Expressway toll discounts begin; traffic up 46% in Fukushima

Sunday 29th March, 07:00 AM JST

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noborito at 07:52 PM JST - 29th March

Question: The discount is from 0:00 Saturday morning to 0:00 Monday morning correct.

So is this when you "get off" or "get on" the highway? If I leave Tokyo at 10pm and arrive in Hamamasu at 0:03am will I get the discount?

I heard from my friend that would be the case.
likeitis at 08:17 PM JST - 29th March

RichardtheFirst: It encourages the use of ETC which is a good thing. Luddites who clog the toll gates because they refuse to join the 21st century, cause traffic congestion for those of us with ETC equipped cars.

Why should anyone want to facilitate the electronicalization of highway robbery??

The true source of the problem is the toll gates themselves. Eliminate those, and then we can have more on-ramps and off-ramps, and they can also get rid of some barriers so that we can make U-turns in the event of traffic dead halts due to accidents.

Thanks to people who immediately jump through the hoops the government provides, we can expect the promises on the gradual reduction of Japan's exorbitant highway tolls to never transpire.
Richard_the_First at 08:39 PM JST - 29th March

Being able to u-turn would be useful, it's true. Of course toll free roads would be perfect but being Japan, it isn't going to happen in a hurry. Reduced fares is one way to reduce the impact of said highway robbery.
electric2004 at 08:40 PM JST - 29th March

Actually, I think it is partially a scam. On Saturday I traveled with both kids from Mito to Yokohama using the Joban Highway between Mito and Tokyo. Normal price should be 2450 Yen. It was 1400 Yen as the ETC and the display at the toll gate showed. Why 1400 instead of 1000? Then Tokyo Shuto another 630 Yen , and Keihin 150 Yen (no reduction). Returning on Saturday evening via Tokyo was 150 Yen on Keihin, and 540 on Tokyo Shuto. Then on Joban it is 2750 Yen normal price. However on Joban with reduction again the display shows 1400 Yen. Something is wrong or fishy with this announcement of a 1000 Yen limit.
likeitis at 09:06 PM JST - 29th March

Reduced fares is one way to reduce the impact of said highway robbery.

It is not going to last. Its just a way to indoctrinate people onto ETC. Its not even every day for two years, but just the weekends. In two years, it will be business as usual.

What is more, looking at the article, it also seems to be a way to leverage ETC to raid the tax coffers. The article says that the "losses" of the toll companies will be paid with our tax money. How are those "losses" calculated I wonder?

I am going to guess that everytime someone gets that discount, the difference is called a loss. And with the discount, people will use ETC at more than the usual rates. Very nice scam. And if you use ETC, you facilitated it. Some of us will undoubtedly make out through this. But the rates are not reduced I think. I think your discount is being paid for by the the whole country, every yen of it.
likeitis at 09:09 PM JST - 29th March

electric2004: However on Joban with reduction again the display shows 1400 Yen.

Sometimes you have to pay two tolls at one gate. That throws me all the time.

And, do you get a price displayed with ETC? I thought the price was recorded in your equipment and that you got no display at the toll gate?
thundercat at 09:30 PM JST - 29th March

Yeah, there is a display that shows you the price when you use the ETC system.

I think this discount is fantastic for those of us who live some distance from express trains. I find it funny that so many people want a discount for trains and in the same breath complain about crowded uncomfortable trains. Imagine how busy the shinkansen would be if it only cost 1000¥ from Tokyo to Kyoto. Now that would be a true nightmare!!

Seriously, get a grip people. This move is realistic, easy to implement and has a clear goal.
thundercat at 09:35 PM JST - 29th March

@noborito

Yeah, even if you get on the highway before midnight you will get the discount if you get off the highway after midnight. The previous discounts offered through ETC were the same set up. Does anyone know if the previous discounts are still in effect?
DeepAir65 at 10:13 PM JST - 29th March

well having just come back through the 17km queue on the tomei I'm in two minds. And what was that all about - get through the tunnel before machida and the traffic jam disappears, as if by magic!!!!!
likeitis at 10:37 PM JST - 29th March

get through the tunnel before machida and the traffic jam disappears, as if by magic!!!!!

It did not disappear. It was still behind you. It is a common phenomenon on crowded highways, especially when people have their heads up their backsides about moving when they finally get the chance. But, never fear, I have no doubt that as the 1000 yen novelty wears off, the traffic will die. It will not take people long to realize that the cost of a trip is far more than just the tolls, and most will start staying home again.

I think there will be a continued increase in traveling, but not at these rates.
GW at 11:41 PM JST - 29th March

deep

as cars approach tunnels many slow down even break a bit, sets up a chain reaction resulting in a traffic jam, once out of the tunnel they accelerate hence it disappears
hoserfella at 12:15 AM JST - 30th March

it amazes me that no one here seems to understand the greater scam involved. That is, the highway "discounts" will soon be available to all cars on the highway; ETC equipped or not. Its yet another dupe by the powers that be.
Mz at 06:32 AM JST - 30th March

electric2004 - discount only applies expressways outside the Tokyo and Osaka metropolitan areas subject to separate tolls. You get a discount on the shuto with ETC anyway
bcbrownboy at 10:01 AM JST - 30th March

Even with the discounts, this is the most expensive country to drive on expressways. Ridiculous. (And if you live in a metro-area--button your lip, 'cause you can't understand the prison we live in out here.)
electric2004 at 12:59 PM JST - 30th March

Likeitis:

When coming from Mito area to Tokyo, first I have to pay for Joban, then at next toll station for Tokyo shuto. The price is shown:

-On the display near the ETC gate -on the display of my carnavigation and the ETC voice tells me the price. These 3 numbers up to now are consistent.

Mz: Well, Joban highway in Ibaraki-ken is outside the Tokyo Metropolitan area. Yes, there is a discount on Tokyo shuto, depending on time of the day, but this seems to have not changed. Joban highway seems to have some reduction, but it is still more than the 1000 Yen announced. Also my Japanese wife and her mother wondered, why it is not the 1000 Yen limit for this highway part.