# Chūgoku Expressway

The Chūgoku Expressway (中国自動車道, Chūgoku Jidōsha-dō) (part of Asian Highway Network AH1) is an expressway in Japan, which extends from Suita, Osaka to Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi. It connects Kansai and Chūgoku regions in western Honshu, Japan's main island. Other major cities along the expressway are Tsuyama, Kobe, and Hiroshima. It was opened in 1970, and has a total length of 540.1 kilometers (335.6 mi).
It is connected with many other expressways, including the Meishin Expressway at Suita Junction and Kanmon Bridge at Shimonoseki Interchange through to the Kyushu Expressway.

## List of interchanges and features

* IC - interchange, SIC - smart interchange, JCT - junction, SA - service area, PA - parking area, BS - bus stop, TN - tunnel, TB - toll gate, BR - bridge
* Bus stops labeled "○" are currently in use; those marked "◆" are closed.
| Number | Name | Connections | Distance from Origin (km) | Bus Stop | Notes | Location | Location |
| (35) | Suita JCT | Meishin Expressway Kinki Expressway | 0.0 | | Chugoku Expwy←→Nishinomiya: no access | Suita | Osaka |
| 1 | Chūgoku-Suita IC | Osaka Prefectural Route 2 (Osaka Chūō Loop Road) | 1.0 | | eastbound exit, westbound entrance | Suita | Osaka |
| 2 | Chūgoku-Toyonaka IC | Osaka Prefectural Route 2 (Osaka Chūō Loop Road) | 8.3 | | westbound exit, eastbound entrance | Toyonaka | Osaka |
| 2 | Chūgoku-Ikeda IC | National Route 176 (Bypass) | 10.5 | | eastbound exit, westbound entrance | Ikeda | Osaka |
| 3 | Takarazuka IC | National Route 176 (Bypass) Hyōgo Prefectural Route 42 | 16.6 | ○ | | Takarazuka | Hyōgo |
| - | Takarazuka-Higashi Tunnel | - | 18.3 | | | Takarazuka | Hyōgo |
| - | Takarazuka-Nishi Tunnel | - | 20.1 | | | Takarazuka | Hyōgo |
| - | Nishinomiya-Najio SA | - | 24.1 | ◆ | | Nishinomiya | Hyōgo |
| 4 | Nishinomiya-Yamaguchi JCT | Kita-Kobe Route | 27.1 | | westbound exit, eastbound entrance | Nishinomiya | Hyōgo |
| 5 | Nishinomiya-Kita IC | Hyōgo Prefectural Route 82 | 29.8 | ○ | | Nishinomiya | Hyōgo |
| 5-1 | Kobe JCT | Shin-Meishin Expressway Sanyō Expressway | 31.6 | | for Shin-Meishin Expwy:opening in 2017 | Kita-ku, Kobe | Hyōgo |
| - | Nagao BS | - | 33.6 | ○ | | Kita-ku, Kobe | Hyōgo |
| 5-2 | Kobe Sanda IC | Rokko-Kita Road | 36.7 | | | Kita-ku, Kobe | Hyōgo |
| - | Akamatsu PA | - | 38.4 | | | Kita-ku, Kobe | Hyōgo |
| 6 | Yokawa JCT | Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway | 40.3 | | | Miki | Hyōgo |
| 7 | Yokawa IC | National Route 428 Hyōgo Prefectural Route 17 | 43.7 | ○ | | Miki | Hyōgo |
| 7-1 | Hyōgo-Tōjō IC | Hyōgo Prefectural Route 91 Hyōgo Prefectural Route 313 | 47.7 | | | Katō | Hyōgo |
| - | Tōjō BS | - | 49.7 | ○ | | Katō | Hyōgo |
| - | Yashiro PA | - | 55.8 | ○ | | Katō | Hyōgo |
| 8 | Takino-Yashiro IC | National Route 175 (Yashiro Bypass) Hyōgo Prefectural Route 17 | 59.4 | ○ | | Katō | Hyōgo |
| - | Izumi BS | - | 66.6 | ○ | | Kasai | Hyōgo |
| 8-1 | Kasai IC | Hyōgo Prefectural Route 24 | 69.1 | ○ | | Kasai | Hyōgo |
| - | Hōjō BS | - | 72.2 | ○ | | Kasai | Hyōgo |
| - | Kasai PA | - | 75.6 | | | Kasai | Hyōgo |
| - | Kasai PA | - | 75.6 | | | Fukusaki | Hyōgo |
| 9 | Fukusaki IC | Bantan Renraku Road | 79.2 | ○ | | Fukusaki | Hyōgo |
| 9-1 | Yumesaki BS/SIC | Hyōgo Prefectural Route 23 | 86.0 | ○ | | Himeji | Hyōgo |
| - | Yasutomi PA | - | 94.5 | ○ | | Himeji | Hyōgo |
| 10 | Yamasaki IC | National Route 29 | 99.6 | ○ | | Shiso | Hyōgo |
| - | Yamasaki JCT | Harima Expressway (planned) | 103.3 | | planned for 2020 | Shiso | Hyōgo |
| - | Yamasaki TB | - | 103.9 | | abandoned on December 20, 2004 | Shiso | Hyōgo |
| - | Ibogawa PA | - | 106.6 | | | Shiso | Hyōgo |
| - | Kazurane BS | - | 110.2 | ○ | | Shiso | Hyōgo |
| - | Nankō BS | - | 113.8 | ○ | | Sayō | Hyōgo |
| 10-1 | Sayō JCT | Tottori Expressway | 117.2 | | | Sayō | Hyōgo |
| 11 | Sayō IC | National Route 373 | 119.2 | ○ | | Sayō | Hyōgo |
| - | Kōzuki PA | - | 125.7 | ○ | | Sayō | Hyōgo |
| - | Sugisaka Tunnel | - | | | | Sayō | Hyōgo |
| - | Sugisaka Tunnel | - | | | | Mimasaka | Okayama |
| 11-1 | Sakutō IC | Okayama Prefectural Route 86 | 131.3 | | | Mimasaka | Okayama |
| - | Sakutō BS | - | 133.9 | ○ | | Mimasaka | Okayama |
| - | Narahara PA | - | 136.4 | | | Mimasaka | Okayama |
| 12 | Mimasaka IC | Okayama Prefectural Road 51 | 139.4 | ○ | | Mimasaka | Okayama |
| 12-1 | Shōō JCT | Mimasaka Okayama Road | 141.8 | | | Mimasaka | Okayama |
| - | Katsumada BS | - | 144.0 | ○ | | Shōō | Okayama |
| - | Shōō SA | - | 145.3 | | | Shōō | Okayama |
| 13 | Tsuyama IC | National Route 53 | 150.7 | ○ | | Tsuyama | Okayama |
| - | Tsuyama-Kita BS | - | 156.0 | ○ | | Tsuyama | Okayama |
| - | Ninomiya PA | - | 159.1 | | | Tsuyama | Okayama |
| 14 | Innoshō IC | National Route 179 Okayama Prefectural Route 261 | 161.1 | ○ | | Tsuyama | Okayama |
| - | Kume BS | - | 166.5 | ○ | | Tsuyama | Okayama |
| - | Mimasaka-Oiwake PA | - | 173.9 | ○ | | Maniwa | Okayama |
| 15 | Ochiai JCT | Yonago Expressway | 175.0 | | | Maniwa | Okayama |
| 16 | Ochiai IC | National Route 313 | 181.6 | ○ | | Maniwa | Okayama |
| - | Maniwa PA | - | 184.6 | | | Maniwa | Okayama |
| 17 | Hokubō JCT | Okayama Expressway | 190.8 | | | Maniwa | Okayama |
| 18 | Hokubō IC | National Route 313 | 193.4 | | | Maniwa | Okayama |
| - | Azae BS | - | 196.5 | ○ | | Maniwa | Okayama |
| - | Fuse BS | - | 205.5 | ○ | | Niimi | Okayama |
| 18-1 | Ōsa SA/SIC | Okayama Prefectural Route 32 | 209.5 | ○ | SIC: Open 06:00-24:00 | Niimi | Okayama |
| - | Kumatani BS | - | 215.6 | ○ | | Niimi | Okayama |
| 19 | Niimi IC | National Route 180 | 221.6 | △ | | Niimi | Okayama |
| - | Shingō PA | - | 228.8 | ◆ | | Niimi | Okayama |
| - | Tessei BS | - | 237.9 | ○ | | Niimi | Okayama |
| 20 | Tojō IC | National Route 182 | 246.4 | △ | | Shōbara | Hiroshima |
| - | Taishakukyō PA | - | 248.6 249.5 | | For Hiroshima, Kitakyūshū for Yonago, Osaka | Shōbara | Hiroshima |
| - | Taishaku BS | - | 259.7 | ○ | | Shōbara | Hiroshima |
| - | Motomura PA | - | 265.9 267.0 | | For Hiroshima, Kitakyūshū for Yonago, Osaka | Shōbara | Hiroshima |
| 21 | Shōbara IC | National Route 432 | 276.6 | ○ | | Shōbara | Hiroshima |
| - | Nanatsukahara SA | - | 283.1 283.2 | | For Hiroshima, Kitakyūshū for Yonago, Osaka | Shōbara | Hiroshima |
| - | Wachi BS | - | 286.5 | ○ | | Miyoshi | Hiroshima |
| 21-1 | Miyoshi-Higashi JCT/IC | Matsue Expressway Onomichi Expressway Hiroshima Prefectural Route 434 | 288.6 | | | Miyoshi | Hiroshima |
| 22 | Miyoshi IC | National Route 375 Hiroshima Prefectural Route 470 | 293.6 | ○ | | Miyoshi | Hiroshima |
| - | Gōnokawa PA | - | 299.1 302.0 | | For Yonago, Osaka for Hiroshima, Kitakyūshū | Miyoshi | Hiroshima |
| - | Takamiya BS | - | 308.3 | ○ | | Akitakata | Hiroshima |
| 23 | Takada IC | Hiroshima Prefectural Route 64 | 313.8 | | | Akitakata | Hiroshima |
| - | Midori BS | - | 315.8 | ○ | | Akitakata | Hiroshima |
| - | Hongō PA | - | 317.9 322.2 | | For Yonago, Osaka for Hiroshima, Kitakyūshū | Akitakata | Hiroshima |
| 24 | Chiyoda IC | Hiroshima Prefectural Route 5 | 328.9 | ○ | | Kitahiroshima | Hiroshima |
| 25 | Chiyoda JCT | Hamada Expressway | 330.9 | | | Kitahiroshima | Hiroshima |
| - | Asa SA | - | 339.9 340.4 | | For Yamaguchi, Hiroshima for Hamada, Osaka | Asakita-ku, Hiroshima | Hiroshima |
| 26 | Hiroshima-Kita JCT | Hiroshima Expressway | 343.0 | | | Asakita-ku, Hiroshima | Hiroshima |
| - | Ushizuyama Tunnel | - | 345.8 | | Ōsaka-bound 3,573 m Kitakyūshū-bound 3,558 m | Asakita-ku, Hiroshima | Hiroshima |
| 26-1 | Kake BS/SIC | National Route 191 | 355.9 | ○ | westbound exit, eastbound entrance | Akiōta | Hiroshima |
| 27 | Togōchi IC | National Route 186 National Route 191 | 360.4 | | | Akiōta | Hiroshima |
| - | Tsutsuga PA | - | 363.2 | ○ | | Akiōta | Hiroshima |
| - | Sakai Tunnel | - | | | | Akiōta | Hiroshima |
| - | Sakai Tunnel | - | | | | Hatsukaichi | Hiroshima |
| 28 | Yoshiwa IC | National Route 186 | 376.6 | | | Hatsukaichi | Hiroshima |
| - | Yoshiwa SA | - | 379.1 | ○ | | Hatsukaichi | Hiroshima |
| - | Kanmuriyama Tunnel | - | | | Ōsaka-bound 2,140 m Kitakyūshū-bound 2,198 m | Hatsukaichi | Hiroshima |
| - | Kanmuriyama Tunnel | - | | | Ōsaka-bound 2,140 m Kitakyūshū-bound 2,198 m | Iwakuni | Yamaguchi |
| - | Usa BS/CB | - | 387.4 | ◆ | | Iwakuni | Yamaguchi |
| - | Fukaya PA | - | 395.5 | ○ | | Iwakuni | Yamaguchi |
| 29 | Muikaichi IC | National Route 187 | 403.6 | ◆ | | Yoshika | Shimane |
| - | Asakura PA | - | 408.5 | ◆ | | Yoshika | Shimane |
| - | Yoneyama Tunnel | - | | | Ōsaka-bound 3,154 m Kitakyūshū-bound 3,260 m | Yoshika | Shimane |
| - | Yoneyama Tunnel | - | | | Ōsaka-bound 3,154 m Kitakyūshū-bound 3,260 m | Shūnan | Yamaguchi |
| 30 | Kano IC | National Route 315 | 430.6 | ◆ | | Shūnan | Yamaguchi |
| - | Kano SA | - | 432.2 432.8 | | For Kitakyūshū for Hiroshima | Shūnan | Yamaguchi |
| - | Kushi BS/CB | - | 439.7 | ◆ | | Yamaguchi | Yamaguchi |
| 31 | Tokuji IC | National Route 489 | 447.4 | ◆ | | Yamaguchi | Yamaguchi |
| - | Nioroshitōge PA | - | 455.7 | | | Yamaguchi | Yamaguchi |
| - | Niho BS | - | 460.6 | ◆ | | Yamaguchi | Yamaguchi |
| 32 | Yamaguchi IC | National Route 262 | 467.4 | ◆ | | Yamaguchi | Yamaguchi |
| - | Yudaonsen PA/SIC | - | 473.3 | ◆ | SIC opening in 2020 | Yamaguchi | Yamaguchi |
| (33) | Yamaguchi JCT | San'yō Expressway | 475.4 | | | Yamaguchi | Yamaguchi |
| 34 34-1 | Ogori IC Ogori JCT | National Route 9 Yamaguchi Ube Road | 480.1 | ◆ | | Yamaguchi | Yamaguchi |
| - | Mitō PA | - | 487.5 487.7 | | For Kitakyūshū for Hiroshima | Mine | Yamaguchi |
| - | Mana BS | - | 489.5 | ◆ | | Mine | Yamaguchi |
| 34-2 | Mine-Higashi JCT | Ogori Hagi Road | 490.5 | | | Mine | Yamaguchi |
| 35 | Mine IC | National Route 435 | 498.2 | ○ | | Mine | Yamaguchi |
| - | Isa PA | - | 505.5 | | | Mine | Yamaguchi |
| 35-1 | Mine-Nishi IC | Yamaguchi Prefectural Route 33 | 511.7 | ◆ | | Mine | Yamaguchi |
| 35-2 | Shimonoseki JCT Nagato-Yoshida BS | Sanyō Expressway Ube-Shimonoseki Route | 519.0 | ◆ | | Shimonoseki | Yamaguchi |
| - | Ozuki BS | - | 524.0 | ○ | | Shimonoseki | Yamaguchi |
| - | Shimonoseki JCT | Sanin Expressway (planned) | - | | | Shimonoseki | Yamaguchi |
| 36 | Ozuki IC | National Route 491 | 524.6 | ○ | | Shimonoseki | Yamaguchi |
| - | Ōji PA | - | 529.1 | | | Shimonoseki | Yamaguchi |
| - | Nagato-Katsuyama BS | - | 535.9 | ◆ | | Shimonoseki | Yamaguchi |
| 37 | Shimonoseki IC | Yamaguchi Prefectural Route 57 | 540.1 | | | Shimonoseki | Yamaguchi |
| Through to Kanmon Bridge ||||||||

## Accidents

On 5 October 2013, comedian and singer Yakkun Sakurazuka died in an accident on the Chugoku Expressway in Mine, Yamaguchi, while en route to a concert in Kumamoto Prefecture. He was hit by another car and killed after exiting his car following a crash.