Kuragare Touge
暗峠（くらがりとうげ）is a historic mountain pass on the border between Nara Prefecture and Osaka Prefecture, located on the old Hirano-kaidō route. It is well-known among cyclists for its extremely steep gradients and for its unusual stone-paved road surface on the Nara side.
The name Kuragare Toge directly translates to “Dark Pass”. Travelers in the Edo period and earlier often described it as dark, damp, and enclosed, especially compared to the sunnier ridgelines nearby.
The pass reaches an elevation of around 455 m, but the difficulty comes not from its height, but from a short, sustained series of steep sections—many above 20%—mixed with narrow residential lanes and rough historic paving stones. Despite this, it remains a popular challenge climb because it is easily accessible from both Nara City and Osaka City.
Kuragari Pass is also one of Japan’s officially designated “historic roads” (歴史の道), with several old signposts and roadside statues preserved along the route.
The Route
The route runs between Higashi Osaka on the West Side and Ikoma in Nara on the east side.
The route averages over 20% climbing and gets as high as 33% in places.
Things to do and see
While the route itself is the main “attaction”,
Summit marker
A simple sign marking the prefectural border and highest point of the pass.
Old roadside statues (Jizō)
Several small Buddhist statues stand along the route, reflecting the road’s role as an old pilgrimage and trade path.
Ishidatami paving
The historic stone paving on the Nara side is rare in Kansai and one of the main reasons the pass is protected as a cultural asset.
Osaka city view
A clear view over Osaka urban area from near the top on the Osaka side.
Hiraoka Shrine
Located near the Osaka approach, a pleasant stop before or after climbing.
Ikoma area cafés
Small local cafés and rest spots can be found near Higashi-Ikoma Station, useful before tackling the climb.
Getting there and away
Kuragare Touge is accessible by trains on both side
Osaka Side (Higashi Osaka)
From Central Osaka, it’s only a 10km ride to the base of Kuragare Pass, but Hiraoka Station on the Kintetsu Nara Line is right at the base of the pass.
Nara Side (Ikoma)
The base of the climb is right at Minami Ikoma Station (Kintetsu Ikoma Line) which has frequent service and is a change back to Osaka
