Japan - 2024/06/22 (sat) Southern Saitama Tour (県道11号 熊谷小川秩父線)

[virtualmacho]

Updated plan: see post #15 for latest details.

How does this sound? Brunch at「道の駅 おがわまち」and travel the length of 県道11号 to「道の駅 ちちぶ」then 国道299 to Kodaira city. I have no idea about the traffic on R299: perhaps @Tokion can help? Google is telling me it will be under 3 hours, but I am thinking 5 to 6 hours in total.

We'll think of how to kill time for those who want to continue with a late night photo shoot at Kawagoe.

So, who's interested?

1. 道の駅おがわまち (〒355-0321 埼玉県比企郡小川町小川 1220)
2. 熊谷小川秩父線 (県道11号)
   • ヤマメの里公園駐車場 (〒355-0376 埼玉県秩父郡東秩父村皆谷)
   • 定峰峠 (〒368-0003 埼玉県秩父市定峰)
3. 道の駅ちちぶ (〒368-0023 埼玉県秩父市大宮 4625)
4. びっくりドンキー小平大沼店 (〒187-0001 東京都小平市大沼町 4-28-30)

 

[Tokion]

How does this sound? Brunch at「道の駅 おがわまち」and travel the length of 県道11号 to「道の駅 ちちぶ」then 国道299 to Kodaira city. I have no idea about the traffic on R299: perhaps @Tokion can help? Google is telling me it will be under 3 hours, but I am thinking 5 to 6 hours in total.

We'll think of how to kill time for those who want to continue with a late night photo shoot at Kawagoe.

So, who's interested?

View attachment 45493

1. 道の駅おがわまち (〒355-0321 埼玉県比企郡小川町小川 1220)
2. 熊谷小川秩父線 (県道11号)
   • ヤマメの里公園駐車場 (〒355-0376 埼玉県秩父郡東秩父村皆谷)
   • 定峰峠 (〒368-0003 埼玉県秩父市定峰)
3. 道の駅ちちぶ (〒368-0023 埼玉県秩父市大宮 4625)
4. びっくりドンキー小平大沼店 (〒187-0001 東京都小平市大沼町 4-28-30)

Have a nice drive. Unfortunately I will be in Europe during the timing of your drive. I would have liked to go in one of my two “bimmers” still awaiting my Emira 2.0.

 

[virtualmacho]

Have a nice drive. Unfortunately I will be in Europe during the timing of your drive. I would have liked to go in one of my two “bimmers” still awaiting my Emira 2.0.

Ah, sorry to hear that. I was hoping you could come in the cabriolet.
Next time!

 

[virtualmacho]

OK, so maybe we don't need to end at Kodaira city. It might be more fun to go back and forth on the twisties.
小平のびっくりドンキーを最終地点にする必要もなさそうなので、埼玉県道11号を何往復かするというのも手ですね。

@JaviLM @shin73 hope you can make it. Anyone else interested? 飛び入り参加大歓迎です！
How about「道の駅 おがわまち」at 10:00 am on June 22 (sat) ? The weather forecast doesn't look too good, so let's pray it changes.
天気が不安ですが、6月22日(土)午前10時に「道の駅 おがわまち」集合でよろしくお願いします！

 

[shin73]

Noted sir! I will be using Kanetsu from Nerima, anyone want to meet up in advance at one of the SA's and head together to Ogawa?

 

[virtualmacho]

Noted sir! I will be using Kanetsu from Nerima, anyone want to meet up in advance at one of the SA's and head together to Ogawa?

I hadn't even thought of using the highway. What time do you think we need to leave Takasaka SA?
豪速道路を使うことなんて考えてもいませんでした(笑) 高坂SAで落ち合うとしたら何時頃がいいのかな？

 

[shin73]

According to google it's 20 min from Takasaka to Michino eki ogawamachi. So meet at 9:45 and leave Takasaka by 10:15?

Also, just noticed that Michino eki Ogawamachi is temporarily closed due to renovation, may need to come up with a plan B.

 

[virtualmacho]

According to google it's 20 min from Takasaka to Michino eki ogawamachi. So meet at 9:45 and leave Takasaka by 10:15?

Math doesn't add up To meet up at Ogawa-machi at 10:00, let's leave Takasaka SA at 09:30. I'll try to be there by 09:00.
小川町の集合場所に 10:00 に着くためには高坂 SA を 09:30 に出ましょう！09:00 には SA に着くように頑張ります...

Also, just noticed that Michino eki Ogawamachi is temporarily closed due to renovation, may need to come up with a plan B.

Yikes ! OK, I think I have an urgent need to buy something at the Welcia drug store (ウエルシア小川町2号店) which is about 150m down the street from Michino-eki Ogawa-machi.
あぶない、あぶない。「道の駅おがわまち」が閉鎖中とは知りませんでした。150m ほど先にあるドラッグストア「ウエルシア小川町2号店」に急用ができる予感がします。

 

[shin73]

Math doesn't add up To meet up at Ogawa-machi at 10:00, let's leave Takasaka SA at 09:30. I'll try to be there by 09:00.
小川町の集合場所に 10:00 に着くためには高坂 SA を 09:30 に出ましょう！09:00 には SA に着くように頑張ります...

Oops. Apologies, maybe had one too many .. 9am it is!

Other points of interest in Saitama I am looking into, maybe for a future second tour if first meet up proves successful!!

-Nagatoro Asami Reizo (shaved ice. But LONG Queue...)
-Raiden Todoroki Bashi
-Mitsumine Shrine

 

[shin73]

Been considering alternatives for lunch around the proposed route.

Start point is Michino Eki Ogawa, assuming route 11 is the preferred route, I have plotted stops A and B, when we near Michino eki Chichibu, Chinbata (buta don) or Nigurumaya Dining (salisbury steak ハンバーグ) looks to be popular points of destination (that I have never been so don’t know if any good but had saved on my bucket list).

After that there are 2 choices 1) follow route 140 and head to Hanazono IC or 2) follow 299 and head for Hanno (and get back on Kanetsu at Tsurugashima IC).

Personally I am ok with just going with the flow and following destiny to wherever fate may take us, but just a thought so that we don’t starve to death on tour…

 

[virtualmacho]

Start point is Michino Eki Ogawa, assuming route 11 is the preferred route, I have plotted stops A and B, when we near Michino eki Chichibu, Chinbata (buta don) or Nigurumaya Dining (salisbury steak ハンバーグ) looks to be popular points of destination (that I have never been so don’t know if any good but had saved on my bucket list).

Thank you for the suggestions. I agree, ヤマメの里親水公園 should be a good place to rest because of its sizeable parking lot. HANA was already on my radar! For lunch, anything is ok, but we'd have to get out of the mountains and closer to Chichibu. Since the weather may not be ideal, that may be a good idea.
とにかく天候がイマイチな可能性が高いので、無理せず観光モードで行きたいと思います。

After that there are 2 choices 1) follow route 140 and head to Hanazono IC or 2) follow 299 and head for Hanno (and get back on Kanetsu at Tsurugashima IC).

Personally, I'd like to go north on R140 thru Nagatoro.
景色的には帰路は長瀞町ルートの方がよいのではと思います。

 

[shin73]

Sounds like a plan! Now all we need is just for the weather to clear up! Fingers crossed.

 

[virtualmacho]

Starting to look a bit better...

 

[virtualmacho]

Looking good !

 

[virtualmacho]

Updated Plan for the Kumagaya-Ogawa-Chichibu Line (埼玉県道11号 熊谷小川秩父線)

Date: Jun. 29, 2024 (sat)

1. 09:00-09:30 関越道 高坂SA (Takasaka SA on the Kan-Etsu Expressway) @shin73 @virtualmacho
2. 東松山 IC (Higashi Matsuyama IC)
3. 10:00-10:30 ウェルシア小川町2号店 (Drug Store Welcia on R254) @JaviLM ?
4. ヤマメの里親水公園 (Yamame-no Sato Park)
5. ジェラテリア HANA (Gelateria HANA)
6. 道の駅 ちちぶ (Michi-no Eki Chichibu)
7. 国道140号を方面、長瀞町を経由 (go north on R140 thru Nagatoro)
8. 花園 IC (Hanazono IC)

Everyone is welcome to join, just post in this thread and we can work out where to meet.
どなたでも参加大歓迎です！

 

[virtualmacho]

Weather is holding up. See y'all later!

 

[shin73]

Weather is holding up. See y'all later!

Gotta day that you chose the perfect day! On my way now, see ya later!

 

[Nick219]

Updated Plan for the Kumagaya-Ogawa-Chichibu Line (埼玉県道11号 熊谷小川秩父線)

View attachment 46179

Date: Jun. 29, 2024 (sat)

1. 09:00-09:30 関越道 高坂SA (Takasaka SA on the Kan-Etsu Expressway) @shin73 @virtualmacho
2. 東松山 IC (Higashi Matsuyama IC)
3. 10:00-10:30 ウェルシア小川町2号店 (Drug Store Welcia on R254) @JaviLM ?
4. ヤマメの里親水公園 (Yamame-no Sato Park)
5. ジェラテリア HANA (Gelateria HANA)
6. 道の駅 ちちぶ (Michi-no Eki Chichibu)
7. 国道140号を方面、長瀞町を経由 (go north on R140 thru Nagatoro)
8. 花園 IC (Hanazono IC)

Everyone is welcome to join, just post in this thread and we can work out where to meet.
どなたでも参加大歓迎です！

Hi, can I join you guys at around 10:00 at Welcia? Since my emira has not arrived yet, I will drive another.

 

[virtualmacho]

Hi, can I join you guys at around 10:00 at Welcia? Since my emira has not arrived yet, I will drive another.

Sure!

 

[shin73]

@virtualmacho I’m parked immediately where you enter Takasaka, black bimmer, should be able to find me easy.
@Nick219 look forward to meeting you later!