Fuji/Ashinoko Skyline Ride

Well now I have discovered the mother roads in Japan. These skyline drives are way up in the mountains. Fujisan Skyline skirts the southern side of Mt. Fuji. Further east, the Ashinoko Skyline winds up and down the backbone from Fuji south to the Izu Peninsula with spectacular views and roads. These roads are two lanes wide in most places, with lots of sweepers. These roads are well maintained, clean, and in great shape. As a trade-off, there's more traffic at times.

Here is my round trip from my home in Shimizu bottom left.

Here I am approaching Mt. Fuji from the west

Fuji City lies in the valley ahead.

This area has mostly narrow roads, but with light traffic.

Coming down, I passed this magnificent Shrine with Mt. Fuji in the background. I just had to stop and take this photo.

Fujisan Skyline was a really nice ride, although it got very cold up there. It was an overcast day, with only occasional views of the snow covered old volcano's peak showing. I didn't stop for any photos on this part of the trip, but the roads were incredible, and traffic almost nonexistent. I enjoyed myself so much I just kept going. Suffice it to say that this skyline drive is a series of sweeping switch-backs rising up Mt. Fuji's south side, traveling along it's shoulder, and then carving back down the east side with more sweepers.

After arriving down in the valley, I had to cross the city of Gotemba before heading back up into the mountains on the other side of the city.

Here's the Ashinoko Skyline to give you some idea of the number of curves in this road.

I stopped at a rest stop just starting up the Ashinoko Skyline.

Here, I got a partially obscured view of the east side of Mt. Fuji.

Here's a close-up of the shot above showing up the mountain better.

I stopped again on the south side of the skyline to have lunch.

To the south was this view of the road ahead.

Here you can see the quality of these roads was superb.

Far off in the distance you can see the ocean and the rugged Izu peninsula. I wanted to continue down the peninsula, but it was getting late and I decided to do that another day.