Snow around Kuju mountain roads?

Hi,
I will be doing the Trans Kyushu Highway route in late March and was thinking if there is any risk of snow on the roads or slippery road conditions...

Yes, there is a chance, but it is rather low.

Thank you Uji-san.
Sorry, but do you know any good source for up to date information on road conditions in Japan? Japanese is okay if no English page is available.

For Oita Prefecture:
http://dourokisei.pref.oita.jp/
(blue bordered pins indicate the need of snow tires or chains - as you can see, currently there are many of them because of the snowfall of January 20)

For Kumamoto Prefecture:
http://cyber.pref.kumamoto.jp/bousai/Content/asp/topics/topics_detail....

Wow, terrific. Thank you.

Well, are there any alternative routes from Aso to Beppu/Oita should there be any snow?

Since I will do a one way rental I dont think I can add snow tires...

Yes, you can bypass the higher elevations of Kuju by traveling as follows:
https://goo.gl/maps/yVSFN3w1g4x

Thank you for your help Uji-san.

There is no Japanese or other than Google maps that can provide road guidance, that take note on possible road closure, snow, etc?

Google maps still guide me through many of the closed roads around Kumamoto so it is not too relaible...

When you arrive in Kumamoto Prefecture or Oita, first visit the nearest tourist information centre or road station, they have latest paper road status map around Aso. You'll be able to grasp which road is possible by comparing it with your won.

Thank you.

I'd just like to plan ahead a bit as I would need to find some accommodation along the way, as to not make it too stressful. If I cannot cross the Kuju mountains then I maybe cannot stay around Kurokawa or Yufuin, etc...

I found a page called Drivetraffic
http://www.drivetraffic.jp/pc_en/map.html

But it does not even show any of the closed off roads around mt Aso, only seem to be bigger roads. Something like that would be neat but maybe not available yet in Japan... Only local maybe.

Thanks so much Snow (user) for asking this question. I'll be in this area next week so the links from Uji will be highly useful

http://www.qsr.mlit.go.jp/bousai_joho/tecforce/pdf/asoaccess
This is the map published on 13 Jan. Road in red is accessible regular road. Red circle with X is closed.
Vertical blue road is Kyushu Expressway from Tosu JCT to southbound. Upper horizontal road is Oita Expressway also from Tosu JCT to eastbound Yufuin.
Similar paper map can be obtained at road stations and tourist information desk.

Yes thank you. Sorry if I am being a bit annoying but still looking for something more like a road status map. But maybe there is no such equivalent that would take notice on closed roads like this, at least not outside the expressways...

Google maps still say I can go up mt Aso on the closed roads...