Usui Pass, Gunma Japan | hiking through mountains along an abandoned train line VLOG

4:121This hike is known as many things. Some say Usui pass and others say Apt no michi. Whatever its name is, it was really cool!

We took a day trip from Karuizawa to a cool walking path that follows the route of an abandoned train line. We left just before 9am and got back to Karuizawa at 2pm. Even though this path is 15 minute drive away from Karuizawa station, there is very little public transportation options. There is a bus that drives along the road midday on certain days of some months. It was a headache to try to figure out. I opted to take a taxi instead, as there were 3 of us it was significantly cheaper than any other option. The town that we finish in has a JR train however you have to transfer to the bullet train to get back to Karuizawa so it is very pricey. Most of the people we saw either drove or took a tour bus to the bridge.

I did play with the idea of hiking back along the Nakasendo to get to the main Karuizawa shopping street. However we didn't have enough time for that.

Places visited:
0:00 Preview
1:06 Usui line hike
Old Kumanotaira Station | https://maps.app.goo.gl/q545m96vLLgbc...
Megane Bridge | https://maps.app.goo.gl/4bkbhewnU3Edx...
4:12 Usui Lake | https://maps.app.goo.gl/dFXm7XiVvdqF9...
6:10 Coffee House Mini Mini | https://maps.app.goo.gl/sZAiyAz14ckZW...
Nakasendo trailhead | https://maps.app.goo.gl/wnNSEvKSApKMX...
7:09 Apt no Michi | https://maps.app.goo.gl/9G9ku6AcpHLPd...
Old Maruyama Substation | https://maps.app.goo.gl/jTTa75t5gjhW8...
9:32 Yokokawa
Ruins of Usui Sekisho Checkpoint | https://maps.app.goo.gl/dgReyy3Yzrd6Y...
12:38 Anerikaruizawa | https://maps.app.goo.gl/DYTLYLzwPhG4x...
#Hiking #Japan