Japan National Route 338 - Wikipedia

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National Route 338
国道338号
Japan National Route 338 highlighted in red
Route information
Length	241.3 km[1] (149.9 mi)
Existed	1 April 1975–present
Major junctions
North end	National Route 5 / National Route 278 in Hakodate, Hokkaido
	Tsugaru Kaikyo Ferry across Tsugaru Strait National Route 279 Shimokita Expressway National Route 394
South end	National Route 45 in Oirase, Aomori
Location
Country	Japan
Highway system
National highways of Japan Expressways of Japan
← National Route 337 → National Route 339

National Route 338 (国道338号, Kokudō San hyaku san jūhachigō) is a national highway in the Japanese prefectures of Hokkaido and Aomori. Route 338 stretches 241.3 kilometers (149.9 mi) from National Route 5 in Hakodate, Hokkaido south across the Tsugaru Strait by ferry to Ōma, Aomori, around the western, southern, and eastern edges of the Shimokita Peninsula and finally to Oirase.

National Route 338 begins at an intersection with National Route 5 in central Hakodate 150 meters (490 ft) east of Hakodate Station as part of an unsigned concurrency with National Route 279. The highway travels southwest along city streets through the city, then curves to the northwest, and turns northeast towards the former site of the city's ferry terminal, which was moved to the northwest of Hakodate Station. The highway's brief 1.8 kilometers (1.1 mi) route in Hokkaido ends at the former terminal, which has since been converted into a retail area.^[2] Aside from the last 100 meters (330 ft) of the highway near the ferry terminal, the highway also carries the Main Line of the Hakodate City Tram in its median.^[3]

The highway is next carried south across the Tsugaru Strait via the Tsugaru Kaikyō Ferry to Ōma on the northern tip of Aomori Prefecture's Shimokita Peninsula. From the route's northern terminus in Hakodate to Ōma, National Route 338 runs concurrent with National Route 279; however, in Ōma, National Route 279 leaves the concurrency, travelling southeast towards Mutsu while National Route 338 heads south towards the village of Sai. After passing through Sai, the highway enters the western edge of Mutsu and turns east towards the center of the city.

In Mutsu, national routes 279 and 338 briefly meet again, sharing a short concurrency. After leaving the concurrency, National Route 338 continues its path southeast across the peninsula while National Route 279 heads south towards Noheji at the southern base of the peninsula. National Route 338 parallels the Pacific coast for the rest of its route south through Higashidōri, Rokkasho, and Misawa before terminating in Oirase.^[4]

National Route 338 was established by the Cabinet of Japan in 1975 between Hakodate and Oirase which was then the town of Shimoda, in Aomori.^[5]

• Media related to Category:Route 338 (Japan) at Wikimedia Commons