Kirifuri Highlands Road, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture

Roppōzawa Bridge on Kirifuri Highlands Road Cross the bridge, then walk back to see the valley’s autumn colours

Roppōzawa Bridge on Kirifuri Highlands Road offers a view over a valley bright with autumn leaves. Drive across, park, then walk back to take it all in—a little autumn detour. Add a Nikko yuba meal to the trip and take your time along the highland road.

On a sunny autumn day along Kirifuri Highlands Road, cross the bridge and stop for a walk to take in the valley’s autumn colours.

The narrator drives a red convertible across Roppōzawa Bridge in autumn. She wears a pale jacket over a lavender top and holds the wheel with both hands.

AutumnA sunny autumn afternoon among the leaves

Cross the bridge, then walk back to see the valley’s autumn colours

On a sunny autumn afternoon, I’m driving along Kirifuri Highlands Road towards Ōzasa Ranch. After a stretch where the trees pressed close to the road, the bridge’s guardrail came into view, stretching out ahead. So this is Roppōzawa Bridge. I keep both hands on the wheel as the road carries me on. The highland breeze slips inside the collar of my light jacket, and even in the car it feels a little chilly.

After crossing the bridge, I pulled into a nearby car park. Then I walked back to the bridge. I’d been watching the road as I drove, so this was my first proper look down over the valley. When I stopped beside the railing, autumn leaves covered the mountain slopes. The view stretched into the distance, and I drew in a breath without meaning to. Driving here is one kind of joy; taking time to look around is another.

My driving friend and I stood side by side, looking down into the valley. I’d heard Roppōzawa Bridge is about 320m long and stands about 134m above the valley floor. “So this is what we crossed by car,” my friend said. I nodded and compared the nearby branches with the distant slopes. The valley stretched out before us in a way a photo could never show.

The breeze cooled my lavender knit sleeves, so I drew my jacket closed. Leaves kept stirring as I watched the valley, and patches of sunlight shifted little by little. I thought my friend and I were looking at the same view, but we’d each noticed different trees. “That slope over there is lovely too,” she said, and I turned to look again. Taking a break at the bridge made the autumn mountains feel closer.

On the walk back to the car park, my friend and I started talking about what to eat in Nikko. Nikko’s yuba is a local speciality, served simmered or as yuba sashimi, and I’d love to try some today. I’d like to make that meal part of today’s autumn drive too, remembering the breeze I felt while driving across the bridge and the valley’s autumn leaves I saw on foot.

The story sections are fiction inspired by this location. For accurate information, please consult official tourism and information websites.

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Kirifuri Highlands Road, Nikko City, Tochigi Prefecture · Autumn

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Local specialities to try

Nikko yuba

A Nikko speciality, yuba is served simmered or as yuba sashimi. After driving through the highlands, I’d love to sit down for a meal and savour its soybean flavour.

Highlights

The valley’s autumn colours, seen on foot

From Roppōzawa Bridge, the valley opens out below. I drove across, parked, then walked back. Beyond the nearby branches, the valley spread wide before me. I’d been watching the road while driving, so this was my first time taking in the full view from beside the railing—and I caught my breath.

A road linking the Kirifuri Highlands

Roppōzawa Bridge lies along the road between the Kirifuri Highlands and Ōzasa Ranch. I’d love to stop here and take in the view during a drive through the highlands.