Jukkoku Pass

This mountain pass is 1,351 meters in height and is located between Ueno Village, Tano County in Gunma Prefecture and Sakuho Town, Minamisaku County in Nagano Prefecture. This name of the pass originates from a long time ago when 1,500 kilograms (Jikkoku) of rice had to be carried every day from the Shinshu region to the west of Joshu region where rice could not be harvested. In addition to rice, miso paste and soy sauce from the Shinshu region and coal from the Shinshu region was transported. The folk song, “Jikkoku-Mago-Uta”, sung by the horsemen is passed down to this day. At the Jikkoku Pass, there are car parks, toilets, and a tower observatory with a magnificent view, that can be entered freely. Please be aware that the mountain pass is closed during winter.