Kameishi Pass

Overview

Kameishi Pass is a Category 2 climb in Japan, running 6.5 km from the coast to its summit. It starts at sea level and tops out at 451 m, giving a net elevation gain of 451 m across the ascent. The average gradient sits at 6.89%, which places it firmly in sustained-effort territory rather than a short punch.

The gap between the numbers is where this climb bites. The net elevation gain is 451 m, but the total ascent is 584 m — a difference of 133 m spent climbing then giving back before climbing again. That undulation means the road is not a clean ramp; you pay for 584 m of vertical while only netting 451 m. Every metre lost to a descent has to be re-earned, so the felt effort runs higher than the average gradient suggests.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 6.89% average is a blend, not a constant. With 584 m of total ascent packed into 6.5 km and a maximum pitch of 25.7%, the steep sections are far harsher than the average, offset by flatter and downhill stretches that pull the mean down. Read the average as a budget, not a promise.

• Flatter or brief recovery sections where the road eases and even tips downhill, accounting for the 133 m gap between net gain and total ascent.
• Repeated short climbs stacked back to back, each one clawing back elevation surrendered on the preceding dip.
• The steepest ramp at 25.7% — a wall that will spike your effort well above anything the average prepares you for.

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chasing even speed is a trap: you will overspend on every steep ramp and coast the flats. Pace to even effort instead, holding a steady sustainable power output through the pitches and letting your speed swing with the terrain. Let the flatter and downhill sections be genuine recovery rather than places to push.

Because the road gives back 133 m, resist the urge to hammer each dip. Know your ceiling before you start — run the numbers through the FTP estimator and set a target you can defend all the way to 451 m.

Gearing

The 25.7% maximum gradient governs your setup. That is steep enough to stall a standard chainset, so bring a compact or sub-compact crank paired with a wide-range cassette — think 34×32 or 34×34 to keep the pedals turning on the wall. Check your drivetrain before the ride: confirm the cassette fits and shifts cleanly across its full range, because you do not want to discover you are one sprocket short halfway up a 25.7% pitch.

Summary

• Length: 6.5 km
• Average gradient: 6.89%
• Maximum gradient: 25.7%
• Net elevation gain: 451 m
• Total ascent: 584 m
• Category: 2

Kameishi Pass rewards riders who respect the undulation. Ride to effort, gear for the 25.7% ramp, and treat the 584 m of total ascent — not the 451 m net — as the real workload.