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Experience the "other side" of Expressway!
Recruiting participants for the elementary school event "Highway Kids Exploration Team 2026"

~A hands-on event where you can see, hear, ride, and learn in a fun way~ July 31st (Saitama) & August 6th (Gunma)

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  • Experience the "other side" of Expressway! Recruiting participants for "Highway Kids Exploration Team 2026," an event for elementary school students.
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Applications for participation in "Highway Kids Exploration Team 2026" have now closed.
Thank you for all your applications.

PDF version [PDF: 700KB]

Image of the logo for Highway Kids Exploration Team 2026

June 19, 2020
East Nippon Expressway Co., Ltd.
Kanto Regional Head Office

NEXCO EAST Kanto Regional Head Office (Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture) will hold "Highway☆Kids Exploration Team 2026" in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture on Friday, July 31st, 2026, and in Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture on Thursday, August 6th, 2026.
Therefore, we are now accepting applications from those who wish to participate, so please apply.

What is "Highway Kids Exploration Team 2026"?
To help children feel closer to Expressway, this event offers them a special opportunity during their summer vacation to experience the world of Expressway they wouldn't normally get to see. This year, you can choose from two courses to apply for: a tour of the Saitama Road Control Center and an experience of the equipment and technologies that support Expressway safety in Takasaki.

  • event date
    1. July 31, 2026 (Friday) Saitama Course
    2. August 6, 2026 (Thursday) Takasaki Course
    • Two sessions per day: one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
  • Venue
    1. Road Control Center (Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture)
    2. Technical Training Center,
      Takasaki Management Office (Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture)
  • Participation fee
    free
    • Participants are responsible for their own transportation costs to and from the meeting and disbanding locations.
  • Capacity
    Each course has a morning and afternoon session, with 15 pairs (30 people) participating each time.
    Approximately 60 people in total
    • One elementary school student + one adult, or two elementary school students + one adult.

Participants will also receive an original NEXCO EAST novelty item!

Photo of NEXCO EAST original novelty item.
Image of the Saitama course
Image of the Takasaki course
Image of a ride-along experience in working vehicles!

Please see the next page for details, including points to note when applying.

1. Event details and application requirements

1. Date
  1. July 31, 2026 (Friday) Saitama Course
  2. August 6, 2026 (Thursday) Takasaki Course
Each day, there will be one session in the morning and one in the afternoon, for a total of two sessions.
2. Venue
  1. Saitama Course: Road Control Center (Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture)
  2. Takasaki Course: Technical Training Center, Takasaki Management Office (Takasaki City, Gunma Prefecture)
3. Participation fee free
  • Participants will be responsible for transportation costs to the meeting and dismissal points.
4. set
  1. Saitama Course: Tobu Urban Park Line, Iwatsuki Station
  2. Takasaki Course: JR Takasaki Station
Morning session: Meet at 9:00 AM / Afternoon session: Meet at 2:00 PM
5. itinerary
<Applicable to both morning and afternoon sessions>		 The trip, including travel time from the meeting point to the disbanding point, is expected to take approximately 3-4 hours.
  1. Saitama Course
    (Meeting point) Iwatsuki Station, Tobu Urban Park Line
    → Road Traffic Control Center (Center tour, quizzes and coloring activities related to Expressway, simulated experience as a traffic controller, etc.)
    → On-site parking lot (including opportunities to experience riding in vehicles used on Expressway)
    → (Disbandment) Iwatsuki Station
  2. Takasaki Course
    (Meeting point) JR Takasaki Station
    → Technical Training Center (Experience the equipment and technologies that support Expressway safety, etc.)
    → Takasaki Management Office (including opportunities to ride in vehicles used on Expressway)
    → (Disbanded) JR Takasaki Station
  • Transportation from the meeting point to the disbanding point will be by chartered bus (provided by the organizers).
6. Capacity of each course Each course has 15 groups (30 people) per session, one in the morning and one in the afternoon (approximately 60 people in total across all courses).
  • Applications are limited to groups of two (one elementary school child and one adult) or groups of three (two elementary school children and one adult).
  • If there are a large number of applicants, a lottery will be held.
7. How to apply
Application period		 Please use the special application form on NEXCO EAST website.
  • Application Form
  • From 2:00 PM on Friday, June 19, 2026 to 5:30 PM on Wednesday, July 15, 2026
  • For other application details, please check the special application form.
8. Participation decision/
Contact
  • After the application deadline, we will contact the selected participants (representatives) by Wednesday, July 22nd.
  • In the event of a large number of applications, we will hold a lottery and contact only the winner (representative).
  • Please note that we will not contact those who are unsuccessful in the lottery.
9. Application Requirements
Precautions
【important】		 Please review the application requirements and notes below, as well as the "Event Participation Terms and Conditions [PDF: 524KB]" within the application form, and apply/participate only if you agree to the contents.
  • [Application requirements]

    Applications are limited to groups of two (one child and one adult) or groups of three (two children and one adult).

    • Children must be in grades 1 through 6 of elementary school, and adults must be 18 years of age or older on the day of the event and be related to the child.
    • Since the tour involves walking, we ask that those who have difficulty walking on their own refrain from participating.
  • 【Notes】
    • During the tour, please be sure to follow the instructions of our staff.
    • Participation is limited to those who can understand the staff's explanations and guidance (in the event of an evacuation, etc.) in Japanese.
    • If you have any cold symptoms such as fever, cough, or sore throat, we ask that you refrain from participating.
    • Please note that you will not be able to leave the tour midway through.
    • Please wear comfortable clothing and shoes (skirts, sandals, heels, etc. are not permitted).
    • If you are bringing a bag, please bring a backpack or something that leaves your hands free.
    • It is expected to be hot on the day, so please bring something to drink to prevent heatstroke.
    • The event may be canceled in case of severe weather. The winners (representatives) will be notified of the event's status by the day before.
10. Contact Information NEXCO東日本お客さまセンター（24時間受付）
ナビダイヤル：0570-024-024　または　03-5308-2424
［当社お客さまセンターでは、本件に関するお客さまのご応募状況（当選・落選の結果等）について、個別にお答えはできかねます。何卒ご了承ください。］

2. Details of the experience (tentative)

(1) Saitama Course (Friday, July 31, 2026)

Tour of the Road Control Center

We visited the control center that monitors Expressway 24 hours a day. We were thrilled to see the road conditions displayed on the large monitors!

Photos from a tour of the road control center

(2) Takasaki Course (Thursday, August 6, 2026)

Experience the facilities and technology of Expressway.

Touch the ETC barrier and experience the water spraying in a tunnel to get a feel for the equipment and technologies that support Expressway safety!

Photos of experiencing Expressway facilities and technology

Experience riding in vehicles that operate on Expressway

Patrol cars, snowplows, and other vehicles that support Expressway will be on display! You can see them up close and even experience riding in them.

  • The vehicles featured in each course may vary.
Image 1 of a ride experience in a vehicle used on Expressway
Image 2 of a ride experience in a vehicle used on Expressway
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Related Sites and Content

Driver's site (DraPla)

If you are looking for information on fares, routes, service areas and parking areas, please click here.

Drive Traffic (DraTra)

If you are looking for real-time traffic congestion and restriction information, click here.

NEXCO EAST (Road Disaster Prevention Information) Official X

Click here if you are looking for road information such as road closures during disasters.