Tsuetsuki Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,247 meters, located on the border between Ina City and Chino City in Nagano Prefecture. It is recognized as one of the 100 Famous Mountain Passes of Japan.
Since ancient times, the pass has served as an important route through the mountains. The ancient Tosan-do, the historic Tsuetsuki Kaido, and later National Route 256 all passed through the area. Today, National Route 152 crosses the pass.
The surrounding area is known as Haregamine and lies at the northern end of the Southern Alps, also called the Akaishi Mountains. On the Ina side, a gentle road follows the Fujisawa River, while the Chino side forms a steep fault escarpment because the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line passes through the area.
To the southwest, Mount Moriya rises above the landscape. Regarded as the sacred mountain of Suwa Taisha, it adds a strong spiritual dimension to the magnificent mountain scenery.
The name Tsuetsuki Pass is traditionally said to come from travelers who once climbed the steep road while supporting themselves with walking staffs.
According to tradition, after reaching the summit, travelers burned their used staffs as an offering. This custom is said to have continued until around the end of the Taisho period.
Another tradition holds that the name is connected with a place where a deity struck the ground with a staff when descending from heaven. This story reflects the long-standing spiritual character of the mountain pass.
Since antiquity, the Tosan-do route crossed the pass, connecting Ina District with Suwa District. During the Warring States period, Tsuetsuki Pass also had military importance.
In 1542, during the conflict between Takeda Shingen and Suwa Yorishige, it is said that Takato Yoritsugu, who supported Shingen, crossed the pass and advanced into the Suwa area.
During the Edo period, the route became known as the Tsuetsuki Kaido or Fujisawa Kaido. Packhorse traders known as chūma traveled the road carrying salt, tea, fish, and other goods from the direction of Kai toward the Ina Valley.
The road was also used by pilgrims traveling toward Akibayama Hongu Akibajinja in present-day Shizuoka Prefecture. Thus, Tsuetsuki Pass served not only as a commercial route but also as a path of religious pilgrimage.
With the development of modern transportation after the Meiji period, the old mountain route temporarily declined in importance. Interest in the pass returned after a motor road was opened in 1933.
After World War II, Japan National Railways operated bonnet buses through the area. Mountaineers heading for Mount Moriya and Mount Nyukasa, as well as visitors traveling to see the cherry blossoms at Takato Castle Ruins Park, began using the pass.
Tsuetsuki Pass gradually became established as a scenic destination for visitors exploring the mountains of Shinshu.
Near the summit stands the Tsuetsuki Pass Teahouse in Miyagawa, Chino City. Built in 1984, the two-story steel-framed building has a free observation deck on the second floor.
From the observation deck, visitors can look across the urban area of Chino City and Lake Suwa. On clear days, the panorama extends to the Yatsugatake Mountains, Kirigamine, Mount Utsukushigahara, and even the distant Northern Alps.
The scenery becomes particularly atmospheric in the late afternoon. As the sun sets behind the Hida Mountains, the evening light can turn Lake Suwa and the Yatsugatake range shades of red, creating a dramatic mountain panorama.
This spectacular view is counted among the Three Great Scenic Views of Shinshu and is one of the main reasons travelers visit Tsuetsuki Pass.
The area around the pass contains historic sites that recall the days when travelers and packhorse traders crossed the mountains. Among them are the remains of Jazanyama, a medieval mountain castle, and the former site of a honjin, the principal lodging facility for feudal lords and other important travelers.
There is also a local story connected with Sakamoto Yosen, who developed irrigation channels along the foothills of the Yatsugatake Mountains. According to the story, he used the light of lanterns placed at Tsuetsuki Pass as a distant reference point while carrying out his surveying work.
Such stories reveal how closely the mountain pass was connected with the everyday lives and livelihoods of the people who lived in the surrounding valleys.
By public transportation, Tsuetsuki Pass is approximately 30 minutes by taxi from JR Chino Station on the JR Chuo Main Line. In spring, JR Bus Kanto operates a seasonal service to the Moriya Tozanguchi bus stop.
By car, the pass is approximately 30 minutes from the Suwa Interchange on the Chuo Expressway. A parking area is available near the pass with space for approximately 20 regular vehicles.
Tsuetsuki Pass has also appeared in works of literature and popular culture. In “Noto Densetsu” by novelist Seicho Matsumoto, the pass serves as an important setting during the climax of the story.
The popular manga and anime series Yuru Camp also features Tsuetsuki Pass. In one scene, the main characters visit the observation deck and take photographs with their smartphones before sending the images to a friend.
Through such appearances, the mountain pass continues to be recognized not only as a historic road but also as a memorable contemporary destination.
Tsuetsuki Pass brings together mountain scenery, history, religion, transportation, and local stories in a single highland landscape. For centuries, travelers have crossed this pass for trade, pilgrimage, military campaigns, and everyday journeys.
Today, the historic significance of the route is complemented by its spectacular views. From the observation deck, visitors can take in Lake Suwa and the surrounding mountain ranges, while the changing light of the seasons creates a different atmosphere throughout the year.
Standing at Tsuetsuki Pass and looking across the mountains of Shinshu offers a chance to imagine the generations of travelers who once climbed the same slopes with walking staffs, carrying goods, seeking sacred places, or simply making their way from one valley to another.