The is a national expressway in

Japan Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asia, Asian mainland, it is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan and extends from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea ...

. It is owned and operated by

East Nippon Expressway Company The , abbreviated as , is one of the main operators of expressways and toll roads in Japan. It is headquartered in Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda, Tokyo. The company was established on October 1, 2005 as a result of the privatization of Japan Highway P ...

Naming

The course of the expressway takes it alongside the coastline of the

Sea of Japan The Sea of Japan is the marginal sea between the Japanese archipelago, Sakhalin, the Korean Peninsula, and the mainland of the Russian Far East. The Japanese archipelago separates the sea from the Pacific Ocean. Like the Mediterranean Sea, it ...

(Nihonkai) in the

Tōhoku region The , Northeast region, , or consists of the northeastern portion of Honshu, the largest island of Japan. This traditional region consists of six prefectures (): Akita, Aomori, Fukushima, Iwate, Miyagi, and Yamagata. Tōhoku retains ...

of Japan. The Nihonkai-Tōhoku Expressway is the operating name for the sections of the Nihonkai Engan Tōhoku Expressway that are operated by East Nippon Expressway Company. The Nihonkai Engan Tōhoku Expressway is an official designation consisting of several routes that link Niigata with

Aomori , officially Aomori City (, ), is the capital Cities of Japan, city of Aomori Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 264,945 in 136,781 households, and a population density of 321 people per squa ...

via Yamagata and Akita, reaching a total of approximately 322 km.

Overview

The first section of the expressway was opened to traffic in 2001. As of March 2008 the expressway incomplete in many areas. The next section is scheduled to open in 2009 (

Nakajō Interchange Nakajō (中城, 中条, 仲条, 仲城) is a Japanese surname. It can also refer to: People *, Japanese tanka poet *, Japanese sport shooter *, Japanese manga artist Places in Japan * Nakajō, Nagano * Nakajō, Niigata * Nakajō Station * Uon ...

to Arakawa Interchange) to coincide with the National Sports Festival which is planned to be held in Niigata that year. After this, all future sections will be built according to the New Direct Control System, whereby the burden for construction costs will be shared by the national and local governments and no tolls will be collected. Currently the section between Honjō Interchange and Iwaki Interchange operates according to this principle. The expressway is 4 lanes from Niigata-Chūō Junction to Toyosaka Service Area, and 2 lanes for all remaining sections. The route parallels the

Uetsu Main Line The is a railway line in the Tohoku and Chubu regions of Japan. Part of the East Japan Railway Company (JR East) system, it connects Niitsu Station in the city of Niigata, Niigata, Niigata and Akita Station in Akita, Akita, Akita. The name "Uet ...

East Japan Railway Company The is a major passenger railway company in Japan and the largest of the seven Japan Railways Group companies. The company name is officially abbreviated as JR-EAST or JR East in English, and as in Japanese. The company's headquarters are in ...

and National Route 7 for much of its length.

List of interchanges and features

* IC -

interchange Interchange may refer to: Transport * Interchange (road), a collection of ramps, exits, and entrances between two or more highways * Interchange (freight rail), the transfer of freight cars between railroad companies * Interchange station, a rai ...

, SIC - smart interchange, JCT - junction, SA - service area, PA -

parking area A parking lot or car park (British English), also known as a car lot, is a cleared area intended for parking vehicles. The term usually refers to an area dedicated only for parking, with a durable or semi-durable surface. In most jurisdic ...

, BS -

bus stop A bus stop is a place where Public transport bus service, buses stop for passengers to get on and off the bus. The construction of bus stops tends to reflect the level of usage, where stops at busy locations may have shelter (building), shelters ...

, TB -

toll gate Toll Gate or Tollgate may refer to: * Toll gate, a barrier across a toll road or toll bridge that is lifted when the toll is paid Entertainment * Tollgate (Hale single), "Tollgate" (Hale single) * ''The Toll-Gate'', a 1954 novel by Georgette Heye ...

, BR -

bridge A bridge is a structure built to Span (engineering), span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or railway) without blocking the path underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, whi ...

, TN -

tunnel A tunnel is an underground or undersea passageway. It is dug through surrounding soil, earth or rock, or laid under water, and is usually completely enclosed except for the two portals common at each end, though there may be access and ve ...

Niigata section

Hokuriku Expressway The , (abbreviated as , is a 4-laned national Expressways of Japan, expressway in Japan. It is owned and managed by East Nippon Expressway Company and Central Nippon Expressway Company. Overview The first section was opened in 1972 by Japan ...

, - !style="background-color: #BFB;", (42) , Niigata-Chūō JCT , Ban-etsu Expressway , style="text-align: center;", 0.0 , style="text-align: center;", 67.5 , style="text-align: center;", , , rowspan="4" style="text-align: center;",

Kōnan-ku, Niigata is one of the eight Wards of Japan, wards of Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, in the Hokuriku region of Japan. , the ward had an estimated population of 68,413 in 27,027 households and a population density of 913 persons per km². The total ar ...

, - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 1 3, Niigata-Kameda IC , National Route 49 , style="text-align: center;", 3.2 , style="text-align: center;", 64.3 , style="text-align: center;", , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 1-1/BS , Niigata-Higashi SIC/ Nishino Bus Stop , Pref. Route 4 (Niigata Port Yokogo Route) , style="text-align: center;", 7.4 , style="text-align: center;", 60.1 , style="text-align: center;", ○ , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 2 4, Niigata Airport IC , Pref. Route 16 (Niigata Kameda Uchino Route) , style="text-align: center;", 9.2 , style="text-align: center;", 58.3 , style="text-align: center;", , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 2-1/SA , Toyosaka SA/SIC , Pref. Route 27 (Niigata Yasuda Route) , style="text-align: center;", 11.7 , style="text-align: center;", 55.8 , style="text-align: center;", , SIC: Nakajō-bound exit, Niigata-bound entrance only , rowspan="3" style="text-align: center;",

Kita-ku, Niigata is one of the eight Wards of Japan, wards of Niigata City, Niigata Prefecture, in the Hokuriku region of Japan. , the ward had an estimated population of 74,559 in households and a population density of 690 persons per km². The total area of ...

, - !style="background-color: #BFB;", BS , Kuzutsuka Bus Stop , , style="text-align: center;", 16.6 , style="text-align: center;", 50.9 , style="text-align: center;", ○ , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 3 , Toyosaka-
Niigatahigashikō IC , Pref. Route 46 (Niigata Chūō Kanjō Route) , style="text-align: center;", 18.3 , style="text-align: center;", 49.2 , style="text-align: center;", , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 4 , Seirō-Shibata IC , National Route 7 ( Niigata Bypass) , style="text-align: center;", 25.7 , style="text-align: center;", 41.8 , style="text-align: center;", ○ , , rowspan="1" style="text-align: center;", Seirō , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", BS , Kajikawa-Shiunji Bus Stop , , style="text-align: center;", 31.6 , style="text-align: center;", 35.9 , style="text-align: center;", ○ , , rowspan="2" style="text-align: center;", Shibata , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", , Emergency Exit , , style="text-align: center;", ↓ , style="text-align: center;", ↑ , style="text-align: center;", , style="background-color: #d3d3d3", Access for Shibata Hospital
Authorized vehicles only , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 5 , Nakajō IC , Pref. Route 591 (Nakajō Inter Route) , style="text-align: center;", 36.9 , style="text-align: center;", 30.6 , style="text-align: center;", , , rowspan="3" style="text-align: center;", Tainai , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", TB , Nakajō Toll Gate , , style="text-align: center;", 37.0 , style="text-align: center;", 30.5 , style="text-align: center;", , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", BS , Tainai Bus Stop , , style="text-align: center;", 41.4 , style="text-align: center;", 26.1 , style="text-align: center;", ○ , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 6 , Arakawa-Tainai IC , National Route 113 , style="text-align: center;", 46.6 , style="text-align: center;", 20.9 , style="text-align: center;", , , rowspan="7" style="text-align: center;", Murakami , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", PA/BS , Arakawa PA/BS , , style="text-align: center;", 49.1 , style="text-align: center;", 18.4 , style="text-align: center;", X , Bus Stop closed , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 7 , Kamihayashi-Iwafunekō IC , , style="text-align: center;", 53.7 , style="text-align: center;", 13.8 , style="text-align: center;", , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 8 , Murakami-Senamionsen IC , Pref. Route 286 (Iwafune Port Route)
Pref. Route 531 (Murakami Kamihayashi Route) , style="text-align: center;", 57.7 , style="text-align: center;", 9.8 , style="text-align: center;", , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 9 , , Murakami-Saberi IC , , Pref. Route 207 (Ōkurida Murakami Route) , style="text-align: center;", 61.4 , style="text-align: center;", 6.1 , style="text-align: center;", , style="background-color: #ffdddd", Asahi-bound exit, Murakami-bound entrance only , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 10 , , Asahi-Miomote IC , , Pref. Route 349 (Tsuruoka Murakami Route) , style="text-align: center;", 63.7 , style="text-align: center;", 4.2 , style="text-align: center;", , style="background-color: #ffdddd", Asahi-bound exit, Murakami-bound entrance only , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 11 , , Asahi-Mahoroba IC , , Pref. Route 208 (Koage Sarusawa Route) , style="text-align: center;", 67.5 , style="text-align: center;", 0 , style="text-align: center;", , , , -

Yamagata section

Tsuruoka is a Cities of Japan, city in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. , the city had an estimated population of 125,389 in 49,024 households, and a population density of 95.74 persons per km2. The total area of the city is . Tsuruoka is the biggest city in ...

, - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 14 , Iragawa IC , Pref. Route 61 (Sugenodai Katanorizawa Route) , style="text-align: center;", 112.1 , , , style="background:#ffdddd;", Atsumi-bound exit, Tsuruoka-bound entrance only , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 15 , Sanze IC , , style="text-align: center;", 116.9 , , , style="background:#ffdddd;", Atsumi-bound exit, Tsuruoka-bound entrance only , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", PA , Yabiki PA , , style="text-align: center;", 121.5
121.6 , , , style="background:#ffdddd;", Tsuruoka-bound
Atsumi-bound
Ordinary cars only , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 16 , Tsuruoka-nishi IC , National Route 7 , style="text-align: center;", 125.4 , , , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 17 , Tsuruoka JCT , Yamagata Expressway , style="text-align: center;", 130.1 , , , Atsumi ←→ Yamagata Expwy: No access , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 18 , Shōnai Airport IC , Pref. Route 33 (Shōnai Airport Tachikawa Route) – Shonai Airport , style="text-align: center;", 138.8 , style="text-align: center;", , style="text-align: center;", , , rowspan="4" style="text-align: center;", Sakata , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 19 , Sakata IC/Toll Gate , National Route 7
Pref. Route 40 (Sakata Matsuyama Route) , style="text-align: center;", 144.9 , style="text-align: center;", , style="text-align: center;", , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 19-1 , Sakata-chuo IC , National Route 47 , style="text-align: center;", 149.7 , style="text-align: center;", , style="text-align: center;", , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 20 , Sakata-Minato IC , Pref. Route 59 (Sakata Yahata Route) , style="text-align: center;", 156.4 , style="text-align: center;", , style="text-align: center;", , , - !style="background-color:#ffdead;", , style="background-color:#ffdead;", Yuza-Hiko IC , style="background-color:#ffdead;", National Route 7 , style="text-align: center; background-color:#ffdead;", , style="text-align: center; background-color:#ffdead;", , style="text-align: center; background-color:#ffdead;", , style="background-color:#ffdead;", Planned , rowspan="3" style="text-align: center;", Yuza , - !style="background-color:#ffdead;", , style="background-color:#ffdead;", Yuza-Jurizuka IC , style="background-color:#ffdead;", National Route 7 , style="text-align: center; background-color:#ffdead;", , style="text-align: center; background-color:#ffdead;", , style="text-align: center; background-color:#ffdead;", , style="background-color:#ffdead;", Planned , - !style="background-color: #ffdead;", , style="background-color:#ffdead;", Yuza-Chokai IC , style="background-color:#ffdead;", National Route 345 , style="text-align: center; background-color:#ffdead;", , style="text-align: center; background-color:#ffdead;", , style="text-align: center; background-color:#ffdead;", , style="background-color:#ffdead;", Planned , -

Akita section

{, class="wikitable" , - !style="border-bottom:3px solid green;", No. !style="border-bottom:3px solid green;", Name !style="border-bottom:3px solid green;", Connections !style="border-bottom:3px solid green;", Dist. from
Origin !style="border-bottom:3px solid green;", Dist. from
Terminus !style="border-bottom:3px solid green;", Bus Stop !style="border-bottom:3px solid green;", Notes !style="border-bottom:3px solid green;", Location
(all in Akita) , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 11 , Kisakata IC , Pref. Route 58 (Kisakata Yashima Route) , style="text-align: center;, 0.0 , style="text-align: center;, 64.5 , style="text-align: center;, , , rowspan="4" style="text-align: center;", Nikaho , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 12 , Konoura IC , National Route 7 , style="text-align: center;", 6.8 , style="text-align: center;", 57.7 , , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 13 , Nikaho IC , National Route 7 , style="text-align: center;", 13.7 , style="text-align: center;", 50.8 , , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", , style="background-color:#CCC;", (Ryōzenji temporary IC) , style="background-color:#CCC;", , style="text-align: center;background-color:#CCC;", 15.0 , style="text-align: center;background-color:#CCC;", 49.5 , style="background-color:#CCC;", , style="background-color:#CCC;", Abolished on 27 October 2012 , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", PA , Nishime PA , , style="text-align: center;", 20.0 , style="text-align: center;", 44.5 , style="text-align: center;", , , rowspan="6" style="text-align: center;",

Yurihonjō is a Cities of Japan, city located in Akita Prefecture, Japan. , the city has an estimated population of 72,550 in 30,750 households, and a population density of . The total area of the city is . Geography Yurihonjō is located in southwest ...

, - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 14 , Honjō IC , National Route 107 , style="text-align: center;", 26.2 , style="text-align: center;", 38.3 , style="text-align: center;", , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 14-1 , Ōuchi JCT , National Route 105 , style="text-align: center;", 35.4 , style="text-align: center;", 29.1 , style="text-align: center;", , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 14-2 , Matsugasaki-Kameda IC , , style="text-align: center;", 40.3 , style="text-align: center;", 22.2 , style="text-align: center;", , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", TN , Futago Tunnel , , style="text-align: center;", ↓ , style="text-align: center;", ↑ , style="text-align: center;", , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 15 , Iwaki IC , Pref. Route 44 (Yūwa Iwaki Route) , style="text-align: center;", 45.8 , style="text-align: center;", 16.7 , style="text-align: center;", , , - !style="background-color: #ffdead;", , style="background-color:#ffdead;", Yūwa PA , style="background-color:#ffdead;", , style="text-align: center; background-color:#ffdead;", , style="text-align: center; background-color:#ffdead;", , style="text-align: center; background-color:#ffdead;", , style="background-color:#ffdead;", Open in 2020 , rowspan="4" style="text-align: center;", Akita , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", TB , Akita Airport Toll Gate , , style="text-align: center;", 59.7 , style="text-align: center;", 2.8 , style="text-align: center;", , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 16 , Akita Airport IC , Pref. Route 61 (Akita Goshono Yūwa Route) , style="text-align: center;", 60.1 , style="text-align: center;", 2.4 , style="text-align: center;", , , - !style="background-color: #BFB;", 5-1 , Kawabe JCT , JP Expressway E7

Akita Expressway , style="text-align: center;", 64.5 , style="text-align: center;", 0.0 , style="text-align: center;", ,

References

External links

East Nippon Expressway Company
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nihonkai-Tohoku Expressway Expressways in Japan Proposed roads in Japan Roads in Akita Prefecture Roads in Niigata Prefecture Roads in Yamagata Prefecture 2001 establishments in Japan