When I first moved here, I was shocked by the Niigata Bypass, which Niigata is proud to be known for throughout the country.

Bypass roads are built to bypass congested sections of urban areas. In addition to National Route 8 Niigata Bypass, which runs through the centre of Niigata City, there are three bypasses that function as a single route: National Route 7 Shinshin Bypass, which leads north to Shinbata City, and National Route 116 Niigata Nishi Bypass, which extends westwards.

This bypass, however, has more than two lanes in each direction on all sides. And it is a continuous multi-level intersection, so there are no intersections or traffic lights at all. The bypass is accessed via an interchange. The speed limit is also 70-80 km/h.

It is no longer a motorway. And yet it is free!

The first time I used this bypass, I remember thinking, "What? I got on the wrong motorway", and when I found out it was free, I remember being surprised and thinking, "Is this the German Autobahn?".

Anyway, this bypass is large in scale. Even if you live in the suburbs, you have good access to the city and it is so much quicker to take the bypass than a toll motorway on the same section! It has become a major traffic artery that is indispensable for daily life.

Incidentally, three points from this bypass were ranked among the top 10 in terms of general road traffic in the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's 2015 National Survey of Road and Street Traffic Conditions! It is no exaggeration to say that this is indeed "Japan's leading general road"! It may be.