ORIENTATION
Major Roads Near Yokota
•Route 16 which runs between Yokota and Yokosuka, and near Zama
•Route 7 (Itsukaichi Kaido) along the south fence of Yokota
•Route 20 (Koshu Kaido) along both sides of the Tama River.
•Route 5 (Shin Ome Kaido) to the north.
These roads extend from out past Yokota to Tokyo proper. To orient yourself locally, check on online map, like this one.
The major expressways nearby are the Chuo, which runs from Tokyo to Nagoya, and the Kan Etsu, which travels through the mountains to the other side of Honshu. The Ken-O Do is also useful when heading north to connect the Kan-Etsu to the Tohoku and other expressways.
These English-edition atlases are useful (sometimes available at the BX bookstore, the New Sanno, etc.).
- Road Atlas Japan
- Tokyo Metropolitan Atlas
- Metropolitan Expressway Guide
Free maps, including the Japan Expressway map in English, are sometimes available on request at larger rest areas in the expressway system.
Tokyo Expressways
Simplified, the expressways are laid out like a wheel with spokes. The C1, or Shuto Expressway, is the wheel. Most of the other expressways are the spokes and are numbered consecutively around the wheel. Therefore, when driving into Tokyo on the Chuo, Expressway #4, you will go into the wheel and follow it until your desired expressway takes you away. The numbered expressways (or spokes) run clockwise around the wheel, starting at the southeast section of Tokyo.
Exceptions include Expressway #1, which runs north and south on the east side of Tokyo. Expressways 1-South, 2, and 3 are south of the Chuo and 5, 1-North, 6, 7 and 9 are north of the Chuo. So, if you’re driving to the New Sanno, you will take #4 (Chuo), which will run into C1 (Shuto), and follow the #2 signs which will take you to the New Sanno exit, which is Exit #201. If you’re going to Narita, you will still follow the Chuo and Shuto, but will follow #7 signs directly to Narita. One easy place to get lost is in the Chiyoda Tunnel. This is where you will either take the right fork for Expressways 1-South, 2 and 3, or the left fork for Expressways 5, 1- North, 6, 7 or 9. If you take the wrong fork, you can just continue around on the Shuto and pick up the correct expressway again, although this might take some time.
For specifics and updates, check with the information desks at the Yujo Community Center or New Sanno. Judy Harvey, Sherri Park
Hachioji Bypass & Chuo Expressway
DIRECTIONS: Turn left out the Fussa Gate, setting your trip meter to zero, and carefully follow the signs for Route 16 until you see the signs for the Hachioji Bypass. At 3.2 km, Route 16 will take a left. At 4.7 km it will take a right. You will pass the big round bathhouse on your left and continue on the bridge over the river. If you are going to the Hachioji bypass, a sign will direct you to take a left at 7.4. Continue straight for a short way further to enter the Chuo Expressway on the left. Brian Marriott 6/02
Shortcut to Route 16 from the East Gate: Turn right out the East Gate/0K, turn right at the first or second light 0.6K/Family Mart and follow the base perimeter road, turning right again at 2.5K/NishisunaNakasato. Stay on this road (Rt 220) past the South/Golf Course Gate, through 4 lights (over railroad tracks, then through an underpass under another set of tracks until the road ends), turn left at the T (3.7K/Akishima Fire Stn). Turn right at the third light, 5.2K/ShowaKaikan Kita, and stay on this road through another light and over tracks. Bear left at the second light. The next light will intersect at Route 16 before it crosses the Haijimabashi Bridge.
If you live on other sides of Yokota, there are other shortcuts, some via Rt 29/ShinOkutama Kaido parallel to Rt. 16. All these shortcuts may eliminate 20-30 minutes from traffic jams on Rt. 16.
Want to use your GPS navigator in Japan? Read about it HERE.