Nationwide expressway pass for foreigners to be launched

September 26, 2017

TOKYO- Japan will launch a nationwide expressway pass that allows visitors from abroad to take unlimited rides for one or two weeks at fixed costs, transport and tourism minister Keiichi Ishii said Tuesday.

Visitors with foreign passports using designated rental car services will be allowed to make unlimited use of expressways of East Nippon Expressway Co. (Nexco-East), Central Nippon Expressway Co. (Nexco-Central), West Nippon Expressway Co. (Nexco-West) and some other expressway operators.

But the pass will not cover Nexco-East's expressways in Hokkaido, Metropolitan Expressway Co.'s expressways in and around Tokyo or Hanshin Expressway Co.'s expressways in and near Osaka.

The seven-day pass will be priced at 20,000 yen and the 14-day pass at 34,000 yen, with their sales starting on Oct. 13. Applications for the pass will be accepted at 275 rental car service outlets across Japan.

Announcing the launch of the pass at a press conference, Ishii expressed hope that the pass will lead foreign tourists to visit various regions. Jiji Press