Japan’s expressways are fast and smooth. And while they are also expensive, they are a great way to quickly get out of a city like Tokyo, so you’re not spending your entire first touring day stuck in traffic.
The stress point for visitors is toll gates - especially the first time you see a wall of lanes, gates and different signage.
First principle: choose the right lane type
Japanese toll gates generally separate users into:
- ETC lanes (Electronic Toll Collection) - these gates are purple
- General lanes for cash or credit card, depending on the gate - these gates are green
- Mixture of both - these gates are half purple, half green. ETC is fine to be used in these lanes.
If you're on a guided Shogun tour, simply follow your guide into the correct lane.
Do tourists need ETC?
An ETC card sits usually underneath your seat, and collects the data on which toll gates you are going through. At the end of your trip, the your rental provider will then add up all the toll charges as you settle your final bill.
To ride in Japan, you don't necessarily need an ETC card. Plenty of riders tour Japan using General lanes - especially if they’re avoiding tolls most days and only using expressways strategically.
Rental companies usually charge a fee per day for "renting" the ETC card. Please be aware that not all rental providers offer ETC cards, so it’s best to check before you plan your routes.
One benefit of touring with Shogun, is that all our riders have complimentary ETC cards included in their booking.
The ETC-only trap
Some entrances/exits are signed as ETC-only. If you enter an ETC-only gate without an ETC card, you can create a real headache (and a dangerous stop). Please be very careful which lane you're going in to avoid any trouble.
Groups of riders going through ETC gates
If you’re riding in a group, don’t all approach the toll gates together at the same time. You’ll overload the sensors and the boom gate won’t lift. Shogun found this out the hard way when we first started riding in Japan!
Get into a single-file line with about a 10 metre gap in between, to ensure smooth flow through the gate.
Cash-only tolls outside the city
Even if you’re carrying an ETC, it always pays to have plenty of cash on hand when riding.
On certain non-expressway toll roads like the Izu Skyline, the Fuji Subaru Line, the Hakone Skyline and the road up to Nakadake Crater in Aso, the tolls gates are cash only. It's usually only between 100 - 300 yen for a motorcycle.
You do not want to miss these roads, so avoid an early end to your riding day by carrying cash with you!
Shogun touring
Whether you’re on a group tour or a self-guided tour, all of our bikes come with an ETC card, so on expressways you don’t have to worry about stopping and getting your cash out. This is really helpful when you want to get out of the city and into the twisties as fast as possible.
Plus, on our guided group tours and guided private tours, all your tolls costs are covered so you don’t have to worry about a thing!
