National Route 174 measures just 187 meters (614 ft) from its southern terminus at the Port of Kobe to its northern terminus, a junction with National Route 2 in Chūō-ku, Kobe.

This brief routing makes it the shortest out of all of Japan's national highways.

[2] On 18 May 1953, the road was established by the Cabinet of Japan as Second Class National Highway 174 between the Port of Kobe to its intersection with National Route 2.

That route was upgraded on 1 April 1965 to the current General National Highway 174.

[3] The entire highway is in Hyōgo Prefecture.