Japan Sea Coast Expressway extension to open in Akita

A 7.3-kilometer section of the Nihonkai Coast Tohoku Expressway, known as the Yuza Kisakata Road, is scheduled to open on November 23 at 3:00 PM. This segment connects the Kosagawa Interchange to the Kisakata Interchange in Kaho City, Akita Prefecture.

This opening marks the first extension of the expressway toward the Shonai region in Akita Prefecture in 11 years. The new section consists of a two-lane road with a design speed of 80 km/h and will be a free-to-use segment. The Kosagawa Interchange will connect to National Route 7.

The extension is expected to reduce travel time from the Kisagata district in Kaho City to Nihonkai General Hospital in Sakata City—a provider of tertiary emergency medical care—from 48 minutes to 42 minutes. Additionally, the project aims to stabilize logistics for local businesses and support regional industrial growth.