Driving from Nyuto Onsen to Niigata Port

Please take a look at this google map: https://goo.gl/maps/6Q3Wh

In Feb 2015, I will be driving from Nyuto Onsen to Niigata Port for getting on a ferry going to Sado Island. Google Map says driving that route is approximately 5 hours. During that time I expect there will be plenty of snow, and I am not so sure if 5 hours is realistic?

Can anybody please give me an estimate how much driving time I should really be expecting? I am very concern whether or not I can make it in time for ferry.

Thank you

Maybe over 7hrs as around ave 50km/h drive (include stop of breaks)
bc toll road speed limit 50km/h usual by snow/ice
and not enough pass points slower cars on regular road like this.
http://youtu.be/__1Ou7XYDzY (x4 times speed play)

And winter Sea of Japan(Japan Sea) is bad wave conditions a lot
ferry operate cancel usual watch weather forecast cafully.
Higher wave and stong winds make stop ferry if blue sky.

Not so easy.

BTW, a lot of snow/ice road driving experiences
with good "hip sensor" for catching slipp start timing and good eyes?
If "No" will be like this. http://youtu.be/Qiqhj-OlNAs

@Mion Thank you very much for info and cautions. That was some scary video.

I do have experiences in winter driving. I am a very careful driver and so far no accident:-) Watching that video actually gave me more confidence that I'll be ok. I just hope other car won't hit me. Those drivers in the video seem to be driving a bit too fast and some are careless. Also I noticed that majority of them are older cars. Of course you shouldn't rely car's tech, but newer cars have incredible features that make big differences while driving in snow and ice. That's why I booked Nissan X-Trail 4WD with studless tires for 10 days. Yes, It is a very expensive rental. I'll be traveling solo and don't really need any big car, but I feel a lot safer in capable SUV than kei car.

Have you considered that on snow and ice what matters most for safety are the quality of the tires and the ability of the driver to correctly assess the limits of the physics?

Technology on snow and ice helps (sometimes) with accelerating, but for staying in control and braking it mostly does not help.

Also keep in mind that in Japan people drive very, very defensively, so even if you wanted to go faster, you might be stuck in (winter) traffic.

Yes, as I mentioned, the main cause of accidents in that video is speed. Drive slower and leave plenty of room between cars. This basic rules kept my winter driving accident free.

I guess each driver may have different opinion on car tech, but they do work for me. Not always of course. Everything have limitation. From my experience, there are big differences between driving a car built in 90s/early 00s and newer cars on slippery road.

From what I heard, people live in nothern Japan, who are used to snow and have high winter driving experience, actually drive fast. I'm afraid I'm the one that will probably cause the traffic XD

Newer model(as upper class) safer right
but most important fact is driver's skill over 90%.
4WD,snow tyre,ABS and more with high-tec fanctions are not perfect.
Safer cars exactly slipp or stuck timing later very comfortable range wide
but over slipping limit means "no contolable" will be big accident usual
just driver and passengers "No dead" usual NOT no crash.

Felt local driver "fast" also right they knows danger points very well
so no nervous always relux bc just home town if bad conditions be.
They also don't like snow/ice but must to move for own life with time limit.
If your car hip bite slow down(under 20km) quickly move to left with left flasher
at safe and enough distance road for over passing.
Pass driver will do "Thanks(Thank you) hazard" 2 times usual.
http://youtu.be/YPtFBKyGvCQ (This is not passing)

Bellow is drivers guide[PDF] for Hokkaido but useful info a lot.
http://www.hkd.mlit.go.jp/topics/toukei/chousa/h20keikaku/e/e_all.pdf
In snow drive need more technics and special tools
but not enogh good guide web/videos even in Japanese,too.
http://www.jaf.or.jp/dguide/yukimichi_drive/

And around Nyuto Onsen is snow deepsest in your plan.
This is mid Mar 2013 photo near Nyuto Onsen.
http://teiichi1945.web.fc2.com/jiteki.files/in_chiisana_tabi/4_130312n...

Have fun!

Thanks for great tips!!