Japan National Route 42

National Route 42 (国道42号, Kokudō yonjūni-gō), also called Kumano Kaidō or Tropical Route is a national highway connecting Hamamatsu, Shizuoka and Wakayama, Wakayama in Japan. Part of the route requires crossing Ise Bay on the Ise-wan Ferry.

National Route 42
国道42号
Route information
Length	504.6 km (313.5 mi)
Existed	1 April 1959–present
Major junctions
East end	National Route 1 in Hamamatsu
West end	National Route 24 in Wakayama
Location
Country	Japan
Highway system
National highways of Japan Expressways of Japan
← National Route 41 → National Route 43

It is the 8th longest national highway in Japan.

Route data

• Length: 504.6 km (313.5 mi)
• Origin: Hamamatsu (originates at junction with Route 1)
• Terminus: Wakayama
• Major cities: Tahara, Toba, Ise, Matsusaka, Owase, Kumano, Shingū, Tanabe, and Gobō

History

Route 42 was originally designated in January 1945 as a section of Route 41 (the Kumano Highway), which ran to Tokyo. This ran concurrent with Route 1 (now Route 1/Route 23). On 18 May 1953 Route 41 was classified as a Class 2 highway and redesignated as Route 170, which was later redesignated as Route 42 when the route was promoted to a Class 1 highway.

Passes through

Shizuoka Prefecture

• Hamamatsu • Kosai

Aichi Prefecture

• Toyohashi • Tahara

Mie Prefecture

• Toba • Ise • Meiwa • Matsusaka • Taki • Ōdai • Taiki • Kihoku • Owase • Kumano • Mihama • Kihō

Wakayama Prefecture

• Shingū • Nachikatsuura • Taiji • Kushimoto • Susami • Shirahama • Minabe • Inami • Gobō • Hidaka • Yura • Hirogawa • Yuasa • Aridagawa • Arida • Kainan • Wakayama

Intersects with

Shizuoka Prefecture

• Route 1
• Route 257
• Route 301

Aichi Prefecture

• Route 259

Mie Prefecture

• Route 167
• Route 23
• Route 166
• Ise Expressway
• Route 368
• Kisei Expressway
• Route 260
• Route 425
• Route 311
• Route 309
• Route 311

Wakayama Prefecture

• Route 168
• Route 371
• Route 311
• Hanwa Expressway
• Route 424
• Route 425
• Yuasa-Gobō Bypass
• Route 480
• Route 24
• Route 26