Japan National Route 8

National Route 8 (国道8号) is a major highway in the Hokuriku and Kansai regions of central Japan. The 574.1 km 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.

Route description

 * Length: 574.1 km
 * 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.

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.

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 Hachi-ban Ramen, a chain of ramen shops in the Hokuriku region.