Expressways of Japan
Encyclopedia
The expressways of Japan
make up a large network of freeway-standard toll road
s.
, Japan's economic revival led to a massive increase in personal automobile use. However the existing road system was inadequate to deal with the increased demand; in 1956 only 23% of national highways
were paved, which included only two thirds of the main Tokyo
-Osaka
road (National Route 1
).
In April 1956 the Japan Highway Public Corporation
(JH) was established by the national government with the task of constructing and managing a nationwide network of expressways. In 1957 permission was given to the corporation to commence construction of the Meishin Expressway
linking Nagoya and Kobe
, the first section of which opened to traffic in 1963.
In addition to the national expressway network administered by JH, the government established additional corporations to construct and manage expressways in urban areas. The Metropolitan Expressway Public Corporation (responsible for the Shuto Expressway
) was established in 1959, and the Hanshin Expressway Public Corporation (responsible for the Hanshin Expressway
) was established in 1962. By 2004 the lengths of their networks had extended to 283 km and 234 km respectively.
In 1966 a plan was formally enacted for a 7,600 km national expressway network. Under this plan construction of expressways running parallel to the coastlines of Japan would be given priority over those traversing the mountainous interior. In 1987 the plan was revised to extend the network to 14,000 km. As of March 2005, completed sections of the network total 8,730 km.
In October 2005 JH, the Metropolitan Expressway Public Corporation, the Hanshin Expressway Public Corporation, and the Honshū-Shikoku Bridge Authority (managing three fixed-link connections between Honshū
and Shikoku
) were privatized under the reform policies of the government of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
. The expressway network of JH was divided into three companies based on geography - East Nippon Expressway Company
(E-NEXCO), Central Nippon Expressway Company
(C-NEXCO), and West Nippon Expressway Company
(W-NEXCO). The Metropolitan Expressway Public Corporation transferred its authority to the Metropolitan Expressway Company, while the Hanshin Expressway Public Corporation transferred its authority to the Hanshin Expressway Company. The Honshū-Shikoku Bridge Authority became the Honshū-Shikoku Bridge Expressway Company
, whose operations are planned to eventually be absorbed into those of W-NEXCO.
Japan's expressway development has been financed largely with debt. It was intended to make the expressways free when they are paid off. The Meishin Expressway
and Tomei Expressway
debt has been fully paid off since 1990. It was decided in 1972 that tolls would be pooled from all expressways to provide a single source of operating funds, since some sections were little used. Earthquake resistant construction methods have added to costs, as well as extensive soundwalling. Prime Minister Taro Aso
unveiled in March 2009 includes a plan to reduce tolls to ¥1,000 and around ¥1,500 on regional expressways on weekends and national holidays. Tolls on weekdays would be cut by around 30 percent. According to the National Expressway Construction
Association, 4.41 million vehicles use the expressways daily, driving an average of 43.7 km.
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make up the majority of expressways in Japan. 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 expressways serve travellers in Hokkaidō
and on Okinawa Island
, although those are not connected to the Honshū-Kyūshū-Shikoku grid.
(median). Some expressways in close proximity to major urban areas are 6 lanes, while some in rural areas are 2 lanes only with a barrier on the center line. 2-laned sections are built to a standard that allows conversion to 4 lanes in the future.
Speed limits are normally 100 km/h, and a minimum speed of 50 km/h is also enforced. Vehicles unable to reach 50 km/h, such tractor
s and moped
s, are forbidden from using the expressways. Speed limits may also be reduced temporarily (due to adverse driving conditions) or permanently (in accident-prone areas) as speed limit signs can be adjusted electronically.
Many rest facilities such as parking areas (usually only with toilets or small shops) and service areas (usually with many more amenities such as restaurant
s and gas stations) serve travellers along national expressways.
to Nagoya on the Tōmei Expressway
costing ¥7100 in tolls for an ordinary car. As of March 2009, the toll for most lengths of road on weekends has been reduced to 1000 Yen maximum for those using the ETC card system (detailed below).
With a few exceptions, tolls on national expressways are based on distance travelled. When entering the expressway, one collects a ticket, which can be inserted along with the fare into a machine or handed to an attendant upon exiting the expressway. There is also an Electronic Toll Collection
(ETC) card system installed in many cars which automatically pays at the toll gate. As of 2001 toll fees consist of a 150 yen terminal charge 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.
Tolls are always rounded to the nearest 50 yen and include consumption tax
. If there are two or more possible routes from the entrance to the exit, the toll will be calculated based on the shortest (cheapest) route.
Tolls collected from all routes are pooled into a single fund and are used to repay the entire network. It is expected that all national expressways in Japan will be fully repaid 45 years after privatization (2050).
Some future national expressways are planned to be built according to the New Direct Control System, whereby national and local governments will absorb the burden for expressway construction and operate toll-free upon completion.
are intra-city expressways which are found in many of Japan's largest urban areas. Due to lack of space many of these expressways are constructed as viaducts running above local roads. The two largest networks are the Shuto Expressway
in the Tokyo
area and the Hanshin Expressway
in the Osaka
area. There are other smaller networks in Nagoya, Hiroshima
, Kitakyūshū, and Fukuoka
. Each network is managed separately from each other (the Fukuoka and Kitakyūshū Expressways are managed by the same company
but are not physically connected to each other).
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All roads in Japan that are built to expressway standards (including national and urban expressways themselves) are known as . If a road for motor vehicles only cannot be classified as a national or urban expressway, it may be classified into one of the following categories.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
make up a large network of freeway-standard toll road
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
s.
History
Following World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Japan's economic revival led to a massive increase in personal automobile use. However the existing road system was inadequate to deal with the increased demand; in 1956 only 23% of national highways
National highways of Japan
Japan has a nationwide system of distinct from the expressways. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and other government agencies administer the national highways. Beginning in 1952, Japan classified these as Class 1 or Class 2. Class 1 highways had one- or two-digit numbers, while...
were paved, which included only two thirds of the main Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
-Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
road (National Route 1
Route 1 (Japan)
National Route 1 is a major highway on the island of Honshū in Japan. It connects Chūō, Tokyo in the Kantō region with the city of Osaka, Osaka Prefecture in the Kansai region, passing through the Chūbu region en route. It follows the old Tōkaidō westward from Tokyo to Kyoto, and the old Kyo Kaidō...
).
In April 1956 the Japan Highway Public Corporation
Japan Highway Public Corporation
, or JH, was a public company established after World War II to construct and manage highway networks in Japan, founded in 1956.On October 1, 2005, JH was divided into three private enterprises, East Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd. , Central Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd. , and West Nippon Expressway...
(JH) was established by the national government with the task of constructing and managing a nationwide network of expressways. In 1957 permission was given to the corporation to commence construction of the Meishin Expressway
Meishin Expressway
The is a toll expressway in Japan. It runs from a junction with the Tomei Expressway in Nagakute, Aichi west to Nishinomiya, Hyōgo . It is the main road link between Osaka and Nagoya, and, along with the Tōmei Expressway, forms the main road link between Osaka and Tokyo...
linking Nagoya and Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
, the first section of which opened to traffic in 1963.
In addition to the national expressway network administered by JH, the government established additional corporations to construct and manage expressways in urban areas. The Metropolitan Expressway Public Corporation (responsible for the Shuto Expressway
Shuto Expressway
is a network of toll expressways in the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is operated and maintained by the .Most routes consist of elevated roadway above other roads or over water, and have many sharp curves which require caution to drive safely...
) was established in 1959, and the Hanshin Expressway Public Corporation (responsible for the Hanshin Expressway
Hanshin Expressway
The is a network of expressways surrounding Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto, Japan. Operated by , it opened in 1962.Portions of the Hanshin Expressway collapsed during the Kobe earthquake on January 17, 1995. These sections were rebuilt by 1996...
) was established in 1962. By 2004 the lengths of their networks had extended to 283 km and 234 km respectively.
In 1966 a plan was formally enacted for a 7,600 km national expressway network. Under this plan construction of expressways running parallel to the coastlines of Japan would be given priority over those traversing the mountainous interior. In 1987 the plan was revised to extend the network to 14,000 km. As of March 2005, completed sections of the network total 8,730 km.
In October 2005 JH, the Metropolitan Expressway Public Corporation, the Hanshin Expressway Public Corporation, and the Honshū-Shikoku Bridge Authority (managing three fixed-link connections between Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
and Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
) were privatized under the reform policies of the government of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi
Junichiro Koizumi
is a Japanese politician who served as Prime Minister of Japan from 2001 to 2006. He retired from politics when his term in parliament ended.Widely seen as a maverick leader of the Liberal Democratic Party , he became known as an economic reformer, focusing on Japan's government debt and the...
. The expressway network of JH was divided into three companies based on geography - East Nippon Expressway Company
East Nippon Expressway Company
The , abbreviated as , is one of the main operators of expressways and toll roads in Japan. It is headquartered in Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda, Tokyo.The company was established on October 1, 2005 as a result of the privatization of Japan Highway Public Corporation. The company manages roadways mainly in...
(E-NEXCO), Central Nippon Expressway Company
Central Nippon Expressway Company
The , abbreviated as , is one of the main operators of expressways and toll roads in Japan. It is headquartered in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture.The company was established on October 1, 2005 as a result of the privatization of Japan Highway Public Corporation. The company manages roadways mainly in the...
(C-NEXCO), and West Nippon Expressway Company
West Nippon Expressway Company
The , abbreviated as , is one of the main operators of expressways and toll roads in Japan. It is headquartered on the 19th floor of Dojima Avanza in Kita-ku, Osaka....
(W-NEXCO). The Metropolitan Expressway Public Corporation transferred its authority to the Metropolitan Expressway Company, while the Hanshin Expressway Public Corporation transferred its authority to the Hanshin Expressway Company. The Honshū-Shikoku Bridge Authority became the Honshū-Shikoku Bridge Expressway Company
Honshū-Shikoku Bridge Expressway Company
The , abbreviated as in Japanese or HSBE in English, operates the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto, Nishiseto, and Seto-Chūō expressways and their respective bridges between the islands of Honshu and Shikoku, Japan...
, whose operations are planned to eventually be absorbed into those of W-NEXCO.
Finances
Meishin Expressway
The is a toll expressway in Japan. It runs from a junction with the Tomei Expressway in Nagakute, Aichi west to Nishinomiya, Hyōgo . It is the main road link between Osaka and Nagoya, and, along with the Tōmei Expressway, forms the main road link between Osaka and Tokyo...
and Tomei Expressway
Tomei Expressway
The is a national expressway on the island of Honshū in Japan. It is operated by Central Nippon Expressway Company. It is a part of Asian Highway Network -Naming:The word Tōmei is an acronym consisting of two kanji characters...
debt has been fully paid off since 1990. It was decided in 1972 that tolls would be pooled from all expressways to provide a single source of operating funds, since some sections were little used. Earthquake resistant construction methods have added to costs, as well as extensive soundwalling. Prime Minister Taro Aso
Taro Aso
was the 92nd Prime Minister of Japan serving from September 2008 to September 2009, and was defeated in the August 2009 election.He has served in the House of Representatives since 1979. He was Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2005 to 2007, and was Secretary-General of the LDP briefly in 2007 and...
unveiled in March 2009 includes a plan to reduce tolls to ¥1,000 and around ¥1,500 on regional expressways on weekends and national holidays. Tolls on weekdays would be cut by around 30 percent. According to the National Expressway Construction
Construction
In the fields of architecture and civil engineering, construction is a process that consists of the building or assembling of infrastructure. Far from being a single activity, large scale construction is a feat of human multitasking...
Association, 4.41 million vehicles use the expressways daily, driving an average of 43.7 km.
National expressways
Aomori Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Tōhoku Region. The capital is the city of Aomori.- History :Until the Meiji Restoration, the area of Aomori prefecture was known as Mutsu Province....
at the northern part of Honshū
Honshu
is the largest island of Japan. The nation's main island, it is south of Hokkaido across the Tsugaru Strait, north of Shikoku across the Inland Sea, and northeast of Kyushu across the Kanmon Strait...
and Kagoshima Prefecture
Kagoshima Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located on the island of Kyushu. The capital is the city of Kagoshima.- Geography :Kagoshima Prefecture is located at the southwest tip of Kyushu and includes a chain of islands stretching further to the southwest for a few hundred kilometers...
at the southern part of Kyūshū
Kyushu
is the third largest island of Japan and most southwesterly of its four main islands. Its alternate ancient names include , , and . The historical regional name is referred to Kyushu and its surrounding islands....
, linking Shikoku
Shikoku
is the smallest and least populous of the four main islands of Japan, located south of Honshū and east of the island of Kyūshū. Its ancient names include Iyo-no-futana-shima , Iyo-shima , and Futana-shima...
as well. Additional expressways serve travellers in Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
and on Okinawa Island
Okinawa Island
Okinawa Island is the largest of the Okinawa Islands and the Ryukyu Islands of Japan, and is home to Naha, the capital of Okinawa Prefecture. The island has an area of...
, although those are not connected to the Honshū-Kyūshū-Shikoku grid.
Features
Most expressways are 4 lanes with a central reservationCentral reservation
On divided roads, such as divided highways or freeways/motorways, the central reservation , median, parkway , median strip or central nature strip is the area which separates opposing lanes of traffic...
(median). Some expressways in close proximity to major urban areas are 6 lanes, while some in rural areas are 2 lanes only with a barrier on the center line. 2-laned sections are built to a standard that allows conversion to 4 lanes in the future.
Speed limits are normally 100 km/h, and a minimum speed of 50 km/h is also enforced. Vehicles unable to reach 50 km/h, such tractor
Tractor
A tractor is a vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a trailer or machinery used in agriculture or construction...
s and moped
Moped
Mopeds are a type of low-powered motorcycle designed to provide economical and relatively safe transport with minimal licensing requirements.Mopeds were once all equipped with bicycle-like pedals , but moped has been increasingly applied by governments to vehicles without pedals, based on their...
s, are forbidden from using the expressways. Speed limits may also be reduced temporarily (due to adverse driving conditions) or permanently (in accident-prone areas) as speed limit signs can be adjusted electronically.
Many rest facilities such as parking areas (usually only with toilets or small shops) and service areas (usually with many more amenities such as restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s and gas stations) serve travellers along national expressways.
Tolls
National expressways are expensive to use, with the 325.5-km journey from TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
to Nagoya on the Tōmei Expressway
Tomei Expressway
The is a national expressway on the island of Honshū in Japan. It is operated by Central Nippon Expressway Company. It is a part of Asian Highway Network -Naming:The word Tōmei is an acronym consisting of two kanji characters...
costing ¥7100 in tolls for an ordinary car. As of March 2009, the toll for most lengths of road on weekends has been reduced to 1000 Yen maximum for those using the ETC card system (detailed below).
With a few exceptions, tolls on national expressways are based on distance travelled. When entering the expressway, one collects a ticket, which can be inserted along with the fare into a machine or handed to an attendant upon exiting the expressway. There is also an Electronic Toll Collection
Electronic toll collection
Electronic toll collection , an adaptation of military "identification friend or foe" technology, aims to eliminate the delay on toll roads by collecting tolls electronically. It is thus a technological implementation of a road pricing concept...
(ETC) card system installed in many cars which automatically pays at the toll gate. As of 2001 toll fees consist of a 150 yen terminal charge 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 | 31.49 | 19.68 |
| Ordinary passenger car | 39.36 | 24.60 |
| Small and medium-sized truck | 47.23 | 29.52 |
| Large-sized truck | 64.94 | 40.59 |
| Special large-sized full trailer | 108.24 | 67.65 |
Tolls are always rounded to the nearest 50 yen and include consumption tax
Consumption tax
A consumption tax is a tax on spending on goods and services. The tax base of such a tax is the money spent on consumption. Consumption taxes are usually indirect, such as a sales tax or a value added tax...
. If there are two or more possible routes from the entrance to the exit, the toll will be calculated based on the shortest (cheapest) route.
Tolls collected from all routes are pooled into a single fund and are used to repay the entire network. It is expected that all national expressways in Japan will be fully repaid 45 years after privatization (2050).
Some future national expressways are planned to be built according to the New Direct Control System, whereby national and local governments will absorb the burden for expressway construction and operate toll-free upon completion.
Urban expressways
Shuto Expressway
is a network of toll expressways in the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is operated and maintained by the .Most routes consist of elevated roadway above other roads or over water, and have many sharp curves which require caution to drive safely...
in the Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
area and the Hanshin Expressway
Hanshin Expressway
The is a network of expressways surrounding Osaka, Kobe and Kyoto, Japan. Operated by , it opened in 1962.Portions of the Hanshin Expressway collapsed during the Kobe earthquake on January 17, 1995. These sections were rebuilt by 1996...
in the Osaka
Osaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
area. There are other smaller networks in Nagoya, Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
, Kitakyūshū, and Fukuoka
Fukuoka, Fukuoka
is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by...
. Each network is managed separately from each other (the Fukuoka and Kitakyūshū Expressways are managed by the same company
Fukuoka-Kitakyushu Expressway Public Corporation
The owns and maintains the Fukuoka and Kitakyūshū expressways in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. It is headquartered in Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture. The company was established on November 1, 1971 to manage the urban expressways built in the Fukuoka and Kitakyūshū areas.- External links :*...
but are not physically connected to each other).
Others
-
- Roads in this category are built to facilitate future incorporation into the main route of a national expressway. Examples include the Yonezawa Nan-yō Road, the Higashi-Mito RoadHigashi-Mito RoadThe is a 4-laned toll road in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Overview:The route is officially designated as a bypass for National Route 6, however it is functionally an extension of the Kita-Kantō Expressway...
and the Futtsu Tateyama RoadFuttsu Tateyama RoadThe is a 2-laned toll road in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.-Overview:The route is officially designated as a bypass for National Route 127, however it is functionally an extension of the Tateyama Expressway...
.
- Roads in this category are built to facilitate future incorporation into the main route of a national expressway. Examples include the Yonezawa Nan-yō Road, the Higashi-Mito Road
-
- Roads in this category are national highways built to expressway standards as designated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Examples include the Ken-Ō ExpresswayKen-O ExpresswayThe , or , is a partially completed ticket system toll expressway in Japan, owned and operated by the Central Nippon Expressway Company and East Nippon Expressway Company. In conjunction with the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line and the Bayshore Route of the Shuto Expressway, it will form a full outer ring road...
and the Tōkai-Kanjō ExpresswayTokai-Kanjo ExpresswayThe is a toll road in the Tōkai region of Japan. It is owned and managed by Central Nippon Expressway Company.-Naming:Officially, the route is designated as National Route 475...
.
- Roads in this category are national highways built to expressway standards as designated by the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. Examples include the Ken-Ō Expressway