Expressway Pass: An Affordable Unlimited Pass to the Highway

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Those who are planning to drive around Japan should obtain an Expressway Pass. It is a special discount ticket for foreign nationals using the highways. This article is about how to reserve and use the ticket, its target area, and the price.

Written by

Mizzochi

Mitoyo, Kagawa, Japan

I worked in a PR agency for corporate IR/CSR and a publisher which publishes a magazine focused on international cooperation before joining MATCHA in October 2017.

In April 2019, I moved to Mitoyo City in Kagawa Prefecture. I write articles for tourists visiting Japan, and also contribute to regional revitalization.

My main focus is on writing about internet services, rental cars, hotels, and tourist attractions in western Japan.

Photo by Pixta

Expressway Pass is a fixed-rate pass that can be used on Japanese highways. It is available to foreign nationals with passports, such as international tourists or students.

The following are the four areas that a pass can be used.

Hokkaido (Hokkaido Expressway Pass: HEP)
Tohoku (Tohoku Expressway Pass: TEP)
Kyushu (Kyushu Expressway Pass: KEP)
San'in-Setouchi-Shikoku (San'in-Setouchi-Shikoku Expressway Pass: SEP)

Expressway Pass offers great value to those who are planning to tour Japan by car.

The pass can be used at ETC (electronic toll collection) booths, so users will not have to speak Japanese.

They can pass through the gates without stopping, so it will be time-saving as well.

This article is about the details, how to reserve and use the pass, and its target area.

1. Discount Rate

2. Eligibility

3. How to Apply

4. How to Use the Pass

5. Target Areas/Price

Discount Rate

The following is a comparison of the Expressway Pass, normal highway toll, and the Shinkansen, to see how effective the special pass is.

Hokkaido (Between Sapporo and Hakodate)

Shin-Chitose Airport/Photo by Pixta

The minumum period for a Hokkaido Expressway Pass is 4 days. The price is 7,700 yen (standard-sized car).

In a case of a round trip of Sapporo and Hakodate, the Expressway Pass is 4,540 yen less than a normal highway toll, and 8,920 yen less than a Shinkansen.

Round Trip (Sapporo and Hakodate)	Normal Toll	Expressway Pass	Shinkansen
Fare	12,240 yen	7,700 yen	16,620 yen

Kyushu (From Fukuoka to Nagasaki to Kumamoto)

The Mt. Aso Area/Photo by Pixta

Most people will embark on a Kyushu tour from Fukuoka.

In case of a 3 day trip starting from Fukuoka, touring Nagasaki and Kumamoto, and back to Fukuoka, the Expressway Pass turns out be 3,180 yen less than a normal highway toll, and 10,660 yen less than a Shinkansen.

Fukuoka to Nagasaki to Kumamoto to Fukuoka	Normal Toll	Expressway Pass	Shinkansen
Fare	11,580 yen	8,400 yen	19,060 yen

Breakdown
・Normal Toll (Standard-sized Car)
Fukuoka Interchange (IC) to Nagasaki IC: 3,840 yen/Nagasaki IC to Kumamoto IC: 4,810 yen/Kumamoto IC to Fukuoka IC: 2,930 yen
・Shinkansen
Hakata to Nagasaki: 5,520 yen (Riding the Relay Kamome Express between Hakata and Takeo Onsen)/Nagasaki to Kumamoto: 8,840 yen (Riding the Relay Kamome Express between Nagasaki and Takeo Onsen)/Kumamoto to Hakata: 4,700 yen

Eligibility

Photo by Pixta

The Expressway Pass can be purchased by the following people.

A foreign national with a passport.

A Japanese with a permanent residence in a foreign country.

Either of the above, and a holder of a driving license that is valid in Japan.

JR Pass, an all-you-can-ride ticket, is only available to tourists from abroad, staying in Japan for a short while. On the other hand, Expressway Pass is available to foreign nationals who are long-term residents, such as students.

How to Apply

Expressway Pass cannot be purchased on booking sites such as Klook.

Applications must be made via the official sites of rental-car firms.

Nippon Rent-A-Car

Nippon Rent-A-Car may be the easiest firm to apply. The procedure is as follows.

1. Make a reservation via the normal application form.
2. Afterwards, send an e-mail to global@nipponrentacar.co.jp.

What to Write on the E-mail
The title should be "Expressway Pass," and list the following information.
Name
Reservation number
Type of car
Period of use
Office for departure/arrival
Please note that the mail must be written in either English or Japanese.

Those who find English difficult should copy the template below.

English Mail Template
Title: Expressway Pass
I would like to use the Expressway Pass with Nippon Rent-A-Car. My information is as follows.
Name:
Reservation number:
Type of car:
Period of use:
Office for departure/arrival:

For further information about the Expressway Pass, please check the firm's official site.

Other Firms

As of December, 2024, users must make a phone call to the rental-car office, and book a car and the pass.

So it might be easier to use Nippon Rent-A-Car.

MATCHA is offering a 10% discount coupon which can be used with an Expressway Pass. Just click the banner below, and check the coupon.

Nippn Rent-A-Car 10% Discount Coupon

Period of Use

Please note that the period of use for the Expressway Pass cannot be extended. So be sure to check your itinerary, and choose a pass that fits the plan.

How to Use the Pass

Photo by Pixta

Don't forget to receive an ETC card that includes an Expressway Pass package at the rental-car office.

Keep the card in the reader during the drive on the highway. Remember to use the ETC booth at the toll gate.

In regard to the ETC and highways in Japan, please check the following article.

About the ETC Card

Japan is considered as a secure and safe country.

But to prevent theft, it would be wise to take the ETC card with you after parking. If stolen, the card might cause monetary damage.

To avoid such a situation, remember to take precautions.

Target Areas/Price

Hokkaido

Target Area/Picture courtesy of Expressway Pass Hokkaido Official Site

Hokkaido, rich in nature and history, also offers sightseeing destinations such as Sapporo, Hakodate, and Otaru. As the number of trains is limited, a rental car will come in handy.

The details of the pass are as follows.

Number of Days	Standard-sized Car	Subcompact Car
4	7,700 yen	6,200 yen
5	9,600 yen	7,700 yen
6	11,600 yen	9,300 yen
7	13,500 yen	10,800 yen
8	15,400 yen	12,300 yen

Official Site: https://en.driveplaza.com/drawari/hokkaido_expass/

Tohoku

Picture courtesy of Expressway Pass Tohoku Official Site

The Tohoku Region includes cities such as Sendai, Akita, and Aomori. It is rich in nature, the scenery changing by the season, and also boasts a deep cultural heritage. While the vast region is dotted with tourist destinations, public transports are scarce in some areas.

So to fully enjoy the region, a rental car is recommended.

The details of the pass are as follows.

Number of Days	Standard-sized Car	Subcompact Car
4	8,500 yen	6,800 yen
5	10,600 yen	8,500 yen
6	12,800 yen	10,200 yen
7	14,900 yen	11,900 yen
8	17,000 yen	13,600 yen

Official Site: https://en.driveplaza.com/drawari/tohoku_expass/

Kyushu

Picture courtesy of Expressway Pass Kyushu Official Site

Fukuoka, Nagasaki, and Kumamoto, all located in the region, are cities where the historic and modern cityscapes co-exist.

But they are located away from each other, separated by distance, and public transports are limited at some tourist destinations.

A rental car allows travelers to tour the cities at their own pace, visiting wherever they want.

The details are as follows.

Number of Days	Standard-sized Car
2	6,200 yen
3	8,400 yen
4	10,600 yen
5	12,800 yen
6	15,000 yen
7	17,200 yen
8	19,400 yen
9	21,600 yen
10	23,800 yen

Official Site: https://global.w-nexco.co.jp/en/kep/

San'in-Setouchi-Shikoku

Picture courtesy of Expressway Pass San'in-Setouchi-Shikoku Official Site

Matsue, Hiroshima, and Takamatsu, all located in the San'in-Setouchi-Shikoku area, boast historic cityscapes. As tourist destinations are dotted all over this area, a rental car is the best choice to enjoy its appeals.

A drive along the calm Seto Inland Sea is another way to enjoy the trip.

The pass details are as follows.

Number of Days	Standard-sized Car
3	10,700 yen
4	11,700 yen
5	12,700 yen
6	13,700 yen
7	14,700 yen
8	15,700 yen
9	16,700 yen
10	17,700 yen

Official Site: https://global.w-nexco.co.jp/en/sep/

Chubu

There used to be a Central Nippon Expressway Pass, which covered Nagoya and the Kansai Region, but its application period has already ended.

Nippn Rent-A-Car Coupon

Nippn Rent-A-Car 10% Discount Coupon

FAQs

Is there an Expressway Pass that can be used all over Japan?

There was Japan Expressway Pass (JEP), but its service has already ended.

Is there an Expressway Pass that can be used in the Kanto Region or Tokyo?

No. The alternative is the Kita-Kanto Tour Pass (Japanese), which covers a round trip from the metropolitan area to either Gunma, Tochigi, or Ibaraki. Drivers can also ride the highways in the designated areas.

Is there an Expressway Pass that can be used in Osaka or the Kansai Region?

No. The alternative is the Kansai Area Tour Pass (Japanese), which allows the driver to ride the highways in Kyoto, Hyogo, Nara, and Wakayama prefectures.

How should I pay the highway toll?

The Expressway Pass is tied to the special ETC card provided by the car-rental firm. The user goes through the highway ETC booths, and pay the toll when returning the car.

The driver can pay cash at the toll booths, instead of using an Expressway Pass. But please note that these types of booth are on the decline.

What is the difference between a standard-sized car and a subcompact car in Japan?

The two types differ in highway tolls. There is no size limit for a standard-sized car, while a subcompact must be shorter than 3.4 meters in length.

Also, the former must be over 660 cubic centimeter in engine displacement, and the number of passengers is 5 to 9 people. The latter is under 660 cubic centimeter in engine displacement, and the number of passengers is 4 people maximum.

Main image by Pixta

Read also

Written by

Mizzochi

Mitoyo, Kagawa, Japan

I worked in a PR agency for corporate IR/CSR and a publisher which publishes a magazine focused on international cooperation before joining MATCHA in October 2017.

In April 2019, I moved to Mitoyo City in Kagawa Prefecture. I write articles for tourists visiting Japan, and also contribute to regional revitalization.

My main focus is on writing about internet services, rental cars, hotels, and tourist attractions in western Japan.

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