Before Driving Ehime's Mountain Roads in Winter: Winter Closures, Chain Restrictions and Winter Tire Rules

Mountain Roads That Close in Winter Have Separate Pages for Each Road Manager

Some mountain roads in Ehime are closed to traffic in winter. This research did not find one official page that puts all the winter closures in the prefecture together. The prefecture’s civil engineering offices, the cities and towns, and the town on the Kochi side that manage the roads each give notice on their own pages.

If your trip only goes through flat urban areas or along the coast, you will not use the roads in this table. Please read it if you plan to go to Mt. Ishizuchi, the UFO Line or the Shikoku Karst.

List of Roads With Winter Closures

Road	Section	Closure period	Sources
Ishizuchi Skyline (石鎚スカイライン) (Prefectural Road 12)	Tsuchigoya to Kanmon	December 1 to March 31 of the next year is the winter closure period. Closed at night all year	Ehime Prefecture (Ishizuchi Skyline page), Saijo City (page on the Ishizuchi mountains in winter)
UFO Line (UFOライン) (Town Road Kamegamori Line)	(not confirmed in the materials)	Winter closure from late November to mid-April as a guide	Saijo City (page on the Ishizuchi mountains in winter)
Prefectural Road 383, Shikoku Karst Park Traverse Line (四国カルスト公園縦断線)	Whole line	Usually in winter, when snow and freezing are expected. Fiscal 2025: from 10:00 on December 5 to 11:00 on March 18	Ehime Prefecture (Seiyo Civil Engineering Office and Kumakogen Civil Engineering Office pages)
Prefectural Road 328, Yanadani-Mikawa Line (柳谷美川線)	From Nishitani (Kiji), Kumakogen, to the former Mikawa Ski Area	Fiscal 2025: from 10:00 on December 5 to 11:00 on March 18	Ehime Prefecture (Kumakogen Civil Engineering Office page)
Prefectural Road 211, Mikawa-Oda Line (美川小田線)	The mountain side of the junction with the town road	Fiscal 2025: from 10:00 on December 5 to 11:00 on March 18	Ehime Prefecture (Kumakogen Civil Engineering Office page)

The periods in this table are the records of past years and “guides.” They are not fixed schedules for fiscal 2026. The managers of the roads in the table are as follows.

Ishizuchi Skyline: Ehime Prefecture Kumakogen Civil Engineering Office (0892-21-1210)
UFO Line: Ino Town, Kochi Prefecture, Hongawa General Branch Office (本川総合支所), Industry and Construction Section (088-869-2115)
Prefectural Road 383: Seiyo Civil Engineering Office (0894-62-1331), Kumakogen Civil Engineering Office, and Susaki Civil Engineering Office of Kochi Prefecture (0889-42-1700), by section

Closure of the Ishizuchi Skyline

The Ehime Prefecture page describes the night closure and the winter closure like this.

石鎚スカイラインは、落石などによる事故を未然に防止するため夜間通行止め（通年）を実施しています。また、冬期は積雪による通行困難のため、期間通行止めを実施しています。

Translation: “The Ishizuchi Skyline is closed at night (all year) to prevent accidents caused by falling rocks and the like. In winter, it is also closed for a period because driving is difficult due to snow.”

In the table of gate opening and closing times, September 1 to November 30 is gate open at 7:00 and gate closed at 18:00, and December 1 to March 31 of the next year is the “winter closure period.” The update date of this page is shown as April 1, 2021.

The Saijo City page says the same road is “fully closed to traffic, with December 1 to March 31 as a guide.”

There are 2 roads to Tsuchigoya on Mt. Ishizuchi: the UFO Line and the Ishizuchi Skyline. The Saijo City page says this about it.

石鎚登山における主要登山道の一つ『土小屋ルート』は、UFOライン（高知県いの町）と石鎚スカイライン（愛媛県久万高原町）から通行できます。

Translation: “The ‘Tsuchigoya Route,’ one of the main trails for climbing Ishizuchi, can be reached from the UFO Line (Ino Town, Kochi Prefecture) and the Ishizuchi Skyline (Kumakogen Town, Ehime Prefecture).”

The UFO Line is a road of Ino Town in Kochi Prefecture, and the only basis for its closure period is the “guide” on the Saijo City page.

Prefectural Road 12 on the Saijo City side (from the branch of National Route 194 to Sanroku-Shimotani Station) is not in the Saijo City list of winter closures. The road for this section is explained in the article From Matsuyama Airport to the Foot of Mt. Ishizuchi.

The Shikoku Karst Closure Moves by About 2 Weeks Depending on the Year

About the winter closure of Prefectural Road 383, the Seiyo Civil Engineering Office page says this.

高知県高岡郡津野町から愛媛県西予市野村町に至る一般県道383号四国カルスト公園縦断線は、例年、積雪及び凍結が見込まれる冬期は通行止めとなります。

Translation: “General Prefectural Road 383, the Shikoku Karst Park Traverse Line, which runs from Tsuno Town, Takaoka District, Kochi Prefecture, to Nomura Town, Seiyo City, Ehime Prefecture, is usually closed to traffic in winter, when snow and freezing are expected.”

The same page has a table of the closing and reopening dates and times for the past 7 years.

Fiscal year	Closure starts	Reopened
Reiwa 1 (fiscal 2019)	December 27, 2019, 13:00	March 10, 2020, 13:00
Reiwa 2 (fiscal 2020)	December 14, 2020, 17:00	March 19, 2021, 13:00
Reiwa 3 (fiscal 2021)	November 29, 2021, 16:00	March 18, 2022, 13:00
Reiwa 4 (fiscal 2022)	December 6, 2022, 15:00	March 17, 2023, 13:00
Reiwa 5 (fiscal 2023)	November 24, 2023, 15:00	March 15, 2024, 13:00
Reiwa 6 (fiscal 2024)	December 2, 2024, 13:00	March 27, 2025, 13:00
Reiwa 7 (fiscal 2025)	December 5, 2025, 10:00	March 18, 2026, 11:00

The start falls between November 24 and December 27, and the reopening between March 10 and March 27. The same page also says “the surrounding town roads and forest roads are also closed for the same period.”

In fiscal 2025, the road was closed on December 5 because cold air approaching and snowfall were forecast. In its notice when the closure began, the Kumakogen Civil Engineering Office wrote this about the reopening time.

冬期閉鎖の解除時期は未定となっております。（例年は3月中旬ごろの解除になっています）

Translation: “The time to lift the winter closure has not been decided. (In most years, it is lifted around mid-March.)”

The same office’s page has an added note that the closure was lifted at 11:00 on Wednesday, March 18, Reiwa 8 (2026).

On the roads in Kumakogen Town that lead to the Shikoku Karst, there are also timed closures because of construction, apart from the winter closure. The Kumakogen Civil Engineering Office guidance page says that Route 1, which passes through the Town Road Shikoku Karst Plateau Line, has an obstacle to traffic until January 22, 2027, because of timed closures.

Freezing Remains After the Closure Is Lifted

When the Kumakogen Civil Engineering Office lifted the winter closure in March 2026, it added this note.

※1　冬期閉鎖解除後も、夜間・早朝の路面の凍結が発生する可能性がありますので、　　　当面の間は冬用タイヤの着用、チェーンの携行等にご協力下さい。

Translation: “※1 Even after the winter closure is lifted, the road surface may freeze at night and in the early morning, so for the time being, please cooperate by using winter tires and carrying chains.”

Even on the day a closure is lifted, the road may be frozen in the morning and evening.

Winter Tires: What the Ehime Prefecture Regulations Say

Article 12 of the Ehime Prefecture Road Traffic Regulations lists the matters that drivers must observe. This is item 2.

(2)　積雪し、又は凍結している道路において自動車を運転するときは、タイヤチェーン、スノータイヤ等すべり止めに効果のある装置を備え付けること。

Translation: “(2) When driving a motor vehicle on a road that is covered with snow or frozen, equip the vehicle with a device effective in preventing slipping, such as tire chains or snow tires.”

The words of the provision are “equip the vehicle” (備え付けること).

The page of the Shikoku Regional Development Bureau of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism says this about the rules of the prefectures other than Okinawa Prefecture.

都道府県道路交通法施行細則または道路交通規則にて積雪または凍結した路面での冬用タイヤの装着等いわゆる防滑処置の義務が規定されています。

Translation: “Prefectural enforcement regulations of the Road Traffic Act or road traffic regulations set a duty of so-called anti-slip measures, such as fitting winter tires, on snowy or frozen road surfaces.”

The page then says that “違反行為については、反則金が適用される場合があります。（大型:7千円、普通:6千円）” (a fine may apply for violations; large vehicles: 7,000 yen, regular: 6,000 yen).

The Ehime provision says “equip” (備え付け), and the Shikoku Regional Development Bureau page says “fit” (装着等), so the wording differs. They agree that anti-slip measures are required on snowy or frozen roads.

Winter Tire Restrictions on Expressways

NEXCO West Japan writes this about expressways in winter.

冬の高速道路では安全に走行していただくために、「冬用タイヤ規制」や「チェーン規制」を行う場合があります。冬用タイヤ規制を行っている場合は、冬用タイヤ（スタッドレスタイヤやスノータイヤなど）またはタイヤチェーンなどのすべり止め装置を装着していない車は走行できません。

Translation: “On expressways in winter, ‘winter tire restrictions’ and ‘chain restrictions’ may be carried out so that you can drive safely. When a winter tire restriction is in force, vehicles that are not fitted with winter tires (studless tires, snow tires and the like) or an anti-slip device such as tire chains cannot drive.”

The same page gives guidance on how to fit them.

For studless tires: “スタッドレス表記（国内表記）が表示されているものを全車輪に装着してください。” (Fit tires marked as studless (domestic marking) on all wheels.)
The side of a winter tire has the letters STUDLESS or SNOW.
For all-season tires, fit ones with the snowflake mark on all wheels.
“冬の高速道路では、冬用タイヤの装着はもちろん、万が一の事態に備えて必ずタイヤチェーンを携行してください。” (On expressways in winter, of course fit winter tires, and always carry tire chains in case of an emergency.)

In January 2026, checks of fitted tires were done with the police on the Sanyo Expressway, the Hiroshima-Iwakuni Road and the Chugoku Expressway. According to the NEXCO West Japan announcement, cars without winter tires were refused use of the expressway and were turned back to ordinary roads. This example is from Hiroshima and Yamaguchi Prefectures.

The name of the Matsuyama Expressway does not appear on the 2 NEXCO West Japan pages. A winter guide for the Matsuyama Expressway alone was not found this time.

Chain Restrictions: A Separate Restriction for Heavy Snow

A chain restriction is a different restriction from the winter tire restriction. The MLIT page describes when it is carried out like this.

大雪特別警報や大雪に対する緊急発表が行われるような異例の降雪があるときに行います。

Translation: “It is carried out when there is unusual snowfall, such as when a heavy snow emergency warning or an emergency announcement about heavy snow is issued.”

About the places, it says the following.

急な上り下りがある峠などで、過去に雪による立ち往生や通行止めが起こった場所の中で、タイヤチェーンを着脱できる場所や通行止めが解除されるまで待機できる場所がある区間で実施します。

Translation: “It is carried out on mountain passes and the like with steep ups and downs, in sections where vehicles have been stranded or roads closed by snow in the past and where there are places to put tire chains on and off or places to wait until the closure is lifted.”

Even cars with studless tires are subject to the restriction.

そのため、今回のチェーン規制では、スタッドレスタイヤを着けていても、タイヤチェーンをしていない自動車はチェーン規制中に通ることはできません。

Translation: “For this reason, under this chain restriction, even a car with studless tires cannot pass during the chain restriction if it is not fitted with tire chains.”

4WD cars are also subject to it, and the page says, “チェーン規制中はタイヤチェーンを着けていないと通ることはできません” (during a chain restriction, you cannot pass without tire chains). It says that putting tire chains on the drive wheels is the basic rule, and that the type that sprays a chemical onto the tires cannot pass.

In this page’s list of chain restriction places, Ehime has 1: Torisaka Pass on National Route 56 (Uwa, Seiyo City, to Kitatada, Ozu City, length 7.0 km). There are no Shikoku routes among the expressways in the list. The page has no update date, and its text mentions fiscal Heisei 29 (2017). The Shikoku Regional Development Bureau page has a heading “Preventive traffic restriction sections and chain restriction sections in Shikoku” (四国内の予防的通行規制区間・チェーン規制区間), but the sections are shown in an image and could not be read as text.

Studless Tires and Chains at Rental Car Companies

For the winter tire handling at each shop at Matsuyama Airport, this research found an official page for only 1 shop, Budget Rent a Car Matsuyama Airport.

当店ではタイヤチェーンの貸出はございません。当店では冬季も基本的にノーマルタイヤでの貸出となります。

Translation: “This shop does not rent tire chains. In winter too, this shop basically rents cars with normal tires.”

The other companies have nationwide guidance.

Company	List of standard studless equipment	Chains
Nippon Rent-A-Car	Hokkaido, Tohoku, parts of Chubu, Hokuriku and others are covered. Ehime is not included (as of April 21, 2026)	“Not handled anywhere in the country” (「全国でお取り扱いがございません」)
Toyota Rent a Car	Shops in Hokkaido, Tohoku, Hokuriku and others are covered (April 2026 to May 2027). Ehime shops are not included	The fee differs by shop. Some shops do not have them
Times Car Rental	Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Niigata, Ishikawa, Nagano, Tottori, Shimane. Ehime is not included	Not handled
ORIX Rent a Car	The list was not checked	“Only some shops” (「一部店舗のみ」)

Ehime not being in the list of standard equipment means only that its name is not in the list. It does not mean the tires are not rented. Times Car Rental writes: “スタッドレスタイヤのレンタルは、利用時期や地域、店舗により、取り扱いの有無や料金などが異なります” (Whether studless tires are rented, and the fee, differ by season of use, region and shop).

Nippon Rent-A-Car says “スタッドレスタイヤを別途お申し込みください” (please apply separately for studless tires) outside the standard-equipment areas, and treats them as a paid option. The Toyota Rent a Car option is 2,200 yen (including 10% tax) up to 24 hours for passenger car and van classes. ORIX Rent a Car says studless tires “cannot be selected as an option” (「オプションでの選択はできません」), and you choose a car marked “studless” when you make the reservation.

Whether the Toyota, Nippon, ORIX and Times shops at Matsuyama Airport rent studless tires in winter could not be confirmed. If you plan to drive mountain roads, ask the shop before you book. Some companies and shops do not rent chains, so think of them as something you prepare yourself.

Official Pages to Check Before You Leave

The road maintenance division page of Ehime Prefecture collects where to get winter road information.

下記のトンネル出入口や路線の気温・路面温度のほか、ライブカメラにより県内55箇所の路面状況をご確認いただけます。

Translation: “In addition to the air and road surface temperatures at the tunnel entrances and exits and on the routes below, you can check road conditions at 55 places in the prefecture on live cameras.”

Where to look is arranged by type of road.

What you want to know	Where to look
Road conditions in the prefecture	Ehime Road Live Cameras (えひめの道ライブカメラ) (Ehime Prefecture)
Closures and restrictions on national roads	MLIT road information system, live images of the Shikoku Regional Development Bureau
Expressway restrictions	NEXCO West Japan i-Highway, Japan Road Traffic Information Center
Whether a road is closed	Kumakogen Civil Engineering Office for the Ishizuchi Skyline, Ino Town Hongawa General Branch Office for the UFO Line

The telephone contacts are shown on the Ehime Prefecture page as follows.

Road information in the prefecture: Japan Road Traffic Information Center 050-3369-6638
National Routes 11, 33, 56 (Chuyo), 192 and 196: MLIT Matsuyama River and National Highway Office 089-972-0034
National Route 56 (Nanyo): MLIT Ozu River and National Highway Office 0893-24-5185
National roads not managed by the national government, and prefectural roads: Ehime Prefecture Department of Public Works, Road Maintenance Division 089-912-2720
Expressways in Shikoku: NEXCO West Japan Customer Center 0120-924-863

The Ehime Prefecture page explains winter roads like this.

冬場の道路は、積雪や路面温度の低下による路面凍結が起こる箇所があります。

Translation: “On roads in winter, there are places where the road surface freezes because of snow or a drop in road surface temperature.”

In the prefecture’s traffic restriction table, in the “Other” column for 3 sections of Prefectural Road 338, the Iwagi-Yuge Line (岩城弓削線) (Yuge Bridge (弓削大橋), Ikina Bridge (生名橋) and Iwagi Bridge (岩城橋)), “freezing” is written together with wind speed. On days you take this road, also look at the freezing information.

Road and camera information is not for looking at while driving. Have a passenger look at it, or look at it before you leave. The overall picture of the organizations that publish road information is in Where to Check Ehime Road Information Before You Leave.

What Could Not Be Checked This Time

The winter closure schedule for fiscal 2026. The periods written here are past records or “guides.”
The winter closure period that Ino Town gives for the UFO Line. The basis is the “guide” on the Saijo City page, and the Ino Town page did not give a period.
The winter closure of Saijo City Road Kamo Line 24 (市道加茂24号線) (toward the former Kanpuzan Tunnel (旧寒風山トンネル)). The official notice page could not be opened.
The winter closure of Okawamine (大川嶺).
Whether each rental car shop at Matsuyama Airport rents studless tires in winter.
How winter restrictions are run on the Matsuyama Expressway alone.

About This Article

The pages listed here were opened and checked on October 13, 2026. Closure schedules change from year to year, and some pages have old update dates. Please follow the signs on site and the latest guidance of the road managers.