Irohazaka Winding Road

Irohazaka Winding Road is a mountain pass on National Route 120 connecting central Nikko City to Chuzenji Onsen and Lake Chuzenji in Tochigi, built as two separate one-way roads: a 28-curve descending route and a 20-curve ascending route, each named after a character of the traditional Japanese iroha syllabary posted at every bend. The road climbs roughly 440 meters through dense forest, and drivers or bus passengers experience a continuous sequence of hairpin turns framed by beech, oak, and maple trees. The most common way to experience it is by car heading up toward Chuzenji Onsen and Lake Chuzenji, or by the Tobu bus that runs the same route; the drive takes about 30 to 45 minutes one-way depending on traffic. Mid-to-late October is peak season, when the 48 combined curves cut through a dense band of red and orange autumn foliage considered one of the Kanto region's best foliage drives, though this also brings heavy weekend traffic and long queues at scenic pull-offs like the Akechidaira viewpoint partway up the route. Traveling on a weekday morning or via bus avoids much of the congestion.