Walking in the Shadow of Tanigawa

This section of the Snow Country Trail follows the old Route 291.  In its heyday, this was one of the main trade routes from the east coast of Japan to the west coast.  Goods were transported over this trail for hundreds of years, making the grueling 3 day journey over the mountain pass.  In present day, it only transports the occasional hiker from Gunma over to Niigata.  I started this hike from the base of Tanigawadake and followed 291 as it traversed its flanks, slowly rising out of the valley.  The trail starts out wide and flat but quickly narrows into a single track.