Dodaira 堂平山　Tenmondai 天文台

Rumors, lies fill void left by police in Furlong case

It is one of the more ugly tasks in journalism: trying to extract a quote from a bereaved family after a violent death. By the time I called Nicola Furlong's mother on May 25, she had learned that her 21-year-old daughter had been sexually assaulted and probably throttled by a stranger in a city 10,000 km away. Her voice was weary but polite. "Let […]

Domestic output at high risk: Toyoda

Unless competitive barriers such as the strong yen and high corporate tax are eased as soon as possible, the nation's automakers may not be able to keep building cars in Japan, newly appointed Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association Chairman Akio Toyoda said Monday. "It is not just about exchange rates, but if we continue to face these critical […]

Osaka: What do you think of Mayor Toru Hashimoto's latest crackdowns on political activities by Osaka employees — and on those city workers with tattoos?

Kim Mangialaschi, 47English teacher (American)It's ironic that he's cracking down on tattoos when a lot of his supporters probably have them! Who cares if people have tats? I guess he could refuse to hire new workers with tattoos if he wanted, but those already with them should not be punished. He should focus on more important business. Chie Wasa, […]

Moms here also face custody torment

As Japan's ratification of an international treaty that helps settle international child custody disputes awaits Diet approval, some mothers are dealing with the distress of their non-Japanese spouses taking their children abroad at the last minute. These women face difficulties in enlisting wide support, as the issue of "parental abductions" […]

Fukui governor asks why Oi reactors should be restarted

Fukui Gov. Issei Nishikawa on Monday asked Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda to directly explain why two idled reactors at Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Oi nuclear plant in the prefecture should be restarted. "It will lead to creating a sense of security among the public if the prime minister directly declares to citizens that the reactivation (of the re […]

Dodaira 堂平山　Tenmondai 天文台

Posted on February 19, 2012 by dannycycle

Mannequins in battle fatigues next to an American flag on Rt 172 heading to Shiraishi Toge

Last week I talked to this guy while I was on my ride in Ranzan and he told me that many cyclists head up to a mountain in Chichibu called Dodaira which has an observatory at the top. I did some googling and found that it is a place visited by cyclists on a regular basis. I decided to give it a try despite my poor pedigree for climbing. I ended up riding more than a 100 km combining the Kumagaya and Ranzan rides with the jaunt up the mountain. From Higashi Matsuyama I took 345 and 27 to the Arakawa cycling road. They are boring but quick and manageable roads, however I prefer passing through Hyakuana and Hakocho to get back to the cycling road because there is far less traffic and there are interesting sites to see.

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Mt. Asama in the distance

The observatory at the peak

One of the roads at Shiraishi Toge was snowed in. 172 was a little icy in some spots, but didn't scare off any cyclists. The Tenmondai road from Shiraishi Toge had many icy patches. Be careful up there.