Prefectural Route 4 Live Cam

History

Prefectural Route 4, commonly referred to as the Ichikawa Misato Fujikawa Line, traces its origins to the early Showa period when local governments began formalizing inter-village pathways into modern roadways. Initially little more than dirt tracks used by horse-drawn carts and packhorses, the route linked the agricultural communities of Ichikawa Town to the Fujikawa River basin, facilitating the transport of rice, timber, and lacquerware from the remote Hōsu District to larger market towns. In the 1950s, as post-war reconstruction spurred economic growth across Ishikawa Prefecture, Prefectural Route 4 was paved and widened, becoming a vital connector for rural industries seeking access to national highways.

During the high-growth era of the 1960s and 1970s, the Ichikawa Misato Fujikawa Line underwent a series of realignments to straighten dangerous curves and reduce travel times. Stone-cut tunnels replaced narrow switchbacks, and steel-reinforced concrete bridges replaced old wooden crossings. By the late 1980s, officials recognized the route’s strategic importance for tourism and emergency services, prompting a major expansion project: shoulders were added for breakdown safety, guardrails installed along cliff-side sections, and advanced signage introduced to guide drivers through snow and fog.