{"id":26238,"date":"2022-08-07T23:47:02","date_gmt":"2022-08-07T14:47:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.decoboco.info\/en\/?p=26238"},"modified":"2026-09-24T13:45:52","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T04:45:52","slug":"uncle-enjoys-metropolitan-expressway-on-motorcycle-gently","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.decoboco.info\/en\/20220807\/blogs\/thoughts\/uncle-enjoys-metropolitan-expressway-on-motorcycle-gently","title":{"rendered":"[Bonus] Uncle Enjoys the Metropolitan Expressway on a Motorcycle Gently? No Speed, No Thrills\u2014Just Scenic Cruising \u266c"},"content":{"rendered":"
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At first, I had the impression that the Metropolitan Expressway was all twisty and scary (*\u00b4\u0414\uff40) <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I find myself constantly checking the Metropolitan Expressway map and traffic information these days ( \u00b4\u8278\uff40) <\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why a Metropolitan Expressway beginner like me got hooked <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The urban center has too many traffic lights and cars. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ride a little and you’re immediately STOP&GO<\/strong> again and again.
It puts stress <\/strong> 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 <\/strong> . . . It’s frustrating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leave early in the morning and come back early. <\/strong>That’s the only way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting out of the urban center costs more than you’d think <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Back in the day, I used to ride down surface streets to Hakone.
But riding while watching out for traffic and police <\/strong> actually requires quite a bit of concentration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the expressway to get to Hakone, use the Tomei ~ Odawara-Atsugi Road ~ Turnpike <\/strong> 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. <\/strong>
You need a fair amount of time and preparation too. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I’m amazed by how accurate modern traffic information is (*\u00b4\u25bd\uff40*) <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Sure, there are plenty of cars, but it’s almost never so congested that you can’t move. <\/strong>
Traffic is flowing. <\/strong> That’s the honest assessment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don’t have to speed\u2014 just follow behind the cars <\/strong> , ride at the surrounding traffic speed <\/strong> without stopping.
In the urban center, that would definitely be speeding, and there are almost no roads like that anyway. <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you spot an opening, you can immediately enjoy your bike\u2014 <\/strong> that’s the kind of environment it is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tokyo’s only redeeming quality is the night view? (\u00b4\u2200\uff40*) <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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 <\/a> or DJI Action 2 <\/a> footage you shoot and enjoy later is also an option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can crop the images and post them to Instagram. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The excitement continues even after you’re done riding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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280 yen per trip\u2014you can also explore other routes. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

My go-to route is Ikejiri to Shibuya exit, 280 yen per trip. <\/strong>
The weekend Ikejiri to Setagaya (Third Keihin) Starbucks tour is 1,130 yen + 210 yen (1,340 yen total). <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

is my recent favorite.
You don’t have to speed to enjoy cruising\u2014it’s an urban privilege. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, research the routes and learn through trial and error ( \uff9f\u0414\uff9f) <\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you mix up an entrance and exit, you’ll immediately be charged 700\u2013800 yen <\/strong> ( \uff1b\u2200\uff1b)
I too kept wondering “why?” and repeated tests. <\/strong>

After repeating it enough, “ah, I see” <\/strong> \u2014the logic of the Metropolitan Expressway’s pricing system becomes clear.
Since everyone’s nearest access point is different, try various strategies. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don’t take unnecessary risks. The roads are complex and tricky. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The barriers are pretty low, so honestly it’s quite dangerous . . .
Merges and exits exist on both sides <\/strong> , and there are infinite loops <\/strong> like Ohashi JCT. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honestly, if you’d just gotten your license, you’d probably crash <\/strong> . . . \u2014there are spots like that scattered around.
Following behind a Hiace should be safe? <\/strong> Probably.

The road surface has all sorts of fluid residue <\/strong> on it, so be careful and enjoy responsibly <\/strong> \u2014that’s the best approach. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Obon holiday should be quiet too, <\/strong> so check the traffic info and give it a try. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At first, I had the impression that the Metropolitan Expressway was all twisty and scary (*\u00b4\u0414\uff40) 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 ( \u00b4\u8278\uff40)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":26235,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pochipp_cv_data":"","swell_btn_cv_data":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[269],"class_list":["post-26238","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-thoughts","tag-thoughts"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.decoboco.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26238","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.decoboco.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.decoboco.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.decoboco.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.decoboco.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26238"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.decoboco.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26238\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.decoboco.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26235"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.decoboco.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26238"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.decoboco.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=26238"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.decoboco.info\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=26238"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}