racetrack
Tsukuba Circuit
Compact 2.045 km Ibaraki track that became the world benchmark for time attack, hosting legendary Hot Version and Best Motoring battles. A sub-minute lap here is the holy grail of tuner culture.
36 km · about 40 min drive
AsiaJapanTochigi
Sano
Tochigi, Japan · Asia
About Sano
Sano sits on the route: 10 minutes from Tanuma, 46km from Irohazaka Winding Road.
Sano is in Tochigi, Japan, with about 120,000 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Tanuma, about 6 km away.
Sano Station (佐野駅, Sano-eki) is a junction railway station in the city of Sano, Tochigi, Japan. It is jointly operated by JR East and the private railway operator Tōbu Railway. The station is numbered "TI-34" in the Tobu Railway system.
Where to Stay in Sano
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Sano?
Within an hour or so of Sano: Tsukuba Circuit (36 km), Irohazaka Winding Road (46 km), Nikko Toshogu Shrine (49 km), Fukiware Falls (54 km).
Are there any good drives near Sano?
The nearest famous roads are Irohazaka Winding Road, Mount Haruna Touge and Usui Pass.
Where is Sano?
Sano is in Tochigi, Japan, about 6 km from Tanuma.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 117,669
- Continent
- Asia
- Country
- Japan
- Region
- Tochigi
- Timezone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Coordinates
- 36.3167, 139.5833
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Japan
Japan Helpline (24h English assistance): 0570-000-911. An International Driving Permit (1949 convention) is required to drive.
Full driving guide for JapanTags
Worth the detour from Sano
4 notable places within an hour's drive.
famous road
Irohazaka Winding Road
Twin one-way mountain roads with 48 hairpin bends linking Nikko to Lake Chuzenji, each curve named after a character of the old Japanese alphabet. Spectacular in autumn and legendary among touge drivers.
46 km · about 55 min drive
landmark
Nikko Toshogu Shrine
A lavishly decorated UNESCO shrine complex set among towering cryptomeria trees in the mountains north of Tokyo.
49 km · about 55 min drive
waterfall
Fukiware Falls
A 7 m fall where the Katashina River drops into a fissure worn through flat rock, earning it the name the Niagara of the East. A riverside walkway runs right along the rim.
54 km · about 65 min drive
Driving roads near Sano
3 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 100km.
- 46 kmIrohazaka Winding RoadTwin one-way mountain roads with 48 hairpin bends linking Nikko to Lake Chuzenji, each curve named after a character of the old Japanese alphabet. Spectacular in autumn and legendary among touge drivers.
- 67 kmMount Haruna TougeThe winding climb to Lake Haruna in Gunma, immortalised as 'Mount Akina' in Initial D. Gentle hairpins, a crater lake at the top, and constant pilgrimages by fans of Japan's street-racing manga.
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