# Higashikyushu Expressway

The Higashikyushu Expressway (東九州自動車道, Higashi-Kyūshū jidōshadō) is one of the expressways of Japan from Kitakyūshū (and the bridge to Honshū) to east of Kagoshima linking with the Kyushu Expressway. It runs north to south, through the prefectures of Fukuoka, Oita, Miyazaki and the Kagoshima prefectures. The freeway runs entirely on the island of Kyūshū. The total length is 500 km.

## Overview

The first section of the expressway was opened to traffic in 1999. As of March 2009 the expressway is incomplete in many areas. The section between Soo Yagorō Interchange and Sueyoshi Takarabe Interchange opened in 2010. Most of the incomplete areas were built according to the New Direct Control System, whereby the burden for construction costs will be shared by the national and local governments and no tolls will be collected. Currently the section between Saiki Interchange and Nobeoka Minami Interchange, and Kanoya Kushira Junction and Sueyoshi Takarabe Interchange operates according to this principle.
The expressway is 4 lanes from Kitakyushu Junction to Kanda Kitakyushu-kūkō Interchange and Hiji Junction to Ōita Miyagawachi Interchange, and 2 lanes for all remaining sections.
The route parallels the Nippō Main Line of Kyushu Railway Company and National Route 10 for much of its length.

## History

* December 15, 1994, a section from Hiji Junction to Hayami Interchange was opened to traffic.
* November 27, 1999, a section from Oita Mera to Oita Miyagawachi Interchanges was opened to traffic.
* March 4, 2000, a section from Kokubu to Hayato Higashi Interchange was opened to traffic with another freeway.
* March 25, 2000, a section from Miyazaki Nishi Interchange to Kiyotake Junction was opened to traffic.
* March 31, 2001, a section from Saito to Miyazaki Nishi Interchange was opened to traffic.
* April 18, 2001, the Oita Nogyo Bunka Koen Interchange was opened.
* December 19, 2001, the Kajiki Junction was opened to traffic with another freeway.
* December 27, 2001, a section from Oita Miyagawachi to Tsukumi Interchanges was opened to traffic.
* March 2, 2002, a section from Sueyoshi Takarabe to Kokubu Interchanges was opened to traffic.
* March 30, 2002, the Hiji Junction was opened to traffic with another freeway.
* February 26, 2006, a section from Kitakyushu Junction to Kanda Kitakyushu Airport Interchange was opened to traffic.
* June 28, 2008, a section from Tsukumi to Saiki Interchange was opened to traffic.
* March 14, 2010, a section from Soo Yagoro to Sueyoshi Takarabe Interchange was opened to traffic.
* July 17, 2010, a section from Takanabe to Saito Interchange was opened to traffic.
* December 14, 2010, a section from Kadogawa to Hyuga Interchange was opened to traffic with another freeway.
* December 15, 2012, a section from Sumie to Kitagawa Interchange was opened to traffic.
* December 22, 2012, a section from Tsuno to Takanabe Interchange was opened to traffic.
* February 16, 2013, a section from Kamae to Kitaura Interchange was opened to traffic.
* March 23, 2013, a section from Kiyotake Junction to Kiyotake Minami Interchange was opened to traffic.
* March 8, 2014, a section from Kitaura to Sumie Interchange was opened to traffic.
* March 16, 2014, a section from Hyuga to Tsuno Interchange was opened to traffic.
* March 23, 2014, a section from Kanda Kitakyushu Airport to Yukuhashi Interchange was opened to traffic.
* December 13, 2014, a section from Yukuhashi to Miyako Toyotsu Interchange was opened to traffic with another freeway.
* December 13, 2014, the Shiida Minami Interchange was opened.
* December 21, 2014, a section from Kanoya Kushira Junction to Soo Yagoro Interchange was opened to traffic.
* December 21, 2014, the Kanoya Kushira Junction was opened to traffic with another freeway.
* March 1, 2015, a section from Buzen to Usa Interchanges was opened to traffic with another freeway.
* March 21, 2015, a section from Saiki to Kamae Interchanges was opened to traffic.
* April 28, 2015, the Imagawa Parking Area and the Yukuhashi Imagawa Bus Stop was opened.
* April 24, 2016, a section from Shiida Minami to Buzen Interchange was opened to traffic which made the Higashikyushu Expressway from Kitakyushu to Miyazaki fully accessible with no gaps.
* March 25, 2017, the Kadogawa Minami Smart Interchange was opened.
* March 11, 2018, a section from Nishinan Kitago to Nichinan Togo Interchanges was opened to traffic.
* August 5, 2018, a section from Hiji Junction to Oita Mera Interchange is incorporated as part of the Higashikyushu Expressway.
* August 5, 2018, the Beppuwan Smart Interchange was fully accessible.
* October 6, 2019, the Kunitomi Smart Interchange was opened.

## Interchanges

* IC - interchange, SIC - smart interchange, JCT - junction, SA - service area, PA - parking area, BS - bus stop, TN - tunnel, BR - bridge, TB - toll gate
* Bus stops labeled "○" are currently in use; those marked "◆" are closed.

### Between Kitakyushu Junction and Aburatsu Interchange

| No. | Name | Connections | Dist. from Origin | Bus stop | Notes | Location | Location |
| (2-1) | Kitakyushu JCT | Kyushu Expressway | 0.0 | | | Fukuoka | Kokuraminami-ku, Kitakyūshū |
| 1 | Kanda Kitakyushu Airport IC | Pref. Route 245 (Kitakyushu Airport Route) | 8.2 | | | Fukuoka | Kanda |
| 2 | Yukuhashi IC | National Route 201 | 16.8 | | | Fukuoka | Yukuhashi |
| PA/SIC | Imagawa PA/SIC | Pref. Route 34 (Yukuhashi Soeda Route) via Yukuhashi city road | 19.1 | ○ | | Fukuoka | Yukuhashi |
| 3 | Miyako Toyotsu IC | National Route 10 (Shiida Road) | 24.2 | | | Fukuoka | Miyako |
| 4 | Tsuiki IC | Pref. Route 237 (Sawada Shimobefu Route) | 26.4 | | | Fukuoka | Chikujō |
| - | Shiida TB | - | 27.1 | | Abandoned on December 13, 2014 | Fukuoka | Chikujō |
| 5 | Shiida IC | Pref. Route 231 (Kurohira Shiida Route) | 31.5 | | | Fukuoka | Chikujō |
| 6 | Shiida Minami IC | National Route 10 (Shiida Road) | 33.1 | | For Kitakyushu only | Fukuoka | Chikujō |
| 7 | Buzen IC | Pref. Route 32 (Saigawa Buzen Route) | 40.3 | | | Fukuoka | Buzen |
| PA/SIC | Kōge PA/SIC | National Route 10 (Buzen Bypass, Nakatsu Bypass) via Kōge town road | 45.5 | | | Fukuoka | Kōge |
| 8 | Nakatsu IC | Nakatsu Hita Road | 52.5 | | | Oita | Nakatsu |
| 9 | Usa IC | National Route 10 (Usa Road, Usa Beppu Road) | 61.4 | | | Oita | Usa |
| 9-1 | Innai IC/TB | National Route 387 | 66.0 | | For Oita only TB: Abandoned on September 16, 2014 | Oita | Usa |
| 9-2 | Ajimu IC | Pref. Route 42 (Yamaga Innai Route) | 71.2 | ○ | | Oita | Usa |
| 9-3 | Oita Nōgyō Bunka Kōen IC | Pref. Route 42 (Yamaga Innai Route) | 77.5 | | | Oita | Usa |
| 9-4 | Hayami IC | National Route 10 (Usa Beppu Road, Hiji Bypass) Pref. Route 24 (Hiji Yamaga Route) | 83.8 | | | Oita | Hiji |
| 10 | Hiji JCT | Ōita Expressway | 87.1 | | | Oita | Hiji |
| SA/SIC | Beppuwan SA/SIC | National Route 500 via Beppu city road Pref. Route 218 (Beppu Yamaga Route) | 89.5 | ○ | | Oita | Beppu |
| 11 | Beppu IC | Pref. Route 11 (Beppu Ichinomiya Route) | 94.3 | ◆ | | Oita | Beppu |
| BS | Hasama BS | | 103.7 | ◆ | | Oita | Yufu |
| 12 | Oita IC | Pref. Route 21 (Oita Usuki Route) | 109.1 | | | Oita | Oita |
| 13 | Oita Mitsuyoshi IC | National Route 210 (Kinoue Bypass) | 113.5 | | | Oita | Oita |
| 14 | Oita Mera IC | National Route 10 (Oita-Minami Bypass) Pref. Route 56 (Nakahanda Shimogori Route) | 116.9 | | | Oita | Oita |
| PA | Oita Matsuoka PA | | 119.8 | | | Oita | Oita |
| 15 | Oita Miyagawachi IC | National Route 197 (Oita-Higashi Bypass) | 123.1 | | | Oita | Oita |
| 16 | Usuki IC | National Route 502 | 137.1 | | | Oita | Usuki |
| 17 | Tsukumi IC | Pref. Route 648 (Tsukumi Interchange Route) | 144.1 | | | Oita | Tsukumi |
| PA | Yayoi PA | | | | Scheduled to be opened in 2021 | Oita | Saiki |
| TB | Saiki TB | | | | Toll Barrier | Oita | Saiki |
| 18 | Saiki IC | Pref. Route 36 (Saiki Tsukumi Route) | 157.1 | | | Oita | Saiki |
| 18-1 | Saiki Katata IC | Pref. Route 603 (Akagi Fukihara Saiki Route) | 162.2 | | | Oita | Saiki |
| 19 | Kamae IC | National Route 388 | 177.5 | | | Oita | Saiki |
| 19-1 | Kamae Hatōzu IC | Pref. Route 122 (Furue Maruichibi Route) | 186.3 | | | Oita | Saiki |
| 20 | Kitaura IC | National Route 388 | 191.7 | | | Miyazaki | Nobeoka |
| 20-1 | Sumie IC | Pref. Route 243 (Sumie Interchange Route) | 198.1 | | For Nobeoka only | Miyazaki | Nobeoka |
| 21 | Kitagawa IC | National Route 10 (Nobeoka Road) | 203.7 | | | Miyazaki | Nobeoka |
| 22 | Nobeoka JCT/IC | Kyushu Chūō Expressway Pref. Route 241 (Nobeoka Interchange Route) | 216.5 | ○ | | Miyazaki | Nobeoka |
| 23 | Nobeoka Minami IC | National Route 10 (Totoro Bypass, Nobeoka Road, Nobeoka-Minami Road) | 223.5 | | | Miyazaki | Nobeoka |
| TB | Kadogawa TB | | 227.9 | | Toll Barrier | Miyazaki | Kadogawa |
| 24 | Kadogawa IC | National Route 10 (Nobeoka-Minami Road) Pref. Route 226 (Totoro Hyūga Route) | 228.0 | | For Nobeoka only | Miyazaki | Kadogawa |
| BS | Kadogawa BS | | | ○ | | Miyazaki | Kadogawa |
| SIC | Kadogawa Minami SIC | National Route 10 (Nobeoka-Minami Road) Pref. Route 226 (Totoro Hyūga Route) via Kadogawa town road | 229.6 | | For Miyazaki only | Miyazaki | Kadogawa |
| 25 | Hyūga IC | National Route 327 (Hyūga Bypass) | 241.9 | ○ | | Miyazaki | Hyūga |
| 26 | Tsuno IC | Pref. Route 303 (Tsuno Interchange Route) | 261.9 | | | Miyazaki | Tsuno |
| PA | Kawaminami PA | | 268.9 | | | Miyazaki | Kawaminami |
| 27 | Takanabe IC | Pref. Route 308 (Takanabe Interchange Route) | 274.8 | | | Miyazaki | Takanabe |
| 28 | Saito IC | Pref. Route 321 (Saito Interchange Route) | 286.9 | ○ | | Miyazaki | Saito |
| BS | Kunitomi BS | | 297.9 | ○ | | Miyazaki | Kunitomi |
| SIC | Kunitomi SIC | Pref. Route 26 (Miyazaki Suki Route) | 298.5 | | | Miyazaki | Kunitomi |
| BS | Miyazaki BS | | 302.6 | ○ | | Miyazaki | Miyazaki |
| 29 | Miyazaki Nishi IC | National Route 10 (Miyazaki-Nishi Bypass) | 303.7 | | | Miyazaki | Miyazaki |
| PA | Miyazaki PA | | 306.7 | | | Miyazaki | Miyazaki |
| 30 | Kiyotake IC | Pref. Route 371 (Kiyotake Interchange Route) | 311.6 | | | Miyazaki | Miyazaki |
| (4-1) | Kiyotake JCT | Miyazaki Expressway | 313.8 | | | Miyazaki | Miyazaki |
| TB | Kiyotake Minami TB | | | | Toll Barrier | Miyazaki | Miyazaki |
| 30-1 | Kiyotake Minami IC | Pref. Route 378 (Kiyotake Minami Interchange Route) | 315.0 | | | Miyazaki | Miyazaki |
| Miyazaki ||||||
| 31 | Nichinan Kitagō IC | Pref. Route 28 (Nichinan Takaoka Route) Pref. Route 429 (Inohae Route) | 332.8 | | | Miyazaki | Nichinan |
| 32 | Nichinan Togō IC | National Route 220 (Nichinan Shibushi Road) Pref. Route 434 (Kazeda Hoshikura Route) | 341.8 | | | Miyazaki | Nichinan |
| | Aburatsu IC | National Route 222 | 345.0 | | Planned | Miyazaki | Nichinan |
| Planned route ||||||||

### Between Shibushi Interchange and Kajiki Junction

| No. | Name | Connections | Dist. from Origin | Dist. from Terminus | Notes | Location | Location |
| Planned route |||||||||
| | Natsui IC | | 0.0 | 85.5 | Planned | Kagoshima | Shibushi |
| 35 | Shibushi IC | National Route 220 (Nichinan Shibushi Road) Miyakonojō Shibushi Road (planned) Pref. Route 63 (Shibushi Fukuyama Route) | 3.7 | 81.8 | | Kagoshima | Shibushi |
| 35-1 | Shibushi Ariake IC | | 7.1 | 78.4 | | Kagoshima | Shibushi |
| 36 | Ōsaki IC | Pref. Route 64 (Ōsaki Kihoku Route) | 13.4 | 72.1 | | Kagoshima | Ōsaki |
| 37 | Kanoya Kushira JCT | Ōsumi Jūkan Road Pref. Route 552 (Kanoya Kushira Interchange Route) | 22.9 | 62.6 | | Kagoshima | Kanoya |
| 37-1 | Nogata IC | Pref. Route 64 (Ōsaki Kihoku Route) | 29.4 | 56.1 | | Kagoshima | Ōsaki |
| 38 | Soo Yagorō JCT | Pref. Route 71 (Tarumizu Minaminogō Route) | 40.6 | 44.9 | | Kagoshima | Soo |
| 39 | Sueyoshi Takarabe IC | National Route 10 | 51.7 | 33.8 | | Kagoshima | Soo |
| | Sueyoshi Takarabe TB | | 51.7 | 33.8 | Toll Barrier | Kagoshima | Soo |
| PA | Kokubu PA | | 68.4 | 17.1 | | Kagoshima | Kirishima |
| 40 | Kokubu IC | National Route 10 | 74.2 | 11.3 | | Kagoshima | Kirishima |
| 41 | Hayato Higashi IC | National Route 10 (Hayato Road) Pref. Route 58 (Hayato Port Route) | 79.0 | 6.5 | | Kagoshima | Kirishima |
| 42 | Hayato Nishi IC | Pref. Route 471 (Kita-Naganoda Obama Route) | 82.6 | 2.9 | | Kagoshima | Kirishima |
| (25) | Kajiki IC | National Route 10 (Kajiki Bypass) Pref. Route 55 (Kurino Kajiki Route) | 85.1 | 0.4 | | Kagoshima | Aira |
| (25-1) | Kajiki JCT | Kyushu Expressway National Route 10 (Hayato Road) | 85.5 | 0.0 | | Kagoshima | Aira |