Komono Town, Mie Prefecture
Exploring the Suzuka Skyline An autumn mountain ride with a stop at Buhei Pass
If you're looking for an autumn mountain ride, head for the Suzuka Skyline, where the autumn colors descend from the summit between mid-October and late November. I still remember the chill in the air at the car park on a late October morning, and the time I spent looking up at the mountains. I'll tell you what made this autumn ride special, right down to picking out a makomo sweet in Komono on the way home.
I was halfway through adjusting my gloves when I looked up at the mountains and stopped. Here's the view from that day and the story of my ride.
AutumnA late October morning
I stopped halfway through adjusting my gloves to look at the mountains
I parked my blue-and-white motorcycle in the car park at Buhei Pass and switched off the engine. The sound that had followed me all the way here fell quiet. The air on that late October morning was chilly, so I tucked my scarf around the collar of my cream jacket. I was relieved to have finally made it, but I still wanted to ride farther along the road.
As I adjusted one glove, I looked up at the slope beyond the car park. Here and there, some trees were beginning to change color among the evergreens. I used to think autumn colors were something you took in from a distance, across a whole mountainside, but here I found myself noticing the shape of individual branches. I hadn't even finished tightening the strap at my wrist; my hand had stopped halfway through the motion.
This road runs between Mount Gozaisho and Mount Kamagatake, linking Mie and Shiga. On the map, it looks like a single line, but riding it left me with a sense of being deep in the mountains. After I got off my bike, I looked up at the slope. Thinking of the curves I'd just ridden, I could feel how close the mountains were.
They say the autumn colors gradually work their way down from the summit between mid-October and late November. I wonder what these branches would look like if I came on a different day, even in the same autumn. When I think about that, it seems a shame to come here just once. I wanted to remember the mountains as they were that day, so I kept looking at the slope for a while even after I finished adjusting my gloves.
On the way home, I wanted to pick up dorayaki made with makomo. Roadside Station Komono sells makomo somen noodles and sweets. The town is said to take its name from this plant; I loved the thought of finding it in a sweet treat, too. I hadn't known about this little pleasure when I planned the ride, and suddenly even the trip home was something to look forward to.
I straightened my jacket sleeve one last time and went back to my motorcycle. My helmet was on the seat. Once I put it on, I'd be heading back through the same mountains, this time from the other side. Before I set off, I glanced back at the slope and realized I'd even come to like the chill in the air. I faced forward, took hold of the handlebars, and set off for the rest of my autumn ride.
The story sections are fiction inspired by this location. For accurate information, please consult official tourism and information websites.
Local specialty
Makomo Dorayaki
Roadside Station Komono sells sweets made with makomo, including dorayaki and waffles. After taking in the mountain views, I'd pick something tied to the town—like a makomo sweet.
Highlights
National Route 477 through the Mountains
The road connects Komono Town with Koka City, passing between Mount Gozaisho and Mount Kamagatake. After following the route I'd seen on a map, I looked up at the mountains and found myself still thinking about the road I'd taken.
A Road That Became Toll-Free
The Suzuka Skyline opened as a route across Suzuka Quasi-National Park, linking Ise and Omi; tolls were abolished in November 1997. I'd love to take this route across the prefectural border again on a different autumn day.
Road Details
National Route 477 | Suzuka Skyline
From Komono Town, the route crosses Buhei Pass and continues to Koka City. I rode between the mountains and stopped for a breather at the car park on the pass.
I want to make sure I leave time to enjoy the views along the way, too.
More Spot Guides
If you enjoyed this story, you might like these places too. I've gone back to each of them in different seasons, again and again.
