Notice regarding the "Commuter Pass" social experiment

~Applications for social experiment to begin in October 2025 in six prefectures nationwide~

PDF version [PDF: 697KB]

September 9, 2025
East Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd.
Central Nippon Expressway Company Limited
West Nippon Expressway Company Limited

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, East Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd., Central Nippon Expressway Company Limited, and West Nippon Expressway Company Limited have decided to begin accepting applications for the "Commuter Pass" social experiment, which has been running in six prefectures across Japan (Hokkaido, Niigata, Ishikawa, Yamanashi, Kagawa, and Nagasaki) since April 2024, and will begin accepting applications in October 2025.
Weekday morning and evening discounts on Expressway are implemented with the aim of promoting the use of Expressway with ample traffic capacity in order to alleviate congestion on general roads parallel to them during Expressway hour. However, the Interim Report (dated August 4, 2021) of the National Trunk Road Subcommittee of the Road Subcommittee of the Council for Social Capital Development stated that "it is necessary to respond to diversifying work schedules, including by reviewing the conditions for applicable time periods," and "for Expressway that are congested during rush hour, it is necessary to devise measures such as spreading traffic across the time periods before and after." Based on the "Basic Policy on New Expressway Tolls" revised on December 22, 2023, trials and verifications are being conducted with a view to revising the weekday morning and evening discounts.
To use the Commuter Pass, you will need to apply in advance for the type of vehicle and route you will be using, as before. Applications for use from October 2025 to March 2026 will begin at 2:00 PM on Thursday, September 11, 2025.

Contents of social experiment

1. What is a Commuter Pass? *No change

  • This discount allows you to enjoy up to 50% off within the specified section regardless of the day of the week or time of day.
  • If you specify the vehicle type and section in advance and apply, you can use the service for up to three trips per day for one month from the beginning of the month to the end of the month.

2. Implementation period

October 1, 2025 (Wednesday) - March 31, 2026 (Tuesday)

3. Recruitment period and application method *The application method remains unchanged.

Recruitment period (use period) Application period
① October 1, 2025 (Wednesday) - October 31, 2025 (Friday) September 11, 2025 (Thursday) 14:00 to September 30, 2025 (Tuesday) 23:59
②Saturday, November 1, 2025 to Sunday, November 30, 2025 September 11, 2025 (Thursday) 14:00 - October 31, 2025 (Friday) 23:59
③December 1, 2025 (Monday) to December 31, 2025 (Wednesday) September 11, 2025 (Thursday) 14:00 - November 30, 2025 (Sunday) 23:59
④January 1, 2026 (Thursday) - January 31, 2026 (Saturday) September 11, 2025 (Thursday) 14:00 - December 31, 2025 (Wednesday) 23:59
⑤February 1, 2026 (Sunday) - February 28, 2026 (Saturday) September 11, 2025 (Thursday) 14:00 to January 31, 2026 (Saturday) 23:59
⑥March 1st (Sunday) - March 31st (Tuesday), 2026 September 11, 2025 (Thursday) 14:00 to February 28, 2026 (Saturday) 23:59

Please apply via the websites of the companies listed below during the application period mentioned above.

4. Applicable vehicles *No change

Light vehicles, etc. and ordinary vehicles traveling in designated areas using ETC wireless communication
(ETC credit card and ETC personal card only)

  • Please note that usage with ETC corporate cards is not eligible.

5. Designated section/sales price (available amount) *No change

area Target IC/designated section
Hokkaido E5 Hokkaido Expressway Sapporo Minami IC ⇔ Kitahiroshima IC ~ Chitose IC between any 1 IC (between 4 ICs)
Niigata E17 Kan-Etsu Expressway Nagaoka IC, E8 Hokuriku Expressway Nakanoshima-mitsuke IC, Sanjo-tsubame IC, Niigata-nishi IC,
E49 Ban-Etsu Expressway Niigata Chuo IC and E7 Between the Niigata Kameda Interchanges on the Japan Sea Tohoku Tohoku Expressway (12 Interchanges)
  • However, this excludes the areas between Niigata Nishi IC, Niigata Chuo IC, and Niigata Kameda IC.
Yamanashi Prefecture E20 Chuo Expressway Otsuki IC, Ichinomiya Misaka IC, Kofu Showa IC, Nirasaki IC, Sutama IC, and Nagasaka IC (between 15 ICs)
Ishikawa Prefecture E8 Hokuriku Expressway between Kaga IC and Kanazawa Morimoto IC (between 47 ICs)
Kagawa Prefecture E11 Takamatsu Expressway Shiratori Ouchi IC, Takamatsu Chuo IC, Takamatsu Danshi IC, Takamatsu Nishi IC, Sakaide IC, and Zentsuji IC (between 10 ICs)
Nagasaki Prefecture E34 Nagasaki Expressway Nagasaki IC, Nagasaki Tarami IC, Isahaya IC, Omura IC and E96 Nagasaki Bypass Kabira IC between each IC (between 14 ICs)
  • Kabira IC includes when passing through the Kabira Main Line toll gate
  • If you drive consecutively with E34 Nagasaki Dejima Road or Kabira Toll Road managed by Nagasaki Prefectural Road Public Corporation, you will need to pay a separate toll for that road.
  • Please refer to the attached PDF (543KB) for details on the combinations of designated sections and sales prices (available amounts).
  • Target ICs may be revised based on trial status.

6. Duplication of discounts *No changes

  • Holiday discounts and late-night discounts are not applicable to uses to which this discount applies.
  • If you apply for a commuter pass, the weekday morning and evening discount will not apply to all Expressway use in the month of application, regardless of whether it is within or outside the designated section.

Other/Notes: *No changes

  • Ishikawa Prefecture will be recruiting 1,000 monitors on a first-come, first-served basis each month, and Hokkaido, Niigata, Yamanashi, Kagawa, and Nagasaki will be recruiting 500 monitors on a first-come, first-served basis each month.
  • Requirements may change during the implementation period based on the situation such as system load.

Contact information (customers only)

  • NEXCO東日本お客さまセンター(24時間)
    TEL 0570-024-024(通話料有料)
    または
    TEL 03-5308-2424(通話料有料)
  • NEXCO中日本お客さまセンター(24時間)
    TEL 0120-922-229(フリーダイヤル)
    (フリーダイヤルをご利用になれないお客さま)
    TEL 052-223-0333(通話料有料)
  • NEXCO西日本お客さまセンター(24時間)
    TEL 0120-924-863(フリーダイヤル)
    (フリーダイヤルをご利用になれないお客さま)
    TEL 06-6876-9031(通話料有料)
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