two prefectures. After taking in Mount Daisen to the north, I want to look toward Hiruzen, too—but first, I’d better finish the soft serve in my hand. I’m not in a hurry today. I’m going to take my time and have a proper break here.

Hiruzen is also known for Jersey milk soft serve, so you can pair a mountain drive with a milky treat. I’d love to stop at Hiruzen Jersey Land, too, and enjoy one while taking in the pasture scenery. After one last look at Mount Daisen, I felt I’d be able to remember even the colors of the trees once I was home. After leaving Kimendai, I want to enjoy the autumn drive a little longer.