Daikoku PA: Access, Closures and Rules for Visitors

Daikoku PA (Daikoku Parking Area) is a rest area inside a junction on the Shutoko expressway network in Yokohama. It appears in many car-culture videos and tour listings, but you cannot walk into it. The only way in is by car, on the expressway. Either you drive there yourself, or you join a tour and someone takes you in by car.

This guide is based on official information from Shutoko (the Metropolitan Expressway Company), Shutoko Service (the group company that runs the parking-area shops), Japan's Kanto District Transport Bureau and the City of Yokohama, researched on 23 September 2026 and re-checked on Shutoko's current pages on 27 September 2026. Notes marked "DSJ's take" are from our own visit on a weekday night in August 2026, kept separate from the official facts. There is no official schedule for car meets or for night closures, so this guide does not give one either.

What Daikoku PA is

A public rest area, not an event venue

Shutoko runs Daikoku PA as a rest stop for expressway users. No official source lists a car meet, an organiser or a schedule, and nothing guarantees how many cars, or which ones, will be there on a given night.

Official bodies also treat the crowds as a problem. When Shutoko closed the PA in January 2022, its notice said the aim was to stop gatherings, which it described as including groups of modified cars making loud noise and the people who come to watch them. The Kanto District Transport Bureau runs roadside inspections of illegally modified cars at Daikoku to tackle noise there, mainly at weekends. Shutoko closure notice, January 2022 (Japanese)

Location and parking

• Address: 15 Daikoku-futo, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa.
• Where it sits: inside Daikoku Junction, where the K5 Daikoku Line joins the Bayshore Route (Wangan-sen).
• Parking: 335 spaces for standard cars, 58 for large vehicles and 5 accessible spaces.

Source: Shutoko Service: Daikoku PA (Japanese)

DSJ's take: we stopped by around 22:00 on a weekday night in August 2026 and stayed about 30 minutes. We have never found it closed or taken a route that could not reach it. Driving down the looping ramp into the PA feels a little like a ride, and at night the junction's stacked viaducts ring the PA with circles of road lights. It was an ordinary, quiet weekday night, with no engine revving.

Facilities and opening hours

The food court has Yokohama Ryumen (ramen, including sanma-men), Daikoku-an (soba and udon) and Tokuya (gyunabe, a beef hotpot). The take-away counters listed are MINATO MAN (Daikoku pork buns) and Hamaten (fried fish cakes). Shutoko Service suggests the Daikoku pork bun, Hamaten fish cakes and Daikoku pudding as souvenirs (checked 19 October 2026).

These hours are from Shutoko Service's Daikoku page, checked on 27 September 2026. Hours can change, so check before you go.

DSJ's take: at night the food court and shops were closed, so we bought drinks and snacks at the convenience store.

Bring some cash. Shutoko Service says the food court's ticket machines take only cash and certain Japanese e-money (WAON, transport IC cards, QUICPay, Rakuten Edy and nanaco), and that the vending machines may not take cashless payment. For the Lawson store, it refers you to the convenience store's own website. Shutoko Service: Daikoku PA (Japanese)

There are also an EV quick charger, an AED, Shutoko Free Wi-Fi, an information corner, a printer for ETC usage records, accessible toilets with ostomate facilities, and vending machines. Both buildings have toilets.

How to get there: by car on the expressway only

No entry on foot, and no taxi stand or bus stop

Shutoko says, in short: Shutoko: parking area FAQ (Japanese), Shutoko: parking areas (Japanese)

• On foot, by bicycle or by moped: you cannot get into Daikoku PA.
• Taxis and buses: there is no taxi stand and no bus stop.
• From ordinary roads: you cannot walk into Shutoko's parking areas from ordinary roads (Kawaguchi Highway Oasis and Yashio PA are the exceptions).

The City of Yokohama lists city buses to Daikoku Wharf: No. 109 from Yokohama Station, bound for Sky Walk-mae, and No. 17 from Tsurumi Station. These serve the wharf, not the PA, and do not get you in.

Japan's Road Act says no one may enter a motor-vehicle-only road without good reason or use it other than by car. Never try to walk in or out. e-Gov: Road Act (Japanese)

Drive yourself or join a tour

To drive in Japan as a visitor, you need your home license plus an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. Licenses from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan use an official Japanese translation instead. This applies on a lead-car tour too, because you are driving. National Police Agency

Our guides to JDM car rental in Tokyo, driving in Japan with an IDP and JDM tours in Tokyo cover these options in more detail.

Tours: several Tokyo companies sell lead-car or passenger tours built around Daikoku PA. We do not vouch for any of them. Because night closures are not announced, no tour can promise the PA will be open. Before you book, ask what happens if it is closed, and whether the cars are registered and meet Japan's vehicle safety standards.

The three official approach routes

Shutoko Service shows three ways in, with photos: Shutoko Service: Daikoku PA (Japanese)

1. From Namamugi Junction, along the K5 Daikoku Line. The photo guide tells drivers to keep left toward the Bayshore Route, take the left lane toward Daikoku-futo, then enter the PA from the right lane.
2. On the Bayshore Route from the Yokohama side, across the Yokohama Bay Bridge. Keep left to cross the bridge, take the left lane toward Daikoku-futo, then move right and enter the PA from the right lane.
3. On the Bayshore Route from the Tokyo side. Take the left lane toward Daikoku-futo, then move right and enter the PA from the right lane.

The same page lists the next parking areas after Daikoku: Oi PA (Bayshore Route, eastbound) and Heiwajima PA (Haneda Route, inbound).

The Daikoku-futo ramp does not lead into the PA

The City of Yokohama directs drivers to Daikoku Wharf via the Daikoku-futo exit of the Bayshore Route. That ramp serves the wharf. Shutoko says you cannot reach the PA from the Daikoku-futo entrance, and you cannot leave the PA by the Daikoku-futo exit. If you leave the expressway at Daikoku-futo, you cannot get back into the PA the same way. Shutoko: Daikoku-futo ramps (Japanese)

When you use a navigation app, set Daikoku PA as the destination and check that the route uses the Shutoko expressway.

Plan your visit: tolls, ETC and timing

Tolls are distance-based and change on 1 October 2026

You pay Shutoko tolls for the distance between the ramp where you enter and the ramp where you exit, with a minimum and a maximum charge. We found no separate fee for using the PA in the official material we read. Shutoko: tolls (Japanese)

From 00:00 on 1 October 2026, Shutoko raises its rate for standard cars from ¥29.52 to ¥32.472 per kilometre. The maximum toll for a standard car rises from ¥1,950 to ¥2,130, and the minimum stays at ¥300. Check the toll for your exact route with Shutoko's toll search. Shutoko: toll revision (Japanese), Shutoko: toll revision FAQ (Japanese)

Make sure your rental car has an ETC card

ETC is Japan's electronic toll system. The car needs an ETC reader, and you insert an ETC card into it. Shutoko is converting its entrances to ETC-only: 134 in total by the end of fiscal year 2026 (which ends in March 2027), 44 of them new that year, and it aims to convert all of them except some mainline toll plazas by spring 2028. At an ETC-only entrance you cannot pay by cash or credit card, or hand over an ETC card. Shutoko: ETC-only entrances (Japanese)

Cars paying cash or by credit card are charged the ETC maximum on most sections, and this continues after the revision (¥2,130 for a standard car). When you book a rental car, ask for an ETC card as well as an ETC reader, and ask how tolls are settled when you return the car.

How long to stay, and what if it is closed

There is no official guidance on how long to stay. If you want food or to shop, arrive between 7:00 and 21:00, when the food court, shop and lounge are open. After 21:00, the Lawson store is the only listed food or shop outlet still open.

At night the PA can be closed whenever the situation requires, as explained below. If it is closed when you arrive, you stay on the expressway and carry on to the next parking area or an exit. Do not rely on Daikoku for a toilet stop, or as the place where you turn back.

Closures, rules and enforcement

Security closures: the times are not published

Shutoko says it closes certain parking areas, in cooperation with the police, whenever the situation requires. The aim is to deal with dangerous driving and nuisance behaviour, keep traffic safe and reduce noise for local residents. Daikoku is on the list, together with Heiwajima (inbound), Tatsumi No.1, Hakozaki and Shibaura. Shutoko: parking area FAQ (Japanese)

Shutoko's parking-area page adds that parking areas may close for construction, and in unavoidable cases temporarily for emergency maintenance or security reasons. Shutoko: parking areas (Japanese)

Shutoko does not publish when these closures start or end. Some tour and travel sites publish closing times, but these are not official.

When we checked Shutoko's construction schedule on 19 October 2026, there was no Daikoku PA closure listed for 18–28 October. Night lane closures on the Bayshore Route on either side of Daikoku continue until about 25 October. You can check the schedule for your day on Shutoko's construction page. Shutoko: construction schedule (Japanese)

Construction and snow closures are announced, and toilets close too

Construction closures are listed in advance on Shutoko's roadworks and traffic restrictions page (in Japanese). For example, a notice on 1 September 2025 closed Daikoku on 7 and 28 September from 21:00 to 6:00, with all facilities, including vending machines and toilets, unavailable. Shutoko: construction closures, September 2025 (Japanese)

In a December 2024 notice, Shutoko said Daikoku and Kawaguchi PAs close when heavy snow is forecast. Staff ask anyone inside to leave, and all facilities are unavailable. Shutoko: heavy-snow closures (Japanese)

How to check before you go

• Construction: check Shutoko's roadworks and traffic restrictions page (in Japanese). Its near-term schedule lists parking-area closures too.
• Snow: check Shutoko's news and the weather forecast.
• Security closures: these happen whenever the situation requires, and no times are published.
• Social media: Shutoko Service lists an Instagram account (@daikokuparking) and a LINE account as Daikoku PA's official channels. X accounts named after Daikoku PA are not among them.

Noise and illegal modifications are enforced

The Kanto District Transport Bureau has published the results of roadside inspections of modified cars at Daikoku PA:

The 2024 inspection was carried out by the Kanagawa Transport Branch with Kanagawa Prefectural Police. 2024 results (Japanese PDF), 2025 results (Japanese PDF)

The laws behind this, as background rather than legal advice:

• Road Traffic Act, Article 71, item 5-3: without good reason, you must not start suddenly, accelerate hard or rev the engine without driving the wheels in a way that makes noise seriously disturbing others. e-Gov (Japanese)
• Road Transport Vehicle Act: modifying a car so that it no longer meets safety standards is prohibited (Article 99-2), and the transport authority can order repairs (Article 54). e-Gov (Japanese)

Etiquette at the PA

• Keep it quiet: no revving, burnouts or loud music.
• Drive slowly: watch for people on foot in the car park aisles.
• Hands off: do not touch other people's cars, and ask before you photograph people or their number plates.
• Follow instructions: move or leave when staff or police ask.
• Park properly: standard cars in standard spaces. The EV charger bays double as ordinary spaces, so move once you have charged.
• If it is closed: do not wait or gather on nearby public roads.

Frequently asked questions

Can I walk to Daikoku PA?

No. Shutoko says pedestrians, bicycles and mopeds cannot get into Daikoku PA, and its parking areas cannot be entered on foot from ordinary roads. The only way in is by car on the Bayshore Route or the K5 Daikoku Line.

Can I take a taxi or bus to Daikoku PA?

There is no taxi stand or bus stop at the PA. City buses to Daikoku Wharf go to the wharf, not the PA. A taxi can drive you in on the expressway, but you cannot find one there for the way back. You cannot walk out either, so unless the car that dropped you off comes back for you, you have no way out.

Is there a car meet at Daikoku tonight?

No official source says so. There is no organiser or official schedule, and Shutoko can close the PA whenever the situation requires, without publishing the times.

What time does Daikoku PA close?

Shutoko does not publish closing times for security closures, which happen whenever the situation requires. Construction closures are listed in advance; the September 2025 example ran from 21:00 to 6:00.

How can I check whether Daikoku PA is open?

For construction closures, check Shutoko's roadworks and traffic restrictions page. For snow closures, check Shutoko's news and the forecast. Security closures have no published schedule, so no one can guarantee in advance that the PA will be open.

Is Daikoku PA free?

We found no fee for using the PA in official sources. You pay Shutoko expressway tolls for the distance you drive.

How much are the tolls to Daikoku PA?

It depends on where you enter and exit, so check Shutoko's toll search for your route. From 1 October 2026 the maximum for a standard car with ETC is ¥2,130 and the minimum ¥300. Cars paying cash are charged the maximum on most sections.

Can I drive a rental car to Daikoku PA?

Yes. It is a rest area on a public expressway. You need a license valid in Japan, and an ETC card so you can use ETC-only entrances. Read the rules in your rental contract, and follow the etiquette above.

Do I need an International Driving Permit?

Only if you drive, and that includes lead-car tours. Most visitors need a 1949 Geneva Convention IDP together with their home license. Drivers with licenses from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan need an official Japanese translation instead. Passengers do not need one.

Are the toilets open when the PA is closed?

Not during construction or snow closures: all facilities, including toilets, are closed. During the January 2022 closure, Shutoko said toilets, the food court and the convenience store could be used by asking the staff on site, but that may not apply every time. Do not rely on Daikoku for a toilet stop. Shutoko closure notice, January 2022 (Japanese)

Can I bring a modified car?

Only if it meets Japan's safety standards. Roadside inspections at Daikoku gave repair orders to 23 of the 25 cars checked in November 2024 and 43 of the 53 checked in June 2025.

When is the best time to visit Daikoku PA?

There is no official answer, and no official schedule of car gatherings. What official sources do show: the Kanto District Transport Bureau describes the noise problems at Daikoku as happening mainly at weekends, both of its published roadside inspections there ran on Saturday evenings, and Shutoko's security closures have no published schedule or advance notice. If you want to eat or shop, arrive between 7:00 and 21:00. If you go at night, plan for the PA being closed when you get there.

DSJ's take: on the weekday night we stopped by, around 22:00, it was quiet.

Where can I stop if Daikoku PA is closed?

Stay on the expressway. The next parking areas listed after Daikoku are Oi PA (Bayshore Route, eastbound) and Heiwajima PA (Haneda Route, inbound). Daishi PA on the K1 Yokohane Route is closed until the end of March 2028 (planned). Shutoko Service: Daishi PA closure (Japanese)

Other places to stop and drive

The next parking areas

Shutoko's page for Daikoku lists Oi PA (Bayshore Route, eastbound) and Heiwajima PA (Haneda Route, inbound) as the next parking areas. Heiwajima (inbound) is also on Shutoko's list of parking areas that close whenever the situation requires. Daishi PA, on the K1 Yokohane Route on the Yokohama side, is closed until the end of March 2028 (planned).

Tatsumi No.1 PA

Tatsumi No.1 PA is in Koto, Tokyo, inside Tatsumi Junction on the Route 9 Fukagawa Line (inbound). You reach it by driving east on the Bayshore Route from the Yokohama side and turning onto Route 9. It is much smaller than Daikoku: 29 standard, 17 large and 1 accessible space, with vending machines only and no shop. Shutoko Service: Tatsumi No.1 PA (Japanese)

Like Daikoku, it is on Shutoko's list of parking areas that close whenever the situation requires. A roadside inspection there with the Tokyo Metropolitan Police, from 23:00 on 27 September to 2:00 on 28 September 2025, gave repair orders to 6 of the 16 vehicles checked (13 cars and 3 motorcycles). NALTEC (Japanese PDF)

ANEST IWATA Turnpike Hakone

This toll road runs between Odawara and Hakone; the main line is 13.782 km long. ANEST IWATA Turnpike Hakone: hours and tolls (Japanese)

• Hours: 5:30–22:30, last entry 22:00. Hours can change with the weather.
• Payment: regular ETC is not accepted. Pay in cash, or with ETCX, which needs registration in advance.
• No U-turns: each one-way trip is charged.
• Toll: ¥900 on the main line for standard cars and kei cars (table as of 1 July 2024).
• Not allowed: motorcycles of 125cc or less, mopeds, electric kick scooters, bicycles and pedestrians.

Before you book

If you plan to drive, first confirm that your license documents are valid in Japan (driving in Japan with an IDP). Then compare self-drive rentals with lead-car tours: check the car's pickup point, whether it has an ETC card, the mileage allowance and what the contract prohibits.