It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.

The Nihonkai Engan Tōhoku Expressway is an official designation consisting of several routes that link Niigata with Aomori via Yamagata and Akita,[2] reaching a total of approximately 322 km.

The next section is scheduled to open in 2009 (Nakajō Interchange to Arakawa Interchange)[4] to coincide with the National Sports Festival which is planned to be held in Niigata that year.

After this, all future sections will be built according to the New Direct Control System, whereby the burden for construction costs will be shared by the national and local governments and no tolls will be collected.

The route parallels the Uetsu Main Line of East Japan Railway Company and National Route 7 for much of its length.