How to Open a Recommended Route in Google Maps and Start Navigation
Google Maps navigation makes it easy to follow Roadism’s recommended driving routes.
(Let me briefly explain how this works, assuming you’re new to Roadism.)
| # | Overall Rating (*1,2) | Prefecture | Route (See Details) | Distance | Driving Time(*3) | Road Width (*4) | Scenery (*2) | Difficulty (*5) | Best Season | Google MapsNavigation (*6) | Video | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ①-② | S | Tokyo | Eitai Bridge – Chuo Ohashi Bridge – Tsukuda Ohashi Bridge – Kachidoki Bridge – Reimei Bridge – Harumi Ohashi Bridge – Gururi Park | 8.6km | xxm ! | 2-3 | S | Medium+ | ALL | ①-② | Editing | Night Info |
| ③-④ | S | Tokyo | Gururi Park – Fujimi Bridge – Nozomi Bridge – Odaiba – Kiyari Bridge – Shinonome Bridge – Toyosu | 11.5km ①-④-20km | xxm ! | 2-3 | S | Medium+ | ALL | ③-④ | Editing | Night Info |
Click the “Google Maps Navigation” link on the right side of the table, and Google Maps will open.
Unlike Google My Maps, this opens the route directly in Google Maps for navigation.
Google Maps may otherwise choose the shortest route to your destination, which can cause it to deviate from the recommended route. To prevent this, we have added key points along the route as waypoints in advance.
However, simply opening the route will probably not allow you to start navigation.
This is because you need to be on the route before navigation can be started. If you are not currently on the route, the button in the bottom-left corner will show “Preview” instead.
To solve this, add your current location as the first waypoint, then start navigation from there.
A note about route limits
Google Maps allows a maximum of 10 locations in total, including the starting point, destination, and waypoints.
In urban areas such as Tokyo, there are many possible routes, so a large number of waypoints may be needed to keep Google Maps on the recommended route. As a result, it can be difficult to fit an entire route into a single Google Maps route.
For this reason, the route shown above has been divided into two routes, even though the distance between them is relatively short.
Once you finish the first route, simply select the second route and continue your drive.
I’ve also included a short video showing how this works on Android.
I hope it helps you get started and experience the recommended routes for yourself!
See How It Works
*An English version of this video is planned for a future update.
Difference from Google My Maps
Here, the route in Google My Maps is set using only the starting point and destination.
If you click the Share icon in the top-right corner, you will see an option called “Embed a map on your site.” Using this option, you can display exactly the same information in your own Google Maps, including the yellow route and bridge markers.
However, this route does not work as a navigation route.
If you want to use it for navigation, you need to manually set the route yourself so that Google Maps follows the intended path.
Google My Maps is useful for marking points of interest and then finding the shortest route to them, but it does not seem to be suitable for specifying a particular driving route.
Therefore, you need to use two maps for different purposes: use My Maps to check points of interest and other route information, and use the Google Maps Navigation link to set up the actual navigation route.