Shuto Expressway

Metropolitan Expressway Company Limited
Native name
首都高速道路株式会社
Shuto Kōsoku-dōro Kabushiki-gaisha
Company typeKabushiki gaisha
IndustryTransportation
PredecessorMetropolitan Expressway Public Corporation (1959–2005)
Founded1959 (as public corporation)
2005 (corporatized)
HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
Area served
Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture, Chiba, Saitama
Key people
Toshitaka Miyata, (CEO)
ProductsOperation and maintenance of the Shuto Expressway
RevenueIncrease ¥444.91 billion (2008)
OwnersGovernment of Japan (49.99%)
Tokyo Metropolitan Government (26.72%)
Kanagawa Prefecture (8.28%)
Saitama Prefecture (5.90%)
Yokohama Municipal Government (4.45%)
Kawasaki City (3.82%)
Chiba Prefecture (0.80%)
Number of employees
2609 (2008)
SubsidiariesMetropolitan Expressway Service Co, Ltd.
Websitewww.shutoko.jp
Shuto Expressway system in 2015 shown in red, other interconnected expressways in green

The Shuto Expressway (首都高速道路, Shuto Kōsoku-dōro, "Metropolitan Expressway", lit. "Capital Expressway") is a network of Tolled expressways in the Greater Tokyo Area of Japan. It is operated and maintained by the Metropolitan Expressway Company Limited (首都高速道路株式会社, Shuto Kōsoku-dōro Kabushiki-gaisha).

Most routes are grade separated and have many sharp curves and multi-lane merges that require caution to drive safely. The speed limit is 60 km/h on most routes, 80 km/h on the Bayshore Route, and 50 km/h on the Inner Circular Route.

As of 2014, the cash toll for a standard-size car is ¥1300 regardless of distance traveled. Vehicles using the ETC toll-collection system pay a distance-based toll ranging from ¥300 to ¥1300 for ordinary vehicles (see toll price) – in some cases substantially less than the previous fixed-rate toll. Lower cash rates exist for certain radial routes (where there are only a few kilometers of expressway remaining) and ETC users have various time-of-day discounts. For large vehicles, the toll is doubled.