Iroha-zaka Road

Irohazaka is a mountain road connecting Nikko town to the plateau around Lake Chuzenji, rising through 48 hairpin curves named for the 48 syllables of the classical iroha poem. The two one-way carriageways, one ascending and one descending, handle the elevation change without opposing traffic. In autumn, the road cuts through a tunnel of maple, oak, and Japanese beech turning red and orange, and traffic slows to a crawl as drivers and passengers lean toward the windows. The Akechidaira Ropeway near the top lifts visitors above the treetops for views across the foliage canopy toward Lake Chuzenji and, on clear days, Kegon Falls.