Tomei Expressway Full Opening Day

What Is Tomei Expressway Full Opening Day?

Every May 26th is "Tomei Expressway Full Opening Day" (東名高速道路全通記念日, Tōmei Kōsoku Dōro Zentu Kinenbi) in Japan. On May 26, 1969, the Tomei Expressway (東名高速道路, Tōmei Kōsoku Dōro) — connecting Tokyo (東京) to Nagoya (名古屋) — was fully opened along its entire 346-kilometer length. The Tomei Expressway, running through the Tokaido corridor that has been Japan's most important transportation artery since the Edo period, became the backbone of Japan's postwar expressway network and one of the most heavily used highways in the world.

The Tomei Expressway's Significance

The Tomei Expressway connects Japan's two largest metropolitan areas — Greater Tokyo (population approximately 37 million) and the Nagoya/Tokai region (approximately 10 million) — through the industrial corridor that includes Yokohama, Shizuoka, and the slopes of Mt. Fuji. The route carries an extraordinary volume of freight — trucks transporting goods between factories, ports, and distribution centers — as well as passenger vehicles. The expressway is so heavily used that it regularly becomes one of Japan's worst traffic congestion points during holiday periods (particularly New Year, Golden Week, and Obon).

Japan's Expressway Network

The Tomei Expressway was a key early element of Japan's national expressway network (高速道路, kōsoku dōro) that has grown to approximately 9,000 kilometers. Operated by NEXCO (Nippon Expressway Company) since the privatization of Japan Highway Public Corporation in 2005, the network charges tolls that fund maintenance and expansion. Japan's expressways are known for their quality of construction, maintenance standards, and the density of their service areas (SA) and parking areas (PA) — rest stops that often feature high-quality local cuisine and have themselves become tourism attractions.

Golden Week Traffic

The Tomei Expressway's traffic statistics during Japan's Golden Week holiday period (late April to early May) — when millions of urban Japanese travel simultaneously to home regions, resorts, and tourist destinations — consistently set records for expressway congestion. Queues extending tens of kilometers are routine; traffic management strategies including time-of-travel pricing and prediction apps have been developed to reduce peak-hour gridlock.

Fun Facts

• Service area food: Japan's expressway service areas are famous for their food offerings — each area typically features regional specialties and signature dishes, and comparing service area food has become a minor tourism hobby among Japanese road travelers.
• Mt. Fuji views: The Tomei Expressway offers several famous viewing points of Mt. Fuji along its Shizuoka Prefecture section — including the renowned view from Sumpu Service Area — making the drive itself a scenic experience.