Along the Omote-Tsukuba Skyline Beyond the fence at Asahi Pass, the plain opens up

One November evening, I pulled into Asahi Pass car park during a drive along the Omote-Tsukuba Skyline. I found a space for the red car and straightened the light jacket I’d layered over my lavender hoodie. The trees were still close around the car, but when I walked over to the white fence, I could see a town in the distance beyond it. I was already smiling before I stopped to take in the view.

From the fence, I could take in a wide sweep of the Kanto Plain. Beyond the nearby hillside covered in autumn leaves, the cityscape stretched toward the horizon. I’d been watching only the bends in the road, so the openness felt wonderful. I pulled the front of my jacket a little closer as I looked out beneath the clouds in the evening light. It was only now, standing here, that I felt how high we’d climbed.

My friend caught up with me and said, “I’m glad we got out of the car.” Pointing beyond the fence, I said, “The plain stretches all the way over there.” I couldn’t make out the names of the distant buildings, but I could see where buildings clustered and where the land opened out. It made me want to unfold a map. My friend and I stood side by side, scanning the view for the way back.

On the way here, the road slipped between trees, then opened onto brighter stretches. The Omote-Tsukuba Skyline climbs and descends through the hills, and I hear it’s also part of a cycling hill-climb course. I’d enjoyed the drive, but it was lovely to stop and take it all in at the end. A single leaf, blown by the wind, landed beside my white shoe.

The evening light was getting softer, so I thought it was about time to head back to the car. I’m tempted to plan a trip around Mount Tsukuba that includes a meal with Fukure Shichimi, a local specialty. The shichimi smells of mandarin peel—I’d love to try it after breathing in the mountain air. My friend and I walked back, talking about taking our time over a meal next time. Before leaving, I looked toward the fence once more. The wide-open view across the plain was still there.