Hakusan Shirakawa-go White is a tourist toll road in Japan

Hakusan Shirakawa-go White is a tourist toll road in Japan

Japan, asia

Length

33.3 km

Elevation

1,400 m

Difficulty

moderate

Best Season

Year-round

Okay, picture this: You're cruising through central Japan on the Hakusan Shirakawa-go White Road. Trust me, it's a visual feast, especially when autumn paints the mountains in fiery hues!

This toll road, once called Hakusan Super Rindo Forest Road, connects Hakusan City in Ishikawa with the charming Shirakawa-go in Gifu. Think winding roads, dramatic mountain vistas, panoramic viewpoints, and hiking trails that lead to stunning waterfalls. Summer's gorgeous with lush greenery, but autumn? That's when this road *really* shines.

It's about 33.3 km (20 miles) long, climbing to over 1400 meters. There are a few tunnels along the way. Keep an eye on your speedometer, because the limit's only 30 km/h. You're essentially driving through the Hakusan National Park alpine reserve, so soak it all in! Heads up: the Gifu side is super curvy with limited places to pull over. The road climbs quickly to a tunnel linking the prefectures.

You can only experience this road between early June and mid-November – weather permitting! From June to August, it's open from 7 AM to 6 PM, and from September to November, 8 AM to 5 PM.

Built in 1977, the whole drive takes about an hour. Keep in mind, it’s for cars only—no bikes or pedestrians allowed. Time to get that scenic drive in!

Where is it?

Hakusan Shirakawa-go White is a tourist toll road in Japan is located in Japan (asia). Coordinates: 35.5710, 137.5946

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Road Details

Country
Japan
Continent
asia
Length
33.3 km
Max Elevation
1,400 m
Difficulty
moderate
Coordinates
35.5710, 137.5946

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