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2026 / 05 / 15
How to Pay Highway Tolls Without an ETC Card in Japan
Don't have an ETC card? Learn how to navigate Japanese highway toll gates using the General (Green) lanes and pay with cash or credit cards.
JDLTC editorial team · Camjyo Inc.
Japan's Toll Expressway System
Japan's expressways are impeccably maintained, incredibly fast, and very expensive. The toll system is primarily designed around the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system, but you can absolutely pay with cash or credit cards if you don't have one.
Entering the Toll Gate (Without ETC)
When approaching a toll gate to enter the highway, you will see lanes marked in different colors.
- Purple Lanes (ETC 専用): These are strictly for cars with an active ETC card inserted. Do NOT enter this lane if you don't have a card; the barrier will not open.
- Green Lanes (一般 - General): This is the cash/credit card lane. Drive into the green lane. Stop at the machine and take the paper ticket that pops out. Keep this ticket safe!
Exiting the Toll Gate (Without ETC)
When you reach your destination exit, follow the signs for the Green "一般" (General) lane again. Hand your paper ticket to the toll booth attendant (or insert it into the automated machine). The screen will display your toll amount. You can pay using Japanese Yen cash or a major credit card (Visa, Mastercard).
Why You Should Rent an ETC Card
While paying with cash is possible, we highly recommend renting an ETC card from your rental car company. It usually costs a flat fee of 330 JPY for the rental period. With an ETC card, you can glide through the purple lanes without stopping, and you often receive weekend and nighttime discounts on toll fares. You simply settle the final toll bill with the rental company when you return the car.
From the two of us who run this site
Driving on your IDP? Give Kyushu two weeks
We are Karen and Doko, a couple in Fukuoka. Besides the licence translations, we rent out campervans for trips around Kyushu under the name VAN TRIP JAPAN. When friends ask us where to drive in Japan, we send them south to Kyushu, the island we live on.
Our 7-day loop takes in Aso, Takachiho Gorge and the hot springs of Beppu and Yufuin. With two weeks you can add Nagasaki and Shimabara in the west and Kagoshima in the south, and you stop rushing. We've written up the 14-day loop day by day, with drive times.
Two weeks is also where the price starts to work. Rentals of 14 days or more get 15% off the whole booking (10% from 7 days, 20% from 21). Weekday rates start at ¥22,000 a day with insurance, bedding and a cooking set included, and you pick the van up 10 minutes from Fukuoka Airport.
Licence from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan? The campervans work with the Japanese translation too, and VAN TRIP JAPAN takes ¥5,000 off the rental when the translation was done through us (just mention it on WhatsApp; the driver's name has to match the order).
Your translation, ready for your trip
For licences issued in Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan. Eligibility depends on the issuing country, not your nationality or current location.
