Expressways of Japan

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The expressways (高速道路 kōsokudōro, lit. high-speed road) of Japan make up a large network of freeway-standard toll roads carrying traffic at speeds up to 100 km/h. This network boasts an uninterrupted link between Aomori Prefecture at the northern part of Honshū and Kagoshima Prefecture at the southern part of Kyūshū, linking Shikoku as well. Additional highways serve travellers in Hokkaidō and on Okinawa Island, although those are not connected to the Honshū-Kyūshū-Shikoku grid.

The roads, formerly owned and operated by the Japan Highway Public Corporation, were split among the East Nippon Expressway Company, Central Nippon Expressway Company and West Nippon Expressway Company on October 1, 2005. All of Japan's toll roads are managed in the Build-Operate-Transfer system.[citation needed]

When entering the expressway, one collects a ticket, which can be inserted along with the fare into a machine on the way out. There is also an electronic toll collection card system installed in many cars which automatically pays at the toll gate.

Japan has the most expensive toll system in the world.[citation needed] As of 2001 toll fees consist of a 150 yen terminal charge paid each time you exit the tollway plus a fee which depends on the distance travelled. The rate of this fee depends on the type of vehicle as shown in the following table.

Type of vehicle rate in yen/mile rate in yen/km
Light car and motorcycle 19.68 12.23
Ordinary passenger car 24.60 15.29
Small and medium-sized truck 29.52 18.34
Large-sized truck 40.59 25.22
Special large-sized full trailer 67.65 42.04

Contents

[edit] List of expressways

[edit] Metropolitan expressways

These networks serve the areas around cities, and are owned and operated by separate companies.

[edit] Hokkaidō

All expressways on Hokkaidō are owned and operated by the East Nippon Expressway Company.

  • Asahikawa-Monbetsu Expressway
  • Doto Expressway
  • Douou Expressway
  • Fukagawa-Rumoi Expressway
  • Hakodate-Esashi Expressway
  • Hidaka Expressway
  • Obihiro-Hiroo Expressway
  • Sasson Expressway

[edit] Honshū

Expressways on Honshū are split among the three companies.

[edit] Kyūshū

All expressways on Kyūshū are owned and operated by the West Nippon Expressway Company.

  • Higashi Kyūshū Expressway
  • Kyūshū Expressway
  • Minami Kyūshū Nishimawari Expressway
  • Miyazaki Expressway
  • Nagasaki Expressway
  • Nishi-Kyūshū Expressway
  • Ōita Expressway

[edit] Okinawa

All expressways on Okinawa are owned and operated by the West Nippon Expressway Company.

[edit] Shikoku

All expressways on Shikoku are owned and operated by the West Nippon Expressway Company.

  • Imabari-Komatsu Expressway
  • Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway
  • Kochi Expressway
  • Matsuyama Expressway
  • Nishi-Seto Expressway
  • Seto-Chūō Expressway
  • Takamatsu Expressway
  • Tokushima Expressway

[edit] External links

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