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2026-09-01
Residential Road Speed Limit Cut to 30km/h!
From September 2026, speed limit on residential roads without center lines drops from 60km/h to 30km/h. Applies to all vehicles for pedestrian safety.
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2026-04-01Traffic
🛣️ Highway Late-Night Discount Slashed! 10PM-6AM→12AM-4AM
From April 1, 2026 — Rental car users & long-distance drivers take note
4h
New Window
-50%
Time Cut
30%
Rate Kept
0-4
AM (window)
❓ What's changing?
The ETC late-night highway discount (30% off) window shrinks from 10PM-6AM (8 hours) to 12AM-4AM (4 hours). The 30% discount rate stays the same, but with half the hours, this is effectively a price increase.
🔄 Before vs After
| Item | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Discount window | 10PM – 6AM (8hrs) | 12AM – 4AM (4hrs) |
| Discount rate | 30% off | 30% off (unchanged) |
| Eligibility | All ETC vehicles | All ETC vehicles |
| How to get it | Drive during window | Drive during window |
👥 Who's affected?
- ●Night-driving truckers and logistics companies
- ●Overnight bus operators
- ●Foreign tourists renting cars for long trips
- ●Foreign residents planning late-night drives
- ●Those who drove 10PM-midnight or 4AM-6AM lose the discount
💸 Cost impact examples
| Route | Old Toll | New Toll | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo→Osaka (~500km) | ~¥8,500 | ~¥12,100 | +¥3,600 |
| Tokyo→Nagoya (~350km) | ~¥5,600 | ~¥8,000 | +¥2,400 |
| Osaka→Fukuoka (~600km) | ~¥9,800 | ~¥14,000 | +¥4,200 |
💡 Key points to know
1Drive between midnight and 4AM to still get 30% off
2Weekend/holiday discount (30% off) applies separately on weekends
3Adjust rental car trip plans for nighttime driving windows
4Check NEXCO websites for latest discount information
Source:
MLIT — Highway Tolls🔗 Related Issues
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2026-04-01
Bicycle "Blue Ticket" — All 113 Violations
Effective April 1, 2026. Traffic fine system introduced for bicycles. Smartphone use: ¥12,000, running red lights: ¥6,000.
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2026-03-31
Vehicle Environmental Performance Tax Abolished (Up to ¥90K→¥0)
Vehicle Environmental Performance Tax fully abolished on March 31, 2026. Tax burden reduced by up to ~¥90,000 when purchasing new or used cars. Benefits foreign residents buying vehicles in Japan.