A toll road which runs along Mount Ikoma on the border between Osaka and Nara prefecture. The road is about 20 kilometers with several night view spots, and some argue that this may be the best or second best night view drive in the country.

You can enjoy the view of both Osaka prefecture and Nara prefecture, especially from the “Panorama Parking Lot” and “Kane no Naru Tenboudai” (translated to: observatory with a tolling bell). A night view with the endless amount of lights continuing towards Osaka, is similar to the one seen from the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles.

To get to the Kane no Nauru Tenbuodai, you need to climb a hill and stairs from the parking lot. It takes about 10 minutes to the observatory and back.

The only way to get here is by car. If you are taking a taxi from Ikomae Station on the Kintetsu transit line, it is about 27 kilometers if you stop at both the “Panorama Parking Lot” and “Kane no Naru Tenbodai.” The taxi fee is about 10,000 yen, plus 2,000 yen for toll. To have the taxi wait for you while you enjoy the view is about 1,500 yen for 30 minutes. The total is approximately 13,500 yen. Please note that a 20% late-night rate will be added after 10 PM.