How to use Route and Toll Guide

About the Route and Toll Guide

Q1. What is the Route and Toll Guide?

Based on statistical data of past traffic conditions, the "Route and Toll Guide" provides the route and reference time from any start point to the destination, as well as toll information, taking into account month and weekday changes, New Year's Day, golden week, Obon festival, etc.
Use this together with “construction schedule and traffic restriction information” for closure schedules of entry/exit points associated with construction.

Q2. How should I use the “Route and Toll Guide” effectively?
Q2-1. When planning a trip...

Use for finding information such as when you will arrive if departing at a given time, or what time you can depart to avoid congestion . Search by departure time to get an approximate arrival time. Specify arrival time in your search to learn what time you should depart at. In addition, since the trends for travel time within three hours either way are displayed on a graph, take it into consideration when deciding on a departure time. *Travel time is calculated based on past statistical data. It may differ from the actual travel time, so please use it in conjunction with “’Road Traffic Information Now!!’ of the Japan Road Traffic Information Center”.

Q2-2. Route selection criteria…

Displays in the search results up to four routes from “Route 1” to “Route 4” according to the specified criteria. These routes are either a “Route for the Inner Circular Route”, “Route for the Central Circular Route”, or “Route for the Ken-O Expressway”. If a suitable route is not found, the route with the shortest distance connecting the start point and destination will be displayed as “Route 1”. If you specify a transit location (up to three points), “Route with specified transit location” will be displayed. In addition, if there is a route on which the environmental road pricing discount is applied among the routes displayed in search results where “large vehicle” or “extra-large vehicle” is specified as the vehicle type, “Route with environmental pricing applied” is also displayed. Searchable routes are those between junctions and expressways other than the Metropolitan Expressway and entry/exit points, displayed in the search map (closed intervals are not searchable). A black line indicating a long term closure may be displayed on the route map, but note that the said line is not applied to routes in the search results.

Using search

Q3. How should I specify search criteria?
  • The start point and destination may be specified by any of the following methods:
  • Specify in "Search by Map"
    Choose the "Search by Map" tab, then hover the mouse over the [O] at entry/exit to display the available entry/exit direction marks. Click the [O] on entry/exit point or above the balloon [] mark of the part connecting with highways other than the Metropolitan Expressway to choose the point of departure, destination, and transit location.
  • Enter entry/exit points
    Assign via direct input in the column next to the point of departure and destination.
    Enter the name of the entry/exit point or part of the name you want to search in Kanji or Hiragana.
  • Specify in "Search by Name"
    Select the "Search by Name" tab for entry/exit points of the Metropolitan Expressway, then click the entry/exit point button on the locations classified alphabetically to choose the point of departure, destination, or transit locations.
  • Specify in “Search by Network"
    Entry/exit points of the Metropolitan Expressway can be chosen from the “Search by Network” tab. Click the button for each route starting from the Inner Circular Route to expand the entry/exit point button on the relevant route, and choose the point of departure, destination, or transit locations.
  • Specify in "Search by Address"
    Select the "Search by Address" tab, and enter a part of the name you want to search in Kanji, Hiragana, or Katakana in the text box.
    (Example) Tokyo, Roppongi Click the "search with entered keyword" button to display possible facility names in the search results list. This allows for assigning the names which met the search criteria as a point of departure or destination.
    The search range is largely the capital area shown on the route map (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, Saitama, Ibaraki).
  • Specify in "Search by Entrance & Exit Number"
    Select the “Search by Entrance & Exit Number” tab for entrance and exits of the Metropolitan
    Expressway. Click on the button for your applicable route, for example the Inner Circular Route, and entrance/exit
    numbers for the selected route will be displayed, allowing you to select departure/arrival/transit points.
    You can also search by entering the entrance/exit number directly to the departure/arrival/transit points.
  • How to specify other criteria
  • Specify vehicle type
    Choose either “compact vehicle/motorcycle”, “standard size vehicle”, “mid-size vehicle”, “large size vehicle”, or “extra-large vehicle”.
  • Time specification
    Specify a departure time or arrival time.
    Select a departure time or arrival time in intervals of ten minutes and 24 hours. If nothing is selected, or a search is done with a past time, the search is performed with the current time.
  • Specify a transit location
    Transit locations, potential congestion, and other criteria (potential application of the disability discount) can be chosen.
  • Display order
    You can switch the route display order from “by distance” to “by toll” in the search results window.
Q4. What are routes with designated transit location?

Routes with a specified transit location pass through designated transit locations on the main route, and have the shortest reference time. The transit locations go in the order of transit location 1 --> transit location 2 --> transit location 3.
If the destination cannot be reached by going through the transit locations in order, the following comment is displayed without displaying a route with designated transit location.
"No routes were found that pass through the transit point."

  • *
    Points with designated transit location can be chosen by entry/exit point name, and can be designated regardless of the entrance/exit direction.
Q5. What is vehicle classification?

Vehicles types on the Metropolitan Expressway are broken down into five types, “compact vehicle/motorcycle”, “standard size vehicle”, “mid-size vehicle”, “large size vehicle”, and “extra-large vehicle”. Click here for details on vehicle classification. If NEXCO intervals are included on routes displayed in the search results, when you click on the link (NEXCO Central Nippon “Drive Compass”) displayed on the left of the search results window, the vehicle type assigned in “Route and Toll Guide” is carried over, and a toll based on vehicle type is displayed.

Q6. How to use the “return route” button

After entering the departure point and destination, pressing the two-way arrow on the right allows you to switch the departure point and destination. In addition, select the “return route” button displayed in the search results window to switch the departure point and destination to perform a new search. Even if a transit location has been specified, the departure point and destination are simply switched, and the transit location carried over as is.

Q7. Potential congestion

Using past statistical data, traffic congestion is broken down into the following four categories, taking into consideration monthly and daily fluctuations, New Year, Golden Week, and Obon festival.

  Traffic conditions Selection criteri
Average traffic conditions Average traffic conditions for "a time of day at which the destination can usually be reached in a given time" For finding out the average time, without giving yourself any extra time For finding out the average time, without giving yourself any extra time
Slightly congested traffic conditions Traffic conditions for "a time of day at which it will take a little longer than usual" For giving yourself a little extra time
Very congested traffic conditions Traffic conditions when caught in a traffic jam that occurs about weekly (including traffic caused by accidents) For the average time when an accident has occurred
Severely congested traffic conditions Traffic conditions when caught in a severe traffic jam that occurs about once a month (including traffic caused by accidents) For the average time when a large accident has occurred

About search results

Q8. Criteria for using adjacent entry/exit points

Some entry/exit points on the Metropolitan Expressway can only be used in one direction.
For example, since the Sankeien exit on the Bay Shore Route can only be used going towards the east, you cannot get off in the Tokyo direction.
If the destination cannot be reached from the point of departure using the Metropolitan Expressway (including nearby connection roads on the map), it will display a route using an adjacent entry/exit point.
Use “Metropolitan Expressway Network Guidance” for entry/exit points on the Metropolitan Expressway.

Q9. Shifts in travel time give or take three hours

Scroll your cursor over the map on the search results window and the “graph of shifting travel time” at the bottom of the legend, allowing you to check by graph the shifts in travel time of routes shown on the map.
Travel times give or take three hours are shown centered on the horizontal axis for times specified in the search criteria.

Q10. How to view "Route description"

Click on "view route details" in the route description on the left side of the search results page to expand the detailed route from the point of departure to the destination, and display a route outline from the point of departure to the destination, from start to end.
The time displayed on the left is for JCT (junction) or time required to pass through an important transit location, and the time displayed at the center shows the time required to cross a particular section of the route.

Q11. The meaning of green, orange, red, and gray displayed on the map

The color display shown on the map indicates the upcoming traffic conditions.

  • Route guidance

    Green - Smooth (40 km/h and above)

    Orange - Congested (between 20 km/h and 40 km/h)

    Red - Traffic jam (less than 20 km/h)

    Gray - There is no traffic information about roads that doesn’t belong to shutoko

  • Outside route

    Skyblue - Smooth (40 km/h and above)

    Yellow - Congested (between 20 km/h and 40 km/h)

    Pink - Traffic jam (less than 20 km/h)

    Gray - Highway that doesn’t belong to shutoko

Notes and related sites

  • [Disclaimer]
    We strive to competently manage the display of tolls (including tolls after a discount was applied. The same applies below.) in [Tolls and Navigation] (hereinafter referred to as “the Guide”), but the tolls displayed in the Guide may differ from what you are charged by the Metropolitan Expressway Company (hereinafter referred to as “We”) or other expressway companies (hereinafter referred to as “Other Companies”) due to system trouble or for other reasons . . . . .
    In addition, the toll display at toll gates or the toll indicated on the on-board ETC device may differ from the actual charged amount on some roads.
    In that case, you will have to pay the amount We or Other Companies charge, regardless of the toll displayed in the Guide.
    In addition, even if there is an error in the toll or distance displayed in the Guide on a certain ground, you are deemed to be using the Guide with consent of this paragraph, so we will not comply with any requests such as to refund tolls.
    Pay the toll requested by the toll gate attendant at the toll gate.
  • [Tolls]
    Tolls on the Metropolitan Expressway are distance-based tolls that are based on the “toll distance” calculated from the shortest route from the departure point to the destination.
    If there are multiple routes connecting the interval from departure point to the destination, the “toll distance” will be the distance of the shortest route using only the Metropolitan Expressway, regardless of the driver's actual travel route.
    Moreover, if a different route is taken on the way back, the distance of the shortest route out of the outward route and return route will be the “toll distance”. However, when the Tokiwa Bridge entry/exit point or Yaesu entry/exit point is the start location or destination, if the route passing through the Metropolitan Expressway, continuing along the Tokyo Expressway, then connecting to the Metropolitan Expressway is the shortest, the distance via the Tokyo Expressway will be the “toll distance”. The distance on the Tokyo Expressway is not included in the “toll distance” in that case.
    Due to the above, the route displayed in the Guide may differ from the route that forms the basis for calculating the “toll distance” used for calculating tolls, so the toll may not correspond to the distance we have specified.
  • [Display of ETC discount tolls]
    The ETC discount applied to tolls on the Metropolitan Expressway and in NEXCO zones according to departure point, destination, and customer-specified criteria is automatically determined, and the ETC discount toll calculated.
    However, note that the ETC discount may not be applied due to your actual travel circumstances.
    If a NEXCO zone is included in the route, click on “view toll details (ETC/cash)” displayed on the left side of the search results page, and choose a discount type from “confirm discount toll” to update the total amount for the toll based on the selected discount (note that you cannot make a selection if the ETC discount is not applicable). However, note that it will not be reflected in the tab of search result routes.
    Large and frequent use discounts and some NEXCO discounts applied according to your usage amount are not reflected.Click here for detailed application criteria of ETC discounts.
    With some exceptions, the display of social experiment discount tolls lead by councils in each region are not supported.
  • [Non-searchable toll roads]
    Some toll roads that exist in the area on the route map are non-searchable, and thus not displayed on the route map.
  • [Consumption tax]
    The toll includes the amount corresponding to the consumption tax and local consumption tax stipulated by the Consumption Tax Act (item 108 of the 1988 Act) and Local Tax Act (item 226 of the 1950 Act).
    Therefore, the toll may change due to changes to the Consumption Tax Act.
  • [The display of tolls when the route cannot be displayed]
    If the names of the departure point and destination are identical, the route is not displayed due to the page configuration, but the toll is displayed if the route can actually be traveled along.
    The departure point and destination with the same name for expressways managed by Other Companies cannot be selected for the search.
  • [Unavailable nearby entry/exit points]
    The exit in the direction of travel may not be available even if the combination of entrance and exit are geographically close, on grounds of road structure or restrictions based on the Road Traffic Act.
    Therefore, note that the distance between the entry point and nearby exit point may differ from the toll distance.
  • [Reference time]
    This service provides an average reference time based on past statistical data. The travel time for a specific day is not provided.
    Moreover, the reference time may change due to factors such as an accident. Use “’Road Traffic Information Now!!’ of the Japan Road Traffic Information Center” to get current traffic information.
    Calculating the reference time based on the calculation level is not supported for certain periods such as the New Year holidays and GW. See “unusual travel times” for details.
    Reference time is displayed in minutes. Time of at least thirty seconds is rounded up, so it may not match with the reference time based on the displayed departure/arrival times.
  • [About replaying videos]
    Videos (footage) are taken of the entry/exit points on the Metropolitan Expressway.
    The signboards on the video (image) are from the time the video was taken so it may differ from the signboards placed now on the highway.
    We request you to drive safely according to actual identification and traffic standards.
    The video has no audio.
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