At first, I had the impression that the Metropolitan Expressway was all twisty and scary (*´Д｀)
Once you actually ride it, you realize “this is a privilege of the urban center,” and following behind cars while looping around to learn the routes is a valid approach.
I find myself constantly checking the Metropolitan Expressway map and traffic information these days ( ´艸｀)
Why a Metropolitan Expressway beginner like me got hooked
The urban center has too many traffic lights and cars.
Ride a little and you’re immediately STOP&GO again and again.
It puts stress on both the engine and the rider.
Even if you want to venture a bit farther out, you hit traffic getting out of the city and coming back . . . It’s frustrating.
Leave early in the morning and come back early. That’s the only way.
Getting out of the urban center costs more than you’d think
Back in the day, I used to ride down surface streets to Hakone.
But riding while watching out for traffic and police actually requires quite a bit of concentration.
On the expressway to get to Hakone, use the Tomei ~ Odawara-Atsugi Road ~ Turnpike for a round trip.
It costs more than you’d expect.
Fill up gas, grab a coffee, enjoy a decent lunch, and one outing easily costs 10,000 yen.
You need a fair amount of time and preparation too.
I’m amazed by how accurate modern traffic information is (*´▽｀*)
Sure, there are plenty of cars, but it’s almost never so congested that you can’t move.
Traffic is flowing. That’s the honest assessment.
You don’t have to speed— just follow behind the cars , ride at the surrounding traffic speed without stopping.
In the urban center, that would definitely be speeding, and there are almost no roads like that anyway.
When you spot an opening, you can immediately enjoy your bike— that’s the kind of environment it is.
Tokyo’s only redeeming quality is the night view? (´∀｀*)
The unnecessarily lit Tokyo cityscape at night is fantastical.
Just gazing at it from the high vantage point of the Metropolitan Expressway is enjoyable.
Plus, DJI POCKET 2 or DJI Action 2 footage you shoot and enjoy later is also an option.
You can crop the images and post them to Instagram.
The excitement continues even after you’re done riding.
280 yen per trip—you can also explore other routes.
My go-to route is Ikejiri to Shibuya exit, 280 yen per trip.
The weekend Ikejiri to Setagaya (Third Keihin) Starbucks tour is 1,130 yen + 210 yen (1,340 yen total).
is my recent favorite.
You don’t have to speed to enjoy cruising—it’s an urban privilege.
First, research the routes and learn through trial and error ( ﾟДﾟ)
If you mix up an entrance and exit, you’ll immediately be charged 700–800 yen ( ；∀；)
I too kept wondering “why?” and repeated tests.
After repeating it enough, “ah, I see” —the logic of the Metropolitan Expressway’s pricing system becomes clear.
Since everyone’s nearest access point is different, try various strategies.
Don’t take unnecessary risks. The roads are complex and tricky.
The barriers are pretty low, so honestly it’s quite dangerous . . .
Merges and exits exist on both sides , and there are infinite loops like Ohashi JCT.
Honestly, if you’d just gotten your license, you’d probably crash . . . —there are spots like that scattered around.
Following behind a Hiace should be safe? Probably.
The road surface has all sorts of fluid residue on it, so be careful and enjoy responsibly —that’s the best approach.
This Obon holiday should be quiet too, so check the traffic info and give it a try.
