“We headed north on the sunny Hokuriku Expressway, and before we knew it, we were at Myoko Kogen. The weather was so nice, and Mount Myoko looked beautiful, tempting us to stop here and go for a drive. However, we decided to stick to our original plan and continue driving to Joetsu IC.”
Before leaving home, I had eaten about two onigiri from the convenience store, but that alone was not enough, and I was starting to get hungry. It’s about time to have a late breakfast or early lunch somewhere. Just when I was wondering what I could eat, I slid into Myoko Service Area.
As we approached this area, the number of cars on the main road decreased significantly, and accordingly, the service area was also empty. In a food court where no other customers were visible, I ordered a set of natural amberjack rice bowl.
We shifted onto the Hokuriku Expressway at Joetsu Junction, and as planned, we exited at Joetsu IC. From here, we’ll follow Prefectural Route 43, leaving the sea behind and heading towards the mountains. The surroundings are what you might call rural, and it’s not bad to leisurely drive behind local vehicles in this tranquil atmosphere. After driving a little further, the rural scenery disappears, and by the time we shift onto Route 13, the atmosphere completely changes. From here on out, it’s into the mountains.
I love this moment when we suddenly plunge into the mountains from the open scenery we had just moments ago.
A refreshing road with almost zero traffic, a centerline, and just the right amount of winding curves. It seems like the motorcyclists share the same sentiment, as they wave back in acknowledgment when we yield the right of way to the riders catching up with us. Then, they blissfully ride away.
I was considering heading towards Prefectural Route 61 from here, but it seems to be closed. As I drive around in the mountains, I encounter several road closures due to disasters, reminding me of the threats posed by nature.
We detoured around the road closure on Prefectural Route 278 and continued onto National Route 405. After driving a bit on this poorly paved national road, we came across something called the Miyaguchi Kofun Group. While I’m not particularly interested in ancient burial mounds, I noticed it on the map, so I decided to make a quick stop.
In the vast plain with several small hills scattered about, these are apparently the ancient burial mounds. They just look like piles of soil from a construction site, though.
Since there was a historical folk museum nearby, I thought it might be worth a visit. The entrance fee was only 200 yen for adults, about the price of a can of juice. Perhaps they don’t need to make a profit since it’s likely run by the city, but is such a low price really okay? Inside, despite its small size, the museum had quite a substantial amount of exhibits.
The first floor showcased the burial mounds and excavated artifacts, while the second floor focused on the history and daily life of the region. I initially thought I might find material for a blog post, but ended up spending more time than I expected, thoroughly enjoying the exhibits. Sometimes, experiences like this aren’t so bad after all.
After experiencing the timeless history at the Historical Folk Museum, we head towards the Higashikubiki Wide Area Farm Road. Since earlier, this area has had very little traffic. The Higashikubiki Wide Area Farm Road is no exception, with almost zero traffic. However, the road surface is not in great condition, which could be a problem. It might not bother those driving cars like Toyota Crown, but it could be a bit tough on a car with Msports suspension.
A BMW speeding along the unmanned wide-area farm road would be perfect if the pavement were in better shape… Occasionally, we stop the car and admire the terraced rice fields. The reflection of the blue sky in the water spread over the rice paddies is incredibly beautiful. There are many terraced rice fields in this area, scattered all around. The season when the rice stalks shine golden must have its own unique beauty. I’d love to come back around that time.
Having thoroughly enjoyed the wide-area farm road, I’m now stuffed. I think I’ll stop by a roadside station or something and pick up some souvenirs on the way back. Since I came on this drive alone without my wife today, I mustn’t forget to bring back souvenirs.
And the final plan for today is to have a pork kimchi rice bowl at the Shiozawa-Ishitate Service Area on the Kanetsu Expressway on the way back. This was originally sold as a limited-time dish during a bowl fair in 2022, but it seems it was quite popular and is still available now. I thought it had ended at the end of last year, but I recently noticed it’s still being sold, so I made up my mind to definitely try it.
Since I don’t know when it will disappear again, I really wanted to try it. And as expected, the pork kimchi rice bowl is delicious! I hope it stays on the menu and continues to be available for a long time.
After that, it’s just a matter of going home. The drive isn’t over until I get back home.
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