Japan/Hokkaido: Driving Along West Coast
One of the most scenic drives on Hokkaido is the road along the west coastline to the northernmost tip of Wakkana peninsula (where you can wave at Russia 40-odd kilometers away). The narrow road hugs the coastline pretty much for the entire run of about 350km. The lower part is full of tunnels cutting through the cliffs imposing over the shoreline, while the upper part is a wide open plane and a national park. Just off the coast is the almost-perfectly conical Mount Rishiri volcano rising from the cold waters of the Sea of Japan. Spectacular panoramic views and a top-notch roadtrip adventure (if only the Japanese GPS would stop telling be “overspeed detected, please drive safely” every 5 minutes)!
