A widespread ETC system failure disrupted traffic on expressways in Tokyo and six surrounding prefectures on Sunday. Over 80 automatic toll lanes shut down due to the issue, causing delays and confusion among drivers.
The problem started early Sunday morning, according to Central Nippon Expressway Co. The company, based in Nagoya, is working to find the cause and restore the system as quickly as possible.
By 10:30 a.m., 15 of the 23 expressway sectors run by the company had experienced system outages. Toll lanes operated by human staff remained open, allowing traffic to continue with some delays.
This marks the first large-scale ETC system failure since 2005, when the former Japan Highway Public Corporation was privatized. Officials say this kind of disruption is rare and unexpected.
Affected tollgates included major interchanges such as the Fuji Interchange on the Tomei Expressway in Shizuoka and the Chofu Interchange on the Chuo Expressway in Tokyo. These routes are commonly used and play a critical role in regional travel.
Despite the outage, expressways remained open. Drivers were guided to staffed booths to make manual payments. While traffic moved, the sudden change led to longer wait times and increased congestion.
Central Nippon Expressway Co. has not confirmed the exact reason behind the ETC system failure. Technicians continue to work on restoring services. The company apologized for the inconvenience and asked drivers for patience.
As investigations continue, officials remain focused on preventing future disruptions. The ETC system failure has raised concerns about the reliability of Japan’s advanced toll infrastructure, especially in high-traffic areas.
