Venus Line
Chino (Tateshina) to Utsukushigahara Kogen · Nagano Prefecture
Distance27.7mi · 45 km
Drive time53 minon the road
DifficultyModerate
MountainMoorlandLakes
High plateau ridge run from Tateshina up to the Utsukushigahara grasslands at 2000m
The Venus Line links the Tateshina and Shirakaba highlands with the open Kirigamine and Utsukushigahara plateaus, climbing to around 1900 to 2000m with long sweeping curves rather than tight hairpins. It is one of Nagano's best known scenic drives, busy on summer weekends and famous for July day-lily meadows and October colour. Snow closes the higher sections from late November to spring. Mind the cyclists, the cold mountain fog that can drop visibility fast, and heavy holiday traffic.
Where it runs
Chino (Tateshina)Start · Nagano Prefecture
Utsukushigahara KogenEnd · Japan
Character
Corners90bends
Tightness4of 10
Max gradient9%≈ 1-in-11
Hairpins13tight bends
Climb1472 mtotal ascent
Summit1953 mhighest point · 6407 ft
SpringSummerAutumn
Elevation
1181 m rangeKnow before you go
- Sudden mountain fog
- Summer cyclists
- Holiday congestion
Sources
In these collections
Nearby roads
The closest great drives to Venus Line.
