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## Northern Japan: Hokkaido’s Untamed Landscapes and Snowy Road Trips
### The Raw Splendor of Hokkaido
This northernmost island showcases a 700-kilometer coastal route connecting remote settlements, passing through ecological treasures and volcanic calderas. Snowfall morphs the landscape into an icy paradise, though motorists should heed challenging terrain. https://detourjapan.com/
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## Central Honshu: Mountain Passes and Traditional Journeys
### The Switchback Highway: A Motorist’s Playground
This iconic toll path boasts 68 hairpin bends with breathtaking views of Mount Fuji. Unlike race tracks, it focuses on landscape appreciation over racing.
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## Shikoku: Coastal Wonders and Archipelago Exploration
### The Seto Bridge Trail
Connecting mainland Japan with its southern neighbor via multiple architectural marvels, this 70km route delivers road trippers uninterrupted views of turquoise seas accentuated through surreal temples like the Italian-inspired sanctuary.
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## Urban Adventures: Concrete Jungles
### Daikoku PA
Below the metropolitan waterfront, this iconic gathering place welcomes tuned machines ranging from vintage Skylines to modern hypercars, bathed in urban glow.
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## Distinctive Encounters
### Musical Highways
These creative pathways convert wheel friction into musical compositions when driven at specific speeds. The Shizuoka sound path renders folk songs, transforming ordinary drives into audiovisual experiences.
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### Touge Culture
These winding mountain roads epitomize Japan’s vehicular culture, commemorated in initial D manga. Famous trails like Nagano’s mountain passes draw performance drivers year-round.
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## Practical Tips
### Climate Factors
Winter tires are essential for arctic conditions, while summer typhoons demand flexible planning. The Toyama mountain pass operates during melting season, producing impressive icy canyons.
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### Road Manners
Cultural awareness involves quiet driving, patient overtaking, and respecting Japan’s intricate highway payment network. Kei automobiles handle narrow streets better than larger models.