Route 252, a vital artery between Fukushima and Niigata, is a great ride. This lightly-trafficked road stretches about 120 km from Aizu to Ounuma, or vice versa. At around 60km shorter yet 20+ minutes longer than the shortest expressway route, according to google, it’s the epitome of the longer funner twistier way.

Winter hits this long road hard. The section around Tagokura Lake and over Rokujurigoe Touge is closed annually from December to April.

This past winter was exceptionally snowy, and an avalanche in Tadami took out a 54-meter section of a bridge. As a result, the section of 252 from Tadami in Fukushima to the Niigata border remained closed until August 8. The bridge is now open but apparently with alternating single lane access.

Touge Express’ rider on the scene, Pat of Sampson, reports that there are several such single maintenance restrictions. Thursday day, August 14: ‘Two or three short ones….One long one.’

Ok, it’s open and a fun long-short cut but there are plenty of roads like that surrounding Kanto, so why the focus? Well, firstly, it’s a great link road for long day trips or multi-day touring. There is a longer twistier narrower gnarly one to the south, the 352, but that’s all too often closed as it is currently. Secondly, the 252 is a challenging ride with a variety of roads, conditions, elevation and its distance that oughta round your rubber nicely. Thirdly, it’s scenic and has so many different lookouts, vistas, tunnels and watersheds with exceptional views. Some even have twisties in them. Lastly, it’s a spectacular road for autumnal/fall foliage.

Ultimately, this road has been the backdrop for some particularly memorable runs for me, and many others have told me the same. From the Honshu End2End and 4corners, to a midnight puncture, a midnight touge attack, a suicidal weasel and a near ideal Spring-melt run with a Viking.

Do I recommend this road? Absolutely! It’s a ripper, and I’m stoked that it’s reopened.

Here’s a 550km loop route including the 252 for a long day run out of Kanto area off the Kanetsu. Click ‘Recommended Route’

Hope you get a chance to ride it this summer or fall or both.

Details sourced here:

Niigata Prefecture website:  https://share.google/IMTh1vH3u9yBxJLHa

Yahoo News:  https://share.google/ENNhsH56HfE7rZGKU