Using Japanese Expressways and the ETC Card
Japanese expressways are toll roads. With an ETC card you can pass toll gates without stopping, and renting one with your car is the easiest option.
Renting an ETC card
- Choose the ETC card option when booking your rental car (small rental fee).
- Keep the card inserted in the car’s ETC unit while driving. You’ll hear a confirmation when you start the engine.
- Tolls are settled with the rental company when you return the car.
- Expressway passes for foreigners (Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kyushu, etc.) are also requested together with the ETC card.
Passing a toll gate
- Use the purple "ETC" or "ETC専用" lane. The green "一般" lane is for cash and tickets.
- Approach slowly at 20 km/h or less.
- Drive through when the bar opens.
- If the bar doesn’t open, stop — don’t reverse — and press the intercom (呼び出し) button or follow the staff.
Good to know on the expressway
- SA (サービスエリア)
- Service area — restaurants and a gas station
- PA (パーキングエリア)
- Parking area — mostly toilets and vending machines
- IC (インターチェンジ)
- Interchange (entrance/exit)
- JCT (ジャンクション)
- Junction (to another expressway)
- 出口 / 料金所
- Exit / toll gate
- Keep left to drive; the right lane is for overtaking.
- On weekends and holidays, ETC users get about 30% off on rural sections (urban sections excluded).
- Gas stations are only at SAs and can be far apart — refuel in advance.
Buy a pass or pay tolls?
If you’ll drive a lot of expressway over several days, a foreigner-only expressway pass may pay off. Compare with your plan in the calculator below.