Monitor 8,000+ Live Traffic Cameras Across Japan
From Tokyo's Metropolitan Expressway to Hokkaido's snow-covered highways, access real-time traffic and street cameras across all 47 prefectures. Monitor NEXCO expressways, JARTIC traffic feeds, prefectural road cameras, and urban corridors with free 24/7 feeds covering 8,000+ locations nationwide.
View Japan Cameras âJapan operates one of the world's most advanced highway camera networks, reflecting the country's commitment to infrastructure technology and public safety. With a road network spanning over 1.23 million kilometers, maintaining clear passage through the nation's diverse terrain is a constant priority. According to 2025 data, average one-way commute times in Tokyo have reached 43 minutes, highlighting the growing reliance on real-time visual monitoring to navigate urban congestion. Our platform aggregates live traffic cameras and street cameras from all 47 prefectures to provide comprehensive coverage.
The Japanese expressway system is managed by three NEXCO (Nippon Expressway Company) divisions: NEXCO East covers the Kanto region northward through Tohoku to Hokkaido, NEXCO Central handles the critical Tomei and Chuo corridors linking Tokyo to Nagoya, and NEXCO West manages routes from Kansai through Chugoku, Shikoku, and Kyushu. Together, they maintain cameras at virtually every interchange, tunnel entrance, and mountain pass on Japan's 9,000+ kilometer expressway network.
JARTIC (Japan Road Traffic Information Center) supplements expressway cameras with feeds from national routes and urban arterials, providing a unified view of traffic conditions that integrates data from police, road administrators, and weather services. Prefectural governments add thousands more cameras on local roads, bridges, and avalanche-prone mountain routes.
Start Monitoring Japanese Traffic
View live conditions across all prefectures and expressways. Filter by region, search specific highways, or explore the interactive map to find cameras along your route.
View All Cameras âRegional Camera Coverage
Kanto / Tokyo (2,500+ Cameras)
Metropolitan Expressway (Shuto), Tomei Expressway, Kan-Etsu Expressway, Joban Expressway, Route 246, Rainbow Bridge, Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line. Dense urban coverage across Tokyo, Yokohama, Saitama, and Chiba with feeds updating every few seconds.
Kansai / Osaka (1,500+ Cameras)
Meishin Expressway, Hanshin Expressway, Kinki Expressway, Route 1, Route 171. Coverage spans Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nara with extensive monitoring of the dense urban freeway network and port approaches.
Chubu / Nagoya (1,200+ Cameras)
Tomei Expressway, Chuo Expressway, Tokai-Hokuriku Expressway, Hokuriku Expressway. Nagoya's expressway loop, Toyota-area industrial corridors, and Japan Alps mountain passes with winter weather monitoring.
Hokkaido (800+ Cameras)
Do-o Expressway, Sasson Expressway, Route 5, Route 12, Route 36. Extensive snow monitoring across Sapporo, Asahikawa, and Obihiro with dedicated blizzard and avalanche cameras on mountain routes.
Kyushu (700+ Cameras)
Kyushu Expressway, Nagasaki Expressway, Oita Expressway, Route 3. Coverage from Fukuoka and Kitakyushu south through Kumamoto, Kagoshima, and Okinawa with typhoon monitoring feeds.
Tohoku (600+ Cameras)
Tohoku Expressway, Ban-Etsu Expressway, Akita Expressway, Route 4. Sendai metro area, heavy-snow corridors through Aomori and Akita, and Japan Sea coast storm monitoring.
Chugoku, Shikoku, and Others (600+ Cameras)
Sanyo Expressway, Chugoku Expressway, Seto-Ohashi Bridge, Shimanamikaido. Hiroshima, Okayama, Matsuyama, and the iconic Seto Inland Sea bridge crossings connecting Honshu to Shikoku.
Key Expressway Corridors
Tomei Expressway (Tokyo to Nagoya, 347 km): Japan's busiest expressway corridor, connecting the capital to Nagoya through Shizuoka Prefecture. This route frequently experiences significant congestion, with Golden Week traffic jams historically reaching lengths of 45 kilometers. Camera coverage monitors heavy truck traffic, Gotemba area fog, and Mt. Fuji vicinity weather. The parallel Shin-Tomei Expressway provides additional feeds on the newer route.
Meishin Expressway (Nagoya to Kobe, 190 km): The western extension linking Nagoya through Kyoto to the Kansai region. Cameras cover the Sekigahara area (notorious for winter snow), Kyoto approaches, and the Osaka-Kobe urban section with dense interchange monitoring.
Chuo Expressway (Tokyo to Nagoya via Suwa, 366 km): The mountain route through the Japanese Alps, climbing to over 1,000 meters elevation. Heavy camera coverage on steep grades, tunnel approaches, and the Suwa Lake area. Critical winter monitoring for chain-control sections.
Tohoku Expressway (Tokyo to Aomori, 680 km): Japan's longest expressway, running north through Saitama, Tochigi, Fukushima, Miyagi, Iwate, and Aomori prefectures. Cameras monitor winter conditions that worsen progressively heading north, with some sections receiving several meters of snow.
Metropolitan Expressway (Shuto): Tokyo's urban expressway network with over 300 km of elevated and underground routes. Extremely dense camera coverage monitors the C1 Inner Ring, C2 Central Ring, Bay Shore Route, and connections to suburban expressways. Real-time feeds are essential for navigating Tokyo's complex interchange system.
Japan Road Safety
In 2025, Japan recorded 2,547 traffic fatalities, the lowest figure since 1948. This milestone reflects the success of the national "Safe System" approach, which integrates advanced traffic management with strict enforcement. Maintaining safety across 1.23 million kilometers of roads remains a priority, especially regarding tunnel fire prevention and earthquake resilience. Real-time camera monitoring is a vital tool for all drivers to identify hazards early and avoid high-volume corridors like the Tomei Expressway during peak congestion periods.
NEXCO Expressway Structure
Japan's expressway network is divided among three operators. NEXCO East manages routes from Kanto northward (Tohoku, Hokkaido). NEXCO Central handles the Tokyo-Nagoya-Kansai spine (Tomei, Chuo, Meishin). NEXCO West covers western Japan (Sanyo, Chugoku, Kyushu expressways). Each operator maintains independent camera networks, all aggregated on our platform for seamless coverage.
Weather and Seasonal Monitoring
Typhoon and Severe Weather Alerts
Japan experiences 5-10 typhoons per year, primarily between June and October. Typhoons bring torrential rain, flooding, and high winds that can close expressways for hours or days. Monitor camera feeds for real-time visibility conditions, standing water, and road closures. Hokkaido and Japan Sea coast prefectures receive extreme snowfall from November through April, with some areas accumulating 2-4 meters. Always check camera feeds before mountain pass travel in winter.
Winter Snow Regions: Japan's heaviest snowfall zones require dedicated camera monitoring:
- Hokkaido: Sapporo, Asahikawa, and mountain passes receive massive snowfall. Cameras monitor road surface conditions, visibility, and snowplow operations on expressways and national routes.
- Tohoku (Japan Sea side): Akita, Yamagata, and Niigata prefectures face heavy lake-effect snow from the Sea of Japan. Cameras on Route 7 and the Tohoku Expressway monitor blizzard conditions.
- Hokuriku: Toyama, Ishikawa, and Fukui prefectures along the Japan Sea coast experience some of the world's heaviest urban snowfall. Hokuriku Expressway cameras track plowing and chain requirements.
- Mountain Passes: Mikuni Pass, Shiokari Pass, and routes through the Japanese Alps require constant monitoring during winter months.
Rainy Season (Tsuyu): From mid-June to mid-July, heavy sustained rainfall affects central and western Japan. Cameras help monitor landslide-prone areas, river flooding near highways, and reduced visibility on mountain routes.
Fog: Gotemba area on the Tomei Expressway, Seto Inland Sea bridges, and Hokkaido interior valleys are notorious for sudden dense fog. Camera feeds provide real-time visibility assessment.
Check Weather Conditions Now
Monitor live camera feeds across Japan to assess snow, rain, fog, and typhoon conditions. Filter by prefecture or search specific expressways to check conditions along your route.
View Cameras Now âDriving in Japan: Essential Tips
Understanding Japanese road rules and customs is essential for safe driving, whether you are a resident or international visitor with an International Driving Permit.
Left-Hand Driving: Japan drives on the left side of the road. Right-hand turns cross oncoming traffic. Expressway on-ramps merge from the left. Use camera feeds to familiarize yourself with interchange layouts before navigating complex junctions.
ETC (Electronic Toll Collection): Most expressway toll gates use ETC for cashless payment. ETC-only lanes are clearly marked. Non-ETC vehicles must use general lanes, which often have longer queues visible on camera feeds. Rental cars typically include ETC cards.
Speed Limits: Expressways generally have 100 km/h limits (some sections 120 km/h on newer routes), while urban expressways are typically 60-80 km/h. National routes are 50-60 km/h, residential streets 30-40 km/h. Speed enforcement cameras (N-system and orbis) are widespread.
Narrow Mountain Roads: Many prefectural and local roads in mountainous areas are single-lane with passing bays. Camera feeds help assess whether routes are passable, especially during winter or after heavy rain. Look for road surface condition and snow depth indicators.
Expressway Service Areas: Japan's expressway service areas (SA) and parking areas (PA) are spaced every 50-80 km. Many have cameras monitoring entrance ramps and parking lot congestion, useful for planning rest stops on long drives.
Platform Features for Japan Cameras
Our platform provides 135,000+ cameras from 600+ sources across 130+ countries, with 8,000+ focused on Japanese coverage:
- Prefecture Filtering: Instantly filter to any of Japan's 47 prefectures
- Interactive Map: Pan across Japan to discover cameras on expressways, national routes, and local streets
- Grid View: Browse camera thumbnails in a sortable, filterable grid layout
- Route Builder: Plan expressway routes and see every camera along your path
- Favorites: Save frequently checked cameras for quick daily access
- Search: Find cameras by expressway name, city, prefecture, or landmark
- Mobile Optimized: Check conditions from your smartphone before and during travel
- Real-Time Updates: Feeds refresh automatically based on source update frequency
Plan Your Route Through Japan
Use the route builder to map your expressway journey and discover all available cameras along the way. Perfect for long-distance trips on the Tomei, Meishin, or Tohoku corridors.
Build Your Route âRelated Resources
- Canada Traffic Cameras: Explore 4,900+ live cameras across another country with extensive highway monitoring
- Getting Started with Traffic Cameras: Learn how to use camera feeds for safer trip planning
- Winter Driving Traffic Cameras: Essential guide for monitoring snow and ice conditions
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I view live traffic cameras in Japan?
Visit our platform and filter by "Japan" to see all 8,000+ available cameras. You can browse using the interactive map, which shows camera locations across all 47 prefectures, or switch to grid view for a thumbnail overview. Search for specific expressways like "Tomei" or cities like "Tokyo" to narrow results. All feeds are free and accessible 24/7.
What Japanese expressway cameras are available?
We aggregate cameras from all three NEXCO operators (East, Central, and West) covering the full expressway network. This includes major corridors like the Tomei, Meishin, Chuo, Tohoku, Hokuriku, Sanyo, and Kyushu expressways, plus the Metropolitan Expressway (Shuto) in Tokyo and the Hanshin Expressway in Osaka. Cameras are positioned at interchanges, tunnel entrances, mountain passes, and weather-sensitive sections.
Can I see live Tokyo traffic conditions?
Yes, the Tokyo metropolitan area has 2,500+ cameras covering the Shuto Expressway network (C1, C2, Bay Shore, Wangan Route), connections to the Tomei, Chuo, and Kan-Etsu expressways, and major arterials like Route 246 and Route 20. Use our map view to explore specific areas of Tokyo, or search "Tokyo" to see all available feeds. Camera density is highest along the Metropolitan Expressway system.
How do I check snow conditions on Japanese mountain roads?
Filter cameras by prefecture (Hokkaido, Niigata, Nagano, Toyama) or search for specific pass names and expressway sections. Cameras on mountain routes show road surface conditions, snow depth markers, and visibility levels. For expressways, look for cameras near chain-control zones on the Chuo Expressway, Hokuriku Expressway, and Tohoku Expressway. Check feeds frequently during active snowfall, as conditions change rapidly.
Are Japan traffic cameras useful during typhoon season?
Absolutely. During typhoon season (June through October), expressway and national route cameras provide real-time visibility on wind conditions, rainfall intensity, flooding, and road closures. Monitor cameras along your intended route before and during typhoon approach. NEXCO operators often close expressway sections preemptively, and camera feeds show gate closures and diversion signage before official announcements reach navigation apps.
Start Monitoring Japan Traffic Cameras
Access 8,000+ live traffic cameras and street cameras covering all of Japan's expressways, national routes, and urban corridors. Monitor real-time conditions, plan safer routes, and stay ahead of weather with free 24/7 feeds across all 47 prefectures.
View All Japan Cameras â