Irohazaka road near Nikko, Japan

Reading the road. Irohazaka road

If you've ever wanted to learn written Japanese, driving on this undulating uphill road offers an unexpected tutorial. These hairpin turns in our photo are just eight of the 48 curves you'll negotiate on your way up and down Irohazaka road, a scenic loop in the highlands outside the city of Nikkō. That's one sharp bend for each of the 48 hiragana symbols in an ancient Japanese writing system, with each marked by a sign showing one symbol. Under the circumstances though, you may think it better to keep your eyes on the road.