Transport minister Seiji Maehara unveiled a new highway toll regime April 9 capping tolls based on the size of vehicle, which for some will mean higher rates.

The ruling Democratic Party of Japan may come in for criticism as its 2009 election pledge called for toll-free highways.

The new tariff, scheduled to take effect in June, caps tolls on standard-size cars at ¥2,000. It also features discounts for fuel-efficient cars, setting the maximum at ¥1,000, the same amount as for minivehicles, but implementation will have to wait until July as it will take time to set up a system to detect fuel-efficient cars at toll gates.

Trucks and buses will be subject to a cap of ¥5,000 or ¥10,000, depending on their size.

The new tariff will eliminate many of the existing discounts, including a ¥1,000 cap on holidays for cars equipped with electronic toll charge devices introduced in March 2009.