Japan National Route 17, National highway in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, Japan.
National Route 17 begins in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo and runs across paved lanes through four prefectures to Niigata in the north. It connects urban areas with mountain passes and wide river valleys along its entire length.
The present route partly follows the course of old trade roads from the Edo period that connected the capital and provinces. After World War II, it was expanded into a modern highway to accommodate growing traffic.
The roadway passes through several temple communities and towns that hold local markets along the roadside during certain seasons. Travelers often encounter small shrines by the wayside, maintained by residents of the surrounding villages.
The road has multi-lane sections and single-lane stretches along its entire length, depending on terrain and building density. Drivers find rest stops with toilets and refreshments at regular intervals along the route.
The starting point of the road lies at Nihonbashi, an old stone bridge in the city center, which was once considered the zero point of the Japanese road network. Today this location is marked with a bronze plaque indicating distances to other cities.
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