zebedee 1 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Anyone here use ETC on the expressways? Do you end up saving? I want to know if it is worth getting it (from others people on here experience) for my car. Thanks Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 Just talking about it in the snow in japan thread. Normal fare from Nerima (Tokyo) to Kosoku (Nagano) is 4850 yen. With maximum ETC discount 2850 yen one way. From Nerima to Yuzawa 4600, with max ETC 2650 yen. Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 You are limited to 50% off in the discount times usually for up to 100km's. If you are going furthur you get no discount. Gifu for me is just under 100km's!!! Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted January 16, 2008 Share Posted January 16, 2008 No you are not indo, there are many holes in the system Link to post Share on other sites
sunrise 0 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 how does it work? what is it? Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Depends on the highways ya ride too. I have ours sussed, believe me... Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 2 ETC cards? Link to post Share on other sites
me jane 0 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Even without considering about the discounts - it's worth it just not having to stop at the toll gates. Link to post Share on other sites
indosnm 0 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 sounds like a scam! I usually never have to go furthur than 100km but if I go to Haks then I might try that. Do you have to get off with the first and get on with the other? Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Exactly, but not even need to get off. I just U-turn at the toll gate! Also you can do it with 1 card, but you need to drive between 2 discount zones. ie: get on the highway before 6 AM (even 1 min is ok) get off sometime after 6 and then get off at your destination after 7. You will get 50% twice. Link to post Share on other sites
tripitaka 0 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 How about from Osaka, Kobe or Kyoto?? Any advice? Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I was trying to check that yesterday for Ewok. You will definetly need 2 cards to do the 350~400 km root and it wont be significanetly cheaper than the night time discount. The only advantage is that you will be able to get the same discount even if you drive in the evening or early in the morning. Link to post Share on other sites
tripitaka 0 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Originally Posted By: tsondaboy I was trying to check that yesterday for Ewok. You will definetly need 2 cards to do the 350~400 km root and it wont be significanetly cheaper than the night time discount. The only advantage is that you will be able to get the same discount even if you drive in the evening or early in the morning. Sorry Tson, I'm a little stupid so could you explain 1.) the night discount and 2.) how 2 cards works for me. Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Night discount means that you will have to drive between 12:00 AM and 4:00 AM. You get a 30% discount on the toll, no mater how many km you drive on the highway. 12:00 to 4:00 AM is the night discount time zone. Now there are 2 more zones, the afternoon, morning zone and the late night early morning zone. The late night/early morning zone is between 22:00 and 6:00. You get a 50% discount (in some cases only 30% if you drive less than 100 km on the highway. The morning afternoon zone is between 6:00 and 9:00 and 17:00 and 20:00, again with the 100 km limit. The root from Osaka is about 400 km, which means that you have to split it into 4, 100 km parts. You get into the highway sometime in the morning and do the first part with one of the cards. Get out once and swap the cards and do the second 100 km part. Pass trough the gate at the 3rd 100 km point befor 6:00 AM and swap the cards again. And do the same for the 4th part. Link to post Share on other sites
tripitaka 0 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Originally Posted By: tsondaboy Night discount means that you will have to drive between 12:00 AM and 4:00 AM. You get a 30% discount on the toll, no mater how many km you drive on the highway. 12:00 to 4:00 AM is the night discount time zone. Now there are 2 more zones, the afternoon, morning zone and the late night early morning zone. The late night/early morning zone is between 22:00 and 6:00. You get a 50% discount (in some cases only 30% if you drive less than 100 km on the highway. The morning afternoon zone is between 6:00 and 9:00 and 17:00 and 20:00, again with the 100 km limit. The root from Osaka is about 400 km, which means that you have to split it into 4, 100 km parts. You get into the highway sometime in the morning and do the first part with one of the cards. Get out once and swap the cards and do the second 100 km part. Pass trough the gate at the 3rd 100 km point befor 6:00 AM and swap the cards again. And do the same for the 4th part. Why do I get more discount (50%) between 22:00 and 6:00 than between 12:00 to 4:00 AM (30%)? It makes the second discount redundant doesn't it? Secondly, having two cards would only get me 50% on 4 trips. Why is that any different from 50% on 1 trip? What is the benefit of getting off the highway? Link to post Share on other sites
bobby12 0 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I also do not follow logic of the above, and I've never experienced any 50% discount anywhere. When I go to Nagano from Kansai I make sure I leave at about 18:00 to arrive at 00:05AM and get the 30% night discount. Its actually the time most convenient to drive for me anyway so the discount is a nice free bonus. Link to post Share on other sites
tripitaka 0 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Originally Posted By: bobby12 I also do not follow logic of the above, and I've never experienced any 50% discount anywhere. When I go to Nagano from Kansai I make sure I leave at about 18:00 to arrive at 00:05AM and get the 30% night discount. Its actually the time most convenient to drive for me anyway so the discount is a nice free bonus. Bob, that's the only experience I've had as well. By the way, where do you get off and how far does it take you to Haks from there? Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 You can get a 50% discount only if you drive less than 100 km on the highway (that's why you have to get out before the 100 km point and get back on to do 100 more) and only in the morning and afternoon time zones. I will try to post more details later. If you guys tell me where you get on and off the highway, I will try to see if you can get a better deal in the morning or afternoon zones. If you can read Japanese, here is the home page that explains how ETC works. http://www.w-nexco.co.jp/ Link to post Share on other sites
bobby12 0 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 I normally go Nagano city and stay with family there. Nagano city to hakuba is about 50mins or so. The 50% discount sounds like too much hassle, I'd save an extra 2000yen on that 10000yen journey but it'd be too much stress trying to get it right, not to mention getting two ETC cards! Link to post Share on other sites
tripitaka 0 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Originally Posted By: tsondaboy You can get a 50% discount only if you drive less than 100 km on the highway (that's why you have to get out before the 100 km point and get back on to do 100 more) and only in the morning and afternoon time zones. I will try to post more details later. If you guys tell me where you get on and off the highway, I will try to see if you can get a better deal in the morning or afternoon zones. If you can read Japanese, here is the home page that explains how ETC works. http://www.w-nexco.co.jp/ Thanks Tson, if it's for the sake of a few thousand yen, it's not really worth worrying about (in my case). I don't drive because I don't have a vehicle but I should have a Delica van kitted out for living in for next season. There's a chance I'll be able to spend 3 or 4 days each week up there so I could try getting there without using a h/way. Link to post Share on other sites
tsondaboy 0 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 400 km on local roads! That would take you more than 10 hours m8. Link to post Share on other sites
tripitaka 0 Posted January 17, 2008 Share Posted January 17, 2008 Originally Posted By: tsondaboy 400 km on local roads! That would take you more than 10 hours m8. You're probably right. Guess I'll have to put with the tolls. Link to post Share on other sites
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