Japan is a small island, but there are many beautiful nature spots outside of urban areas. There are many spots that we would like to recommend, but we have dedicatedly selected some of the best driving spots for foreigners to visit.

Here are 8 recommended driving spots in Japan

• Venus Line (Nagano Pref.)
• Yamanami Highway (Kumamoto and Oita Pref.)
• Shimanami Kaido (Hiroshima and Ehime Pref.)
• Mt. Fuji Skyline (Shizuoka Pref.)
• Road to Heaven (Hokkaido)
• Cherry Blossom and Rape Blossom Road (Akita Pref.)
• UFO Line (Kochi Pref.)
• Kouri Ohashi Bridge (Okinawa Pref.)

Venus Line (Nagano Pref.)

The Venus Line is one of Japan’s most scenic driving routes. It runs from Chino City in Nagano Prefecture to the Utsukushi-ga-hara Plateau in Ueda City, and is 76 km long, running through the Yatsugatake Chushin Kogen National Quasi-National Park, which is located almost in the center of Honshu, the main island of Japan. It runs through Tateshina Hot Springs, Shirakaba Lake, Kirigamine Plateau, and Utsukushi-ga-hara Plateau, which are famous tourist attractions in Nagano Prefecture. At Utsukushi-ga-hara Plateau, the highest point of the tour, you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the Alps in the distance, with the white snow-capped peaks in the distance on clear days. In July, the flowers of the Nikkou-kisuge, the symbol of the Venus Line, are at their best, and the lovely yellow flowers bloom all over the area, soothing visitors just by looking at them. There is also an art museum in Utsukushi-ga-hara Plateau, so stopping by and experiencing art is also an enjoyable experience.

Yamanami Highway (Kumamoto and Oita Pref.)

Yamanami Highway, the most scenic driving route in Kyushu, is a 50 km-long Prefectural Road 11 connecting Aso City, Kumamoto Prefecture, to Beppu City, Oita Prefecture. The majestic mountain ranges of the Kuju Mountain Range and the Aso Gogaku (Five Aso Mountains) provide an overwhelming sense of the beauty of nature on an overwhelming scale. You will never get bored as the scenery changes one after another, with spectacular views from the plateau, mountain passes, and gentle curves. The highest point, Makinoto Pass, offers a panoramic view from an elevation of 1, 330 meters, giving you a sense of openness. There are drive-ins and hot springs scattered along the road, so you can enjoy the drive while taking side trips. It is also recommended to enjoy highland gourmet foods that can only be tasted here.

Shimanami Kaido (Hiroshima and Ehime Pref.)

Shimanami Kaido is a driving route across bridges spanning the Seto Inland Sea, stretching 60 km from Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture to Imabari City, Ehime Prefecture. The sea, islands, and bridges create a spectacular view unique to Japan. Each of the islands along the bridge has its own unique character, so we recommend Mukojima for those who love history, Ikuchijima for those who want to try citrus gourmet food, and Omishima for those who want to visit power spots. The Shimanami Kaido can also be crossed by bicycle, so if you want to stop along the way and enjoy visiting various places, renting a bicycle may be another way to enjoy.

Mt. Fuji Skyline (Shizuoka Pref.)

Fuji Skyline is a free road connecting Fujinomiya City and Gotemba City in Shizuoka Prefecture. Fuji’s 5th station and is the highest point in Japan accessible by car. Because of its elevation of 2,400 meters, depending on the weather, you may be able to see a sea of clouds as you drive along the road, a fantastic sight that will leave you speechless. Furthermore, you can also look down on the Fuji 5 Lakes from the 5th station and enjoy a magnificent panorama. Depending on the weather, you may even see “Kagefuji,” the shadow of Mt. Fuji reflected in the clouds. Mt. Fuji, a symbol of Japan, up close and personal, making this one-of-a-kind road a popular driving spot for foreigners.

Road to Heaven (Hokkaido)

National Routes 244 and 334, which pass through Shiretoko Shari in Abashiri City, Hokkaido, have become known as “roads leading to heaven” due to the sight of the 28.1 km-long straight road that goes on forever, and have become increasingly popular driving spots in recent years. The road, which continues straight to the horizon, appears to be connected to the sky. Depending on the time of year, you can watch the sunset in the middle of the road, and from the observation deck you have a panoramic view of the ocean and fields, and you can even see drift ice!

Cherry Blossom and Rape Blossom Road (Akita Pref.)

The Cherry Blossom and Rape Blossom Road, located in Oogata-mura, Minami-Akita-gun, Akita Prefecture, is a spectacular driving spot where cherry blossoms and rape blossoms are in full bloom over a length of 11 km. The road is a beautiful stretch of straight road with yellow rape blossoms and pink cherry blossoms on both sides, reminding us of the arrival of spring in Japan. The best time to visit is from late April to early May. It is an impressive flower competition that can only be seen in Japan at this time of year. The “Cherry Blossom and Rape Blossom Festival” held in front of the Hotel Sanrural Oogata at the same time is bustling with various events.

UFO Line (Kochi Pref.)

The UFO Line is a mountain driving route that runs from Ino-cho, Agawa-gun, Kochi Prefecture, to Ishizuchi Mountain, the highest peak in western Japan, from the north and south. The route, which runs for about 27 km at elevations of 1,300 to 1,700 m, is popular for its thrilling feeling as if you are driving through the sky. In the magnificent nature of the Shikoku Mountains, there are many scenic spots that are said to be the best in Shikoku, and the drive is very exciting. In particular, the Nagao One Observatory on the Ishizuchi Skyline, which includes the UFO Line, is sure to overwhelm you with mountains as far as the eye can see. The sea of clouds in spring, the changing leaves in autumn, and the foggy ice in winter are all very attractive, and can be enjoyed in any season.

Kouri Ohashi Bridge (Okinawa Pref.)

The Kouri Ohashi Bridge is a 1960-meter-long bridge connecting Yagaji Island in Nago City to Kouri Island in Nakijin Village, and is a superb driving route over the emerald green sea. In front of the bridge is the Kouri Bridge South Viewing Point, which is a good place to take pictures before crossing the bridge. Immediately to the left after crossing the bridge is Kouri Beach with its pure white sandy beach, from which the view of the Kouri Ohashi Bridge is not to be missed. Kouri Island is approximately 8 km in circumference, and the Kouri Ocean Tower, a sightseeing spot, offers a panoramic view of the beautiful emerald green ocean and the Kouri Bridge, while the heart-shaped rock at Tinu Beach on the north side of the island is a popular tourist spot. There are two routes to cross to Yagaji Island from Okinawa Island: from the south across the Yagaji Ohashi Bridge and from the west across the Walumi Ohashi Bridge. If you’d like to go to Chura-umi Aquarium in the main island, we recommend you to cross the Walumi Ohashi as it is closer.

Japan is full of spectacular driving routes that can be enjoyed in any seasons.

So far, we have introduced 8 recommended driving spots in Japan. All of them are spectacular driving spots where you can enjoy the beautiful nature of Japan. Japan has 4 distinct seasons, and you can enjoy completely different scenery in the same place depending on the season, so please visit these places in different seasons and experience the beauty that only Japan can offer.