Iida and Tōyama-gō, Nagano
Before I looked up the mountains’ names, I was watching the ridgeline An autumn morning at 1,900 m, taking in the view with an apple in hand
From the moment I pulled into the car park, the mountain ridgelines had my attention. With a little apple in my hand, I followed the ridgeline to see how far it stretched.
The story of an autumn morning spent looking out at the Southern Alps with an apple in hand.
AutumnA clear autumn morning amid the foliage
The morning I learned the shape of the mountains before my first bite of apple
I set off for Shirabiso Highland with an apple I’d picked out in Iida. After driving through the autumn trees along the Southern Alps Echo Line, I reached a place with a view of the mountain range. Even as I parked and slipped on my coat, I couldn’t stop looking at the ridgeline beyond the window.
As soon as I stepped out of the car in the gravel car park, I could see the mountains stretching far across the horizon. I’d pictured a view dominated by one great peak, but instead there were so many sharp peaks and low dips along the range. I’d thought of the Southern Alps as one name for all those mountains. Today, I felt I could take them in one by one.
I took a red apple from my bag and held it in both hands. The morning light made me think back to the time I’d spent choosing it in Iida. I wanted to take in the cold air up here before eating, so I held onto the apple for a while. I was so caught up in the mountains that I still hadn’t taken my first bite.
I looked from the trees beyond the fence to the mountains behind them. The nearby leaves had turned autumn colors, while the distant rock faces seemed as if their outlines would stay the same through every season. I started to look up the mountain names on my phone, then stopped. Right now, I wanted to remember the long sweep of the ridgeline instead of looking at a screen.
Back by the car, I bit into the apple at last, and it felt like a little break. I’d come to see the mountains, but I think even this apple from town will be part of how I remember today. I can look up the names once I’m home; that’ll be something to enjoy later. For now, I think I’ll keep my eyes on the ridgeline in front of me.
The story sections are fiction inspired by this location. For accurate information, please consult official tourism and information websites.
Local specialty
Apples from Minami-Shinshu
Ringo no Sato, near Iida Interchange, is a local produce shop that sells fruit, including apples. I’d love to choose some before heading up into the mountains and bring them along for a morning break.
Highlights
The Southern Alps stretching across the horizon
I’d pictured a single great summit, but instead the mountains stretched along the horizon in an uneven line. I kept following the rises and dips of the ridgeline, and my first bite of apple had to wait.
From autumn trees on the Echo Line to highland views
The drive takes me past autumn trees on the Southern Alps Echo Line, and I love how the broad mountain view feels like an extension of the road when I arrive.
Road details
Iida Interchange to Shirabiso Highland
- Distance from Iida Interchange
- 43km
- Highland elevation
- 1900m
From Iida, the route climbs into the highlands. You can also enjoy autumn foliage along the nearby Southern Alps Echo Line.
The prefecture’s tourism guide gives the access distance as 43 km; the highland sits at 1,900 m. I’d use 43 km to get a sense of the overall trip, not as the length of the Echo Line alone.
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