Japan National Route 8 Explained

Country:	JPN
Type:	National
Route:	8
Map Custom:	yes
Length Km:	574.1
Length Ref:	^[1]
Established:	1952
Direction A:	North
Direction B:	South
Previous Type:	Route
Previous Route:	7
Next Type:	Route
Next Route:	9

is a major highway in the Hokuriku and Kansai regions of central Japan. The 574.1adj=onNaNadj=on highway begins at an intersection with National Routes 7, 17, 49, 113, and 116 in Chūō-ku, Niigata. It travels southwest across central Honshu, connecting the prefecture capitals: Toyama, Kanazawa, Fukui, and Ōtsu. In Kyoto it travels concurrently with National Route 1 toward its endpoint at an intersection with National Routes 9, 24, and 367 in Shimogyō-ku, Kyoto.^{[2] [3]}

Route description

• Length: 574.1km (356.7miles)
• Origin: Chūō-ku, Niigata (originates at junction with Routes 7, 17, 49, 113 and 116)
• Terminus: Shimogyō-ku, Kyoto (ends at Junction with Routes 9, 24 and 367)
• Major cities: Sanjō, Nagaoka, Kashiwazaki, Joetsu, Itoigawa, Toyama, Takaoka, Kanazawa, Hakusan, Komatsu, Fukui, Tsuruga, Maibara, Hikone, Ōtsu

History

The origins of the road that is now National Route 8 can be traced back to the Hokurikudō, a road that was established after the Taika Reform to link Kyoto to the capitals of the region by that went by the same name.^[4]

The modern history of the highway saw its establishment by the Cabinet of Japan on 4 December 1952 as First Class National Highway 8 from Niigata to Kyoto. On 1 April 1965 it was re-designated as General National Highway 8. On 7–9 February 2018, heavy snowfall shut down the highway for over 60 hours in Fukui Prefecture before it could be removed.^[5]

Intersecting routes

• in Niigata Prefecture
  • Routes 7, 17, 18, 49, 113, 116, 148, 252, 253, 292, 350, 351, 352, 353, 403 and 460
• in Toyama Prefecture
  • Routes 41, 156, 160, 415, 470, 471 and 472
• in Ishikawa Prefecture
  • Routes 157, 159, 305, 360, 364 and 416
• in Fukui Prefecture
  • Routes 27, 158, 161, 305, 365, 416, 417 and 476
• in Shiga Prefecture
  • Routes 1, 21, 161, 303, 305, 306, 365, 421, 422 and 477
• in Kyoto Prefecture
  • Routes 9, 24 and 367

In popular culture

National Route 8 is the namesake of, a chain of ramen shops in the Hokuriku region.^[6]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 一般国道の路線別、都道府県別道路現況. Road statistics by General National Highway route and prefecture. ja. Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism. 19 February 2020.
2. Web site: ja:一般国道８号 . http://www.kkr.mlit.go.jp/road/time/r008a.html . Kinki Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism . 2010-11-27. ja.
3. Web site: ja:一般国道８号 . http://www.kkr.mlit.go.jp/road/time/r008b.html . Kinki Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism . 2010-11-27. ja.
4. Web site: 北陸道／ほくりくどう. ja. 30 January 2020.
5. News: 大雪で立ち往生、ようやく解消 福井の国道8号. Stuck with heavy snow, National Highway 8 is finally reopened in Fukui . ja. 9 February 2018. 11 December 2018.
6. Web site: Hachi-ban Ramen History. 30 January 2020.