The tea-house which features in the print of Toriimoto post-town (Sixty-nine views of the Kiso Kaido) by Hiroshige stood at the top of Surihari-toge until December 1991, when it was destroyed by fire. There is still a fine view of the north-eastern corner of the Omi plain to be enjoyed from the stone platform of the old tea-house as well as a final glimpse of Lake Biwa.
A quiet road descends from the pass, through a small village and, lower down the valley, gently terraced rice fields. The peace is shattered abruptly a hundred yards later as the old Nakasendo meets, once again, the Meishin Expressway. Virtually devoid of traffic, the old highway turns east to run parallel to the busy expressway for the next half-mile or so. At least travelers on the old route have the advantage of being able to stop for a drink at a sacred spring next to the road. A little under three miles after leaving the last post-town of Toriimoto, the valley now broadens to accommodate the post-town of Bamba.
