Tomei Expressway, Major toll road between Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan
The Tomei Expressway is a toll road with controlled access that stretches 347 kilometers (216 miles) through the Kantō and Chūbu regions, linking Tokyo with Nagoya. It runs through densely populated urban zones, industrial areas, and rural stretches, crossing Kanagawa and Shizuoka prefectures with views of Mount Fuji along certain sections.
Construction of this highway began in the early 1960s as part of a national plan to modernize postwar transportation. Its completion in 1969 created the first continuous high-speed link between the capital and the industrial center of Nagoya.
Service areas along the route offer regional specialties from the prefectures it crosses, allowing travelers to sample local food without leaving the highway. Many Japanese families treat these rest stops as a familiar part of longer journeys, turning meal breaks into a shared ritual during cross-country trips.
The route includes numerous rest stops with toilets, restaurants, and fuel stations appearing at regular intervals. Speed limits range from 80 to 100 kilometers per hour (50 to 62 miles per hour), with electronic signs providing updates on traffic flow and weather conditions.
Certain sections see more than 100,000 vehicles pass through each day, making this the busiest route in the Central Nippon Expressway network. This heavy flow often results in congestion during weekends and holidays, especially near Tokyo and Nagoya.
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