Early Summer Drive Roads Recommendation in Japan

Driving in Japan from May to mid-June is one of the best times to go out, with dazzling fresh green mountains and very pleasant weather. It is the perfect time to enjoy the great outdoors with a camera in hand, and the colorful scenery is breathtaking!

Early Summer Drive  in Japan

This is a good season to visit as it is less crowded than mid summer. Some of Japan’s most magnificent scenery can only be experienced on a road trip. Why not visit some of the most spectacular drive roads throughout Japan, from North to South.

Yahikosan Skyline in Niigata 

Yahikosan Skyline, Prefectural Route 561 connecting Yahiko Village and Niigata City in Niigata Prefecture, is an excellent driving course to enjoy the view from Mt.Yahiko Summit Park, offering a panoramic view of the Sea of Japan and Sado Island.
It is also known as a spectacular spot for sunsets, and at night, beautiful night views and starry skies can be seen from the summit area.

A 13.7 km long driving course with a view from Mt. Yahiko along with the Echigo Nanaura Seaside Line, the road starts out with a series of hairpin turns, but as the elevation increases, the road becomes a scenic road with a view of the Sea of Japan, and you can enjoy the exhilarating feeling of riding alongside the blue sea.

Yahikosan Skyline runs near the ridge of Mt. Yahiko(634m), and visitors can enjoy the view from the top of the mountain while driving. Yahiko Shrine, which has long been worshipped at the foot of the mountain, and the ropeway that runs to the top of the mountain have been a tourist attraction.

Venus line in Nagano

The Venus Line (Chino City to Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture) is one of the most popular driving courses in Japan, running through the Tateshina Plateau and Kirigamine Mountains to the Utsukushi-ga-hara Plateau. In summer, as many as 200 kinds of highland plants are in full bloom, and in some places along the road, azaleas can be seen in mid-June and day lilies in July. There are also many walking trails scattered throughout the area, so it is recommended to stop the car and take a leisurely stroll around the area.

There is one place you cannot miss when driving along the Venus Line. It is the hairpin curve between the Kirigamine Plateau and Kurumayama Shoulder. This is the only place on the Venus Line where you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view from the car. Driving along the road, even those who do not have much time to look at the scenery will naturally see the surrounding mountains.
If the weather is fine, you can see Mt. Fuji, the Southern Alps, the Central Alps, the Northern Alps, and Mt.Mitake from this place.

Fuji Skyline in Shizuoka

Fuji skyline is officially called the “Omote-Fuji Circular Road.
The route can be divided into two main sections: the “circuit section” connecting Gotemba City and Fujinomiya City, and the “climbing section” connecting the second to fifth stations of Mt. Fuji Skyline allows visitors to drive to the fifth station at the Fujinomiya Exit, one of the entrances to the mountain, and is known as the highest point in Japan where visitors can drive their own cars to an elevation of approximately 2,400 meters.
The high altitude also makes it popular for visitors to often encounter a sea of clouds.
It has been selected as one of the 100 best roads in Japan.

Fuji Skyline can be entered either from Fujinomiya City or from Gotemba City. Fuji Nigome, which is the junction of the “touring section” and the “climbing section”.
The road on the Fujinomiya City side is relatively flat and easy to drive from Route 139 to the fifth station of Mt.Fuji.
The road from Route 246 to the fifth station of Mt. Fuji is 30 km in the direction of Gotemba City, and is also relatively easy to drive with few sharp curves.

Ise-Shima Skyline in Mie

The 16.3-km-long “sky driveway” connects the area near the Inner Shrine of Ise Jingu with the town of Toba.
The toll road “Ise-Shima Skyline” runs toward the 555-meter-high Mount Asakuma, allowing visitors to reach the summit at once. Asakuma is not very high, but the absence of high mountains in the surrounding area provides a panoramic view of Ise-Shima and Ise Bay from the observatory at the top of the mountain. Fuji can also be seen from the summit observatory.

At the observatory on the top of Mt. Asakuma, there is an “observatory footbath” where you can relax and enjoy the view of Ise Bay, and a nostalgic round postbox No. 1 “Postbox in the Sky,” which has been certified as a sacred place for sweethearts.

There is also a famous temple, Kongoshoji Temple, which protects the devil’s gate of Ise Jingu Shrine, and is famous for the poem, “If you come to Ise, you must put on Asakuma, if you do not put on Asakuma, you must go to Kata-mairi.

Sazanami Skyline in Hiroshima

Mt.Noro is an 839-meter-high mountain located in the Seto Inland Sea National Park in Kure City, Hiroshima Prefecture. The Sazanami Skyline is a winding road that runs from the coast of the Seto Inland Sea all the way up to the top of Mt. Noro. It is also called the Noro Mountain Skyline. The road is popular for day-trips and touring because of its proximity to urban areas, and can be enjoyed throughout the year, including cherry blossoms in spring, azaleas in May, and hydrangeas in July.

The road is steep and has a series of tight hairpin curves, but the many islands of the Seto Inland Sea can be seen through the trees. From the Hachimaki Observatory and the Kabutoiwa Observatory at the top of the mountain, you can see the Akinada Bridge, the Tobishima Sea Route, and Shikoku Island.

Your Road Trip Adventure

All of the driving routes are rich in nature and have a nostalgic atmosphere. There are many places throughout Japan where you can enjoy spectacular views by roadtrip. With Travellers Autobarn japan’s campervans and station wagons are the perfect companions for your adventure! Find your own favorite driving road, each with its own unique local scenic path, nurtured through the history of Japan. Under the blue sky, you will be able to feel the dazzling greenery of late spring and early summer.