一般社団法人日本観光自動車道協会 一般社団法人日本観光自動車道協会

Drive Guide

Tokyo Expressway

Free expressway in Ginza

Tokyo Expressway is Japan’s first elevated and free car-only road built with the epoch-making idea that ​​the construction cost has amortized with the rental income of the building under the road and it has been operated even today with that. After the war, Tokyo Skyway Co., Ltd. was established in 1951 by some business leaders, the founders of the company. They thought it would be indispensable to cerative the road network. The construction of the expressway began in 1953, and the expressway was completed 13 years later in 1966. The about 2-kilometer expressway stretching from Ginza 1-chome through to Ginza 8-chome not only has helped ease traffic congestion in the Ginza district but also has played a public role as part of the urban expressway network by connecting with the Inner Circular Route and the Yaesu Route.
The nearby “Kokyo Gaien National Garden” is a national garden where you can experience nature in all four seasons, which is hard to believe in the city center. “Kokyo Gaien National Garden” is a park in central Tokyo, covering a little over a square kilometer. The national garden includes three museums and is popular with people for its fascinating history and natural environment. ※Click here for the highlights of Kokyo Gaien National Garden

Tokyo Expressway has a structure with the rooftop part of the building as the road. Inside the rental building, which has 2 floors above ground and 1 floor (partially 2 floors) below ground, there are parking lots, about 400 stores, and rental offices, forming a large-scale commercial area. Tokyo Expressway is connected to the Shutoko (Metropolitan Expressway) at three junctions (Shiodome, Kanda, Kyobashi), so 5 interchanges (Shimbashi IC, tsuchihashi IC, Nishi-Ginza IC, Shin-Kyobashi IC, Higashi-Ginza IC) are available to access Ginza. Tokyo Expressway is free, but cars with a total weight of more than 8 tons are not available.


In the nearby “Kokyo Gaien National Garden“, part of the former Imperial Gardens was opened to the public as a national garden in 1945.
You can experience nature in all four seasons, which is hard to believe in the city center.
In spring, cherry blossoms begin to bloom all over the park, and spring is in full swing. In particular, the Somei Yoshino cherry trees at Chidorigafuchi are spectacular and crowded with many cherry blossom viewing visitors.
In summer, the pine trees and the grass turn green.
As autumn deepens, the leaves of deciduous trees change color.
In winter, ducks and other winter birds come to rest in the moat.

Contact

  • Company:Tokyo Expressway Co., Ltd.
  • TEL:03-3562-0890
  • Address:Beyond 1-3 Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
  • Email:douro@tokyo-kousoku.co.jp
  • Click here for the official site

Section

Starting point
Ginza 8-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo (Horaibashi Bridge)
 
End point
Ginza 1-chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo (Shinkyobashi Bridge)

Fee

Motorcycle (over 125cc)
Free
Light / ordinary car
Free
Minibus
No Entry
Large car
No Entry