tolls yen or electronic?

[ttuchin 0]

Getting real close to heading over there for skiing now and thanks to all of you who have helped us with info on driving in Japan. One final question....many of the toll roads in Australia require an electronic tag that must be purchased ahead of time. Anyone know if that is the same with the japanese expressways or whether we must have stacks of coins/yen to pay the tolls as we reach each one?

[threep 0]

You won't be able to use the electronic system as a tourist with a hire car. Therefore make sure you carry yen with you.

 

Toll booths are usually manned, you hand over your ticket and a display tells you how much you owe. Folding stuff is what you'll need mostly, but ccasionally you will find a toll road with a coin bin (like from the expressway going up to Shiga Kogen) so it pays to have some 100 & 50 yen coins to hand too.

[soubriquet 0]

They accept credit cards.

[ttuchin 0]

thanks threep and soubriquet

[indosnm 0]

 Quote:

Originally posted by soubriquet:
They accept credit cards.

Not all do accept credit cards so be prepared with cash! (Nagoya expressway doesn't, can you believe that?)

If you are renting a car you may be able to use ETC. Thats a similar electronic tag system to oz where your credit card is billed. ETC is the way to go if you can as mornings from about 5am - 9am and evenings 5-9pm get a 50% discount.

[Curt 1]

I didn't know that Indosnm (the discount bit). Thanks for putting me on it, might be worth it for me.

[keba 0]

I'm renting a 4WD through Nippon Rent-a-car, and they assure me that the car is equipped with ETC, but that separate arrangements need to be made to activate a credit card account.