My aching body recovered nicely, perhaps due to yesterday's hot spring baths and beer.
It was nice to be able to get ready in the air-conditioned lobby of the hotel (HOTEL&RESORT Kiyomizu Bozanso) before departure.

At the start of the ride, the temperature was about 25°C. The weather was clear and sunny, a complete change from the weather on the first day. We left the inn at 9:00 a.m. with sunscreen to reduce fatigue.

From Yudanaka Onsen, the route gently descends along the Yomase River. Once down to Nakano City, a climb up to Lake Nojiri, which is halfway up the mountain seen in the back left corner of the photo, awaits.

Heading up the "Hokushin Gogaku Road" toward "Lake Nojiri" surrounded by mountains. The road has some tough hills with an incline of 6-8% in places. The road is flanked by apple orchards, a typical Nagano landscape.

We decided to stop at the St. Cousair Winery, located about 20km from the start of the tour. The winery is located on the Hokushin Gogaku Road. The garden leading to the entrance of the building is well-maintained and a lovely space.

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The store sells wines and jams made from grapes produced by organic farming, as well as gelato and light meals. I would like to try some of the wines on the shelves, but since I am riding a bicycle, I will have to hold off for today. By the way, they also have a delivery service, so if you visit by bicycle, you can send your souvenirs by courier service.

Order lemonade and gelato recommended by the store staff. We took a break on the terrace attached to the store, looking out over the vast garden. In summer, the lawn is lush and green, but in winter, it is covered with a carpet of snow and offers a different view than in summer.

After a drink break at the main St. Cousair Winery, we again took the Hokushin-Godake road to Lake Nojiri, about 15km away.

We arrived at Lake Nojiri, one of the destinations for the second day. The lake is located on a plateau 654 meters above sea level in Shinano Town.
The Lake Nojiri Loop Road running along the lakeside is pleasantly shaded by trees.
It is recommended to slow down and take it easy. Aim for the lunch spot "LUMBER JACK" while enjoying the view of Lake Nojiri.

Lunch at "LUMBER JACK" on the shores of Lake Nojiri. There is a terrace where you can enjoy a meal with a close view of Lake Nojiri. Kenta ordered a hamburger steak. The meat was moist, juicy, and very satisfying!

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After finishing our meal, we took Prefectural Route 36 for a loop around today's second destination, Mount Iizuna. I found a stylish gelato shop that suddenly appeared in a peaceful farming village. The interior of the store is a stylish white space. I was a little hesitant to enter the store because I was wearing a cycling jersey, but the staff warmly welcomed me.

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Centotto Gelato is a ice cream shop selling a product made from vegetables and fruits based on the theme of local production for local consumption. The most popular is the "corn flavor" using sweetcorn, a specialty of Shinanomachi, where the store is located.

I ordered rhubarb (a fiber-rich vegetable). Its refreshing taste makes it a perfect dessert in the middle of summer.
For those who want to enjoy two different flavors, a double order is also available (single: 450 yen / double: 500 yen).

After finishing the gelato, it was time to start the 35km loop of Mount Iizuna. Iizuna is one of the "Hokushin Gogaku/Shin'etsu Gogaku (Five Peaks of Shin'etsu which are Mt. Madarao, Myoko, Kurohime, Togakushi and Iizuna.)," The next rest stop, Togakushi, is about 13km away, and the hill climb continues uphill for about 700 meters.

Take a break at Kagamiike Pond, a recommended spot in Togakushi. As the name suggests, this pond mirrors the mysterious Togakushi mountain range. Although the wind was blowing that day and the mountains were not reflected on the surface of the water, we were overwhelmed by the power of the mountains in front of us.

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After crossing Togakushi, the trail is basically downhill, although there is some climbing. We found ourselves completing a lap around Mt. Iizuna and headed for the last recommended spot, the Izumigaoka cafe.

This is an abolished elementary school in Iizuna Town that has been renovated and repurposed into a facility to house stores and restaurants. There are several restaurants and stores. Among them, we took our last break at Izumigaoka Cafe, which is recommended for its tarte tatin made with apples, a specialty of Iizuna Town.

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A wide variety of apple juices are displayed in the store, which was originally used as a classroom. It is interesting to compare the color and taste of different varieties of apples.

I was served an exquisite tarte tatin made with apples, a specialty of Iizuna Town. I had imagined the taste of apple pie, but the firm sweetness of the apples tasted and felt somewhat like prunes. The not-too-sweet apple flavor went well with iced coffee.

After a final energy boost with a tarte tatin, we headed for our goal, Iiyama Station, 10km away. At this point, there is only downhill and flat terrain. We picked up the pace so as not to miss the bullet train on the way home.

After completing the 100km route, we reached the goal at Iiyama station. 1600m in elevation was gained on the second day, making it a challenging route to ride and climb. We would have celebrated with a beer, but we had to pack our bikes for the bullet train, so we toasted with a flask of water instead!

I took out my cycling bag from the coin-operated locker at Iiyama station and prepared to go home. The cost of the locker was 1,000 yen for two days. The style of leaving luggage not needed for the ride in a coin locker at the station is very helpful in keeping costs down.

We fully enjoyed our 2 days and 1 night trip starting from Iiyama Station. The Gondola lift, Shibu Toge, the highest point on the national highway, Yudanaka Onsen, Lake Nojiri, and Mt. Iizuna were all fantastic experiences and we enjoyed Shin'etsu area's natural beauty. Although there are many hills, even those who are not confident in their riding ability can rent e-bikes at the activity center in Iiyama Station, allowing them to enjoy the tour according to their level. The Shin'etsu area, which can be visited in about 2 hours from Tokyo by the Hokuriku Shinkansen, is highly recommended.