Shuto Expressway system in 2015 shown in red, other interconnected expressways in green
The Shuto Expressway (首都高速道路, Shuto Kōsoku-dōro, "Metropolitan Expressway", lit. "Capital Expressway") is a network of
Tolled expressways in the
Greater Tokyo Area of
Japan. It is operated and maintained by the Metropolitan Expressway Company Limited (首都高速道路株式会社, Shuto Kōsoku-dōro Kabushiki-gaisha).
Most routes are
grade separated and have many sharp curves and multi-lane merges that require caution to drive safely. The speed limit is 60 km/h on most routes, 80 km/h on the
Bayshore Route, and 50 km/h on the
Inner Circular Route.
As of 2014, the cash toll for a standard-size car is
¥1300 regardless of distance traveled. Vehicles using the
ETC toll-collection system pay a distance-based toll ranging from ¥300 to ¥1300 for ordinary vehicles (see
toll price) – in some cases substantially less than the previous fixed-rate toll. Lower cash rates exist for certain radial routes (where there are only a few kilometers of expressway remaining) and
ETC users have various time-of-day discounts. For large vehicles, the toll is doubled.
The Metropolitan Expressway was first built between Kyobashi Exit in
Chūō, Tokyo and Shibaura Exit in
Minato, Tokyo in 1962 for the purpose of increasing traffic flow efficiency in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, thus optimizing and improving the functionality of the traffic system. Since then, 280 kilometers of highway network has been built in the Tokyo metropolitan area; 30 kilometers more of highway are either constructed or planned, making the Metropolitan Expressway a vast network of urban
expressways in the Tokyo region.
Like other expressways in Japan including the
Tōmei Expressway, the Shuto line has become a common
street racing road. One of the lines, the Bayshore Route (also known as the Wangan route), received worldwide notoriety during the 1990s as the home course for the Mid Night Club, one of the most notorious
street racing clubs, who were known for their 300 km/h, sometimes 320 km/h exploits.[1][2] These exploits and street racing culture on the Shuto Expressway have made it a well-known location for street racing and speed records.[3][4]
Inner Tokyo sections of the expressway prohibit motorcycle
pillion passengers due to poor road geometry.[8] The C2 route allows motorcycles with pillion passengers to travel through.[9] The ban does not apply to motorcycles equipped with a
sidecar. The segments with a pillion ban include the important C1 Inner Circular route and adjoining central Tokyo routes.
There are 21 parking areas scattered throughout the Shuto Expressway system. In general these are much smaller than the
service areas available every 30 kilometers (19 miles) or so on inter-city expressways.
Shuto Expressway system in 2015 shown in red, other interconnected expressways in green
The Shuto Expressway (首都高速道路, Shuto Kōsoku-dōro, "Metropolitan Expressway", lit. "Capital Expressway") is a network of
Tolled expressways in the
Greater Tokyo Area of
Japan. It is operated and maintained by the Metropolitan Expressway Company Limited (首都高速道路株式会社, Shuto Kōsoku-dōro Kabushiki-gaisha).
Most routes are
grade separated and have many sharp curves and multi-lane merges that require caution to drive safely. The speed limit is 60 km/h on most routes, 80 km/h on the
Bayshore Route, and 50 km/h on the
Inner Circular Route.
As of 2014, the cash toll for a standard-size car is
¥1300 regardless of distance traveled. Vehicles using the
ETC toll-collection system pay a distance-based toll ranging from ¥300 to ¥1300 for ordinary vehicles (see
toll price) – in some cases substantially less than the previous fixed-rate toll. Lower cash rates exist for certain radial routes (where there are only a few kilometers of expressway remaining) and
ETC users have various time-of-day discounts. For large vehicles, the toll is doubled.
The Metropolitan Expressway was first built between Kyobashi Exit in
Chūō, Tokyo and Shibaura Exit in
Minato, Tokyo in 1962 for the purpose of increasing traffic flow efficiency in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, thus optimizing and improving the functionality of the traffic system. Since then, 280 kilometers of highway network has been built in the Tokyo metropolitan area; 30 kilometers more of highway are either constructed or planned, making the Metropolitan Expressway a vast network of urban
expressways in the Tokyo region.
Like other expressways in Japan including the
Tōmei Expressway, the Shuto line has become a common
street racing road. One of the lines, the Bayshore Route (also known as the Wangan route), received worldwide notoriety during the 1990s as the home course for the Mid Night Club, one of the most notorious
street racing clubs, who were known for their 300 km/h, sometimes 320 km/h exploits.[1][2] These exploits and street racing culture on the Shuto Expressway have made it a well-known location for street racing and speed records.[3][4]
Inner Tokyo sections of the expressway prohibit motorcycle
pillion passengers due to poor road geometry.[8] The C2 route allows motorcycles with pillion passengers to travel through.[9] The ban does not apply to motorcycles equipped with a
sidecar. The segments with a pillion ban include the important C1 Inner Circular route and adjoining central Tokyo routes.
There are 21 parking areas scattered throughout the Shuto Expressway system. In general these are much smaller than the
service areas available every 30 kilometers (19 miles) or so on inter-city expressways.
Near Shiodome, C1 Inner Circular Route
Shinonome Junction
Ariake Junction
Rainbow Bridge on the Daiba Route
¥444.91 billion (2008)
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