Highway Tolls and Payment Japan Driving Tips

Japan Rental Car Guide - Highway Tolls and Payment

Driving on the highway in Japan for the first time and not sure which lane to take? You may encounter different gates such as “ETC”, “General”, and even “ETC/General”. If you are not familiar with them, you may go to the wrong lane or even be fined! This article will teach you how to use the Japanese highway toll system correctly, and also introduce how to set up Mapcode navigation so you can drive easily without getting lost.

Japanese Highway Toll Booth Guide (for rental cars without ETC card)

Entering the Highway

Select a Lane: Please select a toll gate marked “General” or “ETC/General.” This is the most common option and applies to rental cars without an ETC card.
Get a Toll Ticket: After slowly driving into the gate, an automatic machine will issue a “toll ticket.” Please keep it safe, as you will need to return it when you leave the highway.
Important Note: Never enter a dedicated gate marked only with “ETC,” otherwise the vehicle will not be able to pass and may trigger an alarm.

What is MAPCODE? Super useful when you can't find your destination with navigation!

Many tourist attractions or niche locations in Japan are not necessarily registered in the GPS navigation system. It is often impossible to find them by entering a phone number or address. In this case, you can use Mapcode (a coordinate code specific to Japan) to help.