is a
national highway in the
Japanese prefectures
Japan is divided into 47 prefectures (, ''todōfuken'', ), which rank immediately below the national government and form the country's first level of jurisdiction and administrative division. They include 43 prefectures proper (, ''ken''), two ...
of
Hokkaido
is Japan's second largest island and comprises the largest and northernmost prefecture, making up its own region. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaidō from Honshu; the two islands are connected by the undersea railway Seikan Tunnel.
The lar ...
and
Aomori. Route 338 stretches from
National Route 5 in
Hakodate, Hokkaido
is a city and port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture. As of July 31, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 279,851 with 143,221 households, and a population density of 412.83 ...
south across the
Tsugaru Strait
The is a strait between Honshu and Hokkaido in northern Japan connecting the Sea of Japan with the Pacific Ocean. It was named after the western part of Aomori Prefecture. The Seikan Tunnel passes under it at its narrowest point 12.1 miles (1 ...
by ferry to
Ōma, Aomori, around the western, southern, and eastern edges of the
Shimokita Peninsula and finally to
Oirase
is a town located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 25,149, and a population density of 350 persons per km², in 10,423 households. The total area of the town is .
Geography
Oirase is located on the eastern ...
.
Route description
Hakodate
National Route 338 begins at an intersection with
National Route 5 in central
Hakodate
is a city and port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture. As of July 31, 2011, the city has an estimated population of 279,851 with 143,221 households, and a population density of 412.8 ...
east of
Hakodate Station
is a railway station on the Hakodate Main Line in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan, operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido).
Lines
*South Hokkaido Railway Company Dōnan Isaribi Tetsudō Line (Normally ends at Goryōkaku, but trains ge ...
as part of an unsigned concurrency with
National Route 279. The highway travels southwest along city streets through the city, then curves to the northwest, and turns northeast towards the former site of the city's ferry terminal, which was moved to the northwest of
Hakodate Station
is a railway station on the Hakodate Main Line in Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan, operated by the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido).
Lines
*South Hokkaido Railway Company Dōnan Isaribi Tetsudō Line (Normally ends at Goryōkaku, but trains ge ...
. The highway's brief route in Hokkaido ends at the former terminal, which has since been converted into a retail area. Aside from the last of the highway near the ferry terminal, the highway also carries the Main Line of the
Hakodate City Tram in its median.
Aomori Prefecture
The highway is next carried south across the Tsugaru Strait via the
Tsugaru Kaikyō Ferry
The is a privately owned ferry service crossing the Tsugaru Strait, which separates Hokkaido from Honshu. The ferries run two routes: Hakodate to Aomori and Hakodate to Ōma.
Routes
Hakodate—Aomori
This route links the Port of Hakodate i ...
to Ōma on the northern tip of
Aomori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan in the Tōhoku region. The prefecture's capital, largest city, and namesake is the city of Aomori. Aomori is the northernmost prefecture on Japan's main island, Honshu, and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the eas ...
's
Shimokita Peninsula. From the route's northern terminus in Hakodate to Ōma, National Route 338 runs concurrent with National Route 279; however, in Ōma, National Route 279 leaves the concurrency, travelling southeast towards
Mutsu while National Route 338 heads south towards the village of
Sai. After passing through Sai, the highway enters the western edge of Mutsu and turns east towards the center of the city.
In Mutsu, national routes 279 and 338 briefly meet again, sharing a short concurrency. After leaving the concurrency, National Route 338 continues its path southeast across the peninsula while National Route 279 heads south towards
Noheji
is a town located in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. , the town had an estimated population of 12,956, and a population density of 168 persons per km2 in 6,466 households. The total area of the town is .
Geography
Noheji occupies the southeastern coa ...
at the southern base of the peninsula. National Route 338 parallels the Pacific coast for the rest of its route south through
Higashidōri
is a village located in Aomori, Japan. , the village had an estimated population of 5,913 in 2829 households, and a population density of 20 persons per km² . Its total area is .
Geography
Higashidōri occupies the northeastern coastline of S ...
,
Rokkasho, and
Misawa before terminating in Oirase.
History
National Route 338 was established by the
Cabinet of Japan in 1975 between Hakodate and Oirase which was then the town of
Shimoda, in Aomori.
Major intersections
See also
*
*
References
External links
*
{{National Routes of Japan, 338
338
Roads in Aomori Prefecture
Roads in Hokkaido