Shiga-Kusatsu Route (Shibu Pass)

Japan's highest national road, climbing through Shiga Kogen to the 2172m Shibu Pass

National Route 292 climbs from the Shiga Kogen resorts up to Shibu Pass at 2172m, the highest point on any Japanese national highway, near the Yokoteyama summit and the Nagano-Gunma border. It is a renowned alpine drive with spring snow walls and broad views over the Yoshigadaira marshes. Note the upper stretch toward Kusatsu past Mt Shirane is often restricted by volcanic activity, so the open and famous part is the Shiga Kogen to Shibu Pass section. Mind the volcanic no-stopping zones, dense fog, and the long winter closure.