Nishi-Meihan Expressway
Introduction to the Nishi-Meihan Expressway
The Nishi-Meihan Expressway is a toll expressway that connects Osaka and Nara.
The Japan’s Expressway Numbering System is “E25".
It is often used when going east from Osaka to Aichi Prefecture or Tokyo.
And vice versa, it is often used to go from Aichi Prefecture or Tokyo to Osaka.
The Nishi-Meihan Expressway connects to Kinki Expressway (toll expressway) and Hanwa Expressway (toll expressway) on the Osaka side, and also connects to the Meihan National Highway (free freeway) and the Kei-Nawa Expressway (expressway, partially free as of February 2021) on the Nara side.
For more information on the Meihan National Highway, please refer to the following article.
/meihan-kokudou/Car navigation applications often guide you to use the Meishin Expressway when you try to go from Osaka to Aichi.
However, it is cheaper to drive east on the Meihan National Highway from the Nishi-Meihan Expressway than to use the Meishin Expressway.
For this reason, many riders in the Kansai region take the Nishi-Meihan Expressway to the Meihan National Highway when traveling from Osaka to Aichi Prefecture.
There are several parking areas and service areas in Nara Prefecture.
There are no rest areas on the Nishi-Meihan Expressway in Osaka Prefecture, so when looking for a rest area on the Nishi-Meihan, please look for one on the Nara side.
Start point – End point / Map
It connects the Matsubara IC with the Tenri IC.
The Osaka side is connected to the Hanwa Expressway and the Kinki Expressway, which are both toll highways.
To get to Wakayama from Nara, take the Hanwa Expressway from the Nishi-Meihan Expressway and continue on to Wakayama.
To get to Mie from Osaka, take the Meihan National Highway from the Nishi-Meihan Expressway and continue on your way.
How to use West Meihan conveniently
Hari Terrace, a touring spot in Nara, is located on the Meihan National Highway, but if you aim for Hari Terrace from Osaka or Hyogo, you will always be directed to take the Nishi-Meihan Expressway.
You will pass through the Nishi-Meihan Expressway, which leads to the Meihan National Highway.
The north side of the Nishi-Meihan Expressway is connected to the Kinki Expressway, so it is used to go to the northern part of Osaka and Kyoto.
Point
Since it is connected to the Meihan National Highway, it is possible to take the wrong exit from the Meihan National Highway and enter the Nishi-Meihan Expressway.
However, the distance is not that long, so if you take the wrong exit, please get off at the next interchange.
Please be careful when you are touring.
The Nishi-Meihan Expressway is a beautiful road and passes through the mountains between Osaka and Nara, so if you choose a route that would take a long time to get to and from on a regular road, you may be able to save some unnecessary time by using the Nishi-Meihan Expressway.