Expressway tolls are notoriously expensive. However, from March 28, 2009, the maximum toll for passenger cars on regional expressways across most of Japan will be reduced to 1000 Yen for unlimited distance on weekends and national
holidays.
The discounts, which will continue for two years, will apply to drivers whose vehicles are equipped with an
ETC (electronic toll collection system) device and who use the automatic toll gates. Excluded from the discount are expressways in the Tokyo and Osaka metropolitan areas as well as the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Expressway and the Tokyo Bay Aqualine bridge-tunnel.
From April 29, 2009, the discounts will be expanded to include journeys via metropolitan expressways.
For example, a trip from Shizuoka City to Kuwana in Mie (via Nagoya) - before 3/28 would cost 5100 Yen, between 3/28 and 4/26 1600 Yen, and after 4/29 1000 Yen!
Further information will be available on our website at the start of April.
Two other ETC discounts that are already in place are outlined below, and include links to official explanations:
- Commuter Discount 通勤割引- again, Tokyo & Osaka, a maximum of 50% off travel between 06:00-09:00 and 17:00 - 20:00, maximum of once per session, under
100km.
- Earlybird / Midnight Discount 早朝夜間割引・ 深夜割引 - certain highways offer a 50% discount if you get on the highway between 22:00 & 06:00 and travel
under 100km.
