Shiga‑Kusatsu Road reopening
Manza Hotel Juraku announced that the Shiga‑Kusatsu Road will reopen on April 22 at 10 a.m., restoring access to high‑altitude views and the famous snow corridors above 2,000 meters (x.com). The social post reminded travelers that winter tires are still advised for high‑elevation driving during the reopening (x.com).
Japan’s Shiga-Kusatsu Road is scheduled to reopen at 10 a.m. on April 22, ending its winter closure on the Route 292 mountain section. (shigakogen.gr.jp) The reopening covers the stretch between Yosaka Gate in Shiga Kogen and Tenguyama Gate in Kusatsu after a closure that began at 1 p.m. on November 12, 2025, according to the Shiga Kogen tourism site. The same notice says the date is a planned reopening, not a guarantee against later restrictions. (shigakogen.gr.jp) Travelers may still find the Gunma side partly blocked after April 22 because traffic controls tied to volcanic activity at Mount Shirane can keep the section from Manza Junction to Kusatsu Onsen closed, the official road bulletin says. If that happens, access to Kusatsu shifts to the toll Manza Highway through Manza Onsen and Tsumagoi village. (shigakogen.gr.jp) This road draws spring traffic because it climbs into alpine terrain that is still buried in snow in late April. Shibu Pass on the route reaches 2,172 meters above sea level, the highest point on any national highway in Japan. (shigakogen.gr.jp) The reopening also reconnects two major resort areas at the shoulder season: Kusatsu and Manza on the Gunma side, and Shiga Kogen on the Nagano side. A travel guide for the route says the full mountain drive runs 41.1 kilometers and was opened as a toll road in 1970 before becoming free in 1992. (tabi-mag.jp) Late April is also when the road’s snow walls appear after plows cut through heavy drifts at higher elevations. The same route guide says snowfall around Manza Onsen and Shibu Pass can exceed 1.5 meters in winter, leaving tall banks along the pavement when the gates reopen. (tabi-mag.jp) Winter conditions do not vanish with the gate opening. The Shiga Kogen road-condition page said this week that some roads in the area were still partially icy, and Manza Hotel Juraku told drivers on social media to use winter tires for the reopening period. (shigakogen.gr.jp) (x.com) For now, the key date is April 22 at 10 a.m. After that, whether drivers can make the full cross-mountain run to Kusatsu will depend on the separate volcanic restrictions on the Gunma side. (shigakogen.gr.jp)
