To improve regeneration efficiency by a method of increasing the passage area of a regeneration passage to a maximum area formable in a spool.

This direction switching valve is so formed that the spool hole 2 of a valve body 1 comprises openings for feed passages 6a and 6b communicated with a pump; a first load passage 10 communicated with one chamber 59 of an actuator; a second load passage 11 communicated with another passage of an actuator; and tank passages 12a and 12b, and has a first switching position by the slide position of a spool inserted in the spool hole. The first switching position is situated in a position wherein the first switching position intercommunicates a feed passage and the first load passage 10 and a second load passage and a tank passage are intercommunicated through a throttle 16. The valve opens to connect the second load passage to the feed passage as a result of a pressure in the second load passage being increased to a value higher than a pressure in the first load passage through a regeneration passage equipped with a regeneration valve. The regeneration passage 15 comprises an inner hole 26 formed in the internal part of the spool along an axial direction and a connection passage 25 opened to the peripheral surface of the inner hole, and a spool type valve element 18 is inserted in an inner hole of the regeneration valve so as to open and close the opening of the connection passage.