The highway serves as an alternative to Japan National Route 1 and the Meishin Expressway by bypassing Kyoto to the south of the city.

The route is signed E88 under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism's "2016 Proposal for Realization of Expressway Numbering.

"[1] The Keiji Bypass is a four-lane dual-carriageway that begins at Seta-higashi Junction in the city of Ōtsu in Shiga Prefecture.

The roadway of the Keiji Bypass continues on to the northwest as the Kyoto Jūkan Expressway.

Therefore, the distance markings continue from the sequence of Route 1, starting at 479.3 kilometres (297.8 mi) at Seta-highashi Interchange.