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## Northern Japan: Hokkaido’s Untamed Landscapes and Snowy Road Trips
### The Unspoiled Charm of Japan’s Northern Frontier
This northernmost island features a panoramic drive connecting coastal villages, cutting across protected natural reserves and volcanic calderas. Winter transforms the landscape into an icy paradise, though motorists should heed challenging terrain. https://detourjapan.com/
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## Central Honshu: Mountain Passes and Cultural Trails
### The Hakone Turnpike: A Motorist’s Playground
This iconic toll path features dozens of sharp curves with stunning panoramas of Japan’s iconic peak. Unlike traditional circuits, it emphasizes visual pleasure over racing.
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## Shikoku: Coastal Wonders and Inter-Island Travel
### Shimanami Kaidō
Joining mainland Japan with its southern neighbor via multiple architectural marvels, this scenic corridor delivers road trippers uninterrupted views of turquoise seas accentuated through unique shrines like Kōsan-ji’s marble marvel.
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## Urban Adventures: Concrete Jungles
### The Underground Car Haven
Below Tokyo Bay, this iconic gathering place welcomes customized cars ranging from classic Nissans to modern hypercars, illuminated by neon lights.
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## Distinctive Encounters
### Singing Asphalt
These engineered roads convert wheel friction into musical compositions when driven at exact velocities. The Fuji melody stretch plays local ballads, converting ordinary drives into multisensory adventures.
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### Touge Culture
These winding mountain roads epitomize Japan’s vehicular culture, celebrated in car culture media. Iconic routes like Nagano’s mountain passes bring in drifters year-round.
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## Essential Advice
### Seasonal Challenges
Studded wheels are essential for arctic conditions, while rainy season downpours require flexible planning. The Toyama mountain pass only opens during spring thaw, producing 15-meter white walls.
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### Road Manners
Considerate conduct entails rarely honking, careful passing, and acknowledging Japan’s ETC card requirements. Compact vehicles manage narrow streets more effectively than full-size cars.