17. Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, Japan
Constructed: 1971
Risk Factor: Heavy snowfalls can cause low visibility, potential for falling rocks near the mountains
Those who want to see some of the most beautiful sites in Japan should drive the Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, a road dedicated to sightseeing through the mountains. Known as the “Roof of Japan,” the Route is twenty-three miles long, with walking trails and scenic sites. It’s a hotspot for mountain climbers and backpackers, and you can even see Mount Fuji when the weather is clear.
Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route, Japan @XenorVernix / Pinterest.com
But, the weather is not always clear—far from it, in fact. The Tateyama makes the list of the world’s most dangerous roads because heavy snowfall often causes low visibility. The road is even closed from December to April, but early-winter and late-spring blizzards can still come out of nowhere. Combined with the lack of shoulder, the possibility for falling rocks from the mountains, and hairpin turns, the Tateyama is not for the faint of heart.