is a major highway in the Hokuriku and Kansai regions of central Japan. The highway begins at an intersection with National Routes 7, 17, 49, 113, and 116 in Chà «à Â-ku, Niigata. It travels southwest across central Honshu, connecting the prefecture capitals: Toyama, Kanazawa, Fukui, and à Âtsu. In Kyoto it travels concurrently with National Route 1 toward its endpoint at an intersection with National Routes 9, 24, and 367 in Shimogyà Â-ku, Kyoto.
The origins of the road that is now National Route 8 can be traced back to the Hokurikudà Â, a road that was established after the Taika Reform to link Kyoto to the capitals of the region by that went by the same name.
The modern history of the highway saw its establishment by the Cabinet of Japan on 4 December 1952 as First Class National Highway 8 from Niigata to Kyoto. On 1 April 1965 it was re-designated as General National Highway 8. On 7âÂÂ9 February 2018, heavy snowfall shut down the highway for over 60 hours in Fukui Prefecture before it could be removed.
National Route 8 is the namesake of , a chain of ramen shops in the Hokuriku region.