Japan coin parking for tourists: flap locks, maximum rates and payment
Checked against 3 official sources. 5 minute read.
Edited by Yamanaka, the site's owner-editor based in Japan.
What to know first
Japanese coin parking works in one of three ways, and you pay at a machine before you drive out. At a flap-lock lot, note your bay number; a flap rises under the car about 2 minutes after you park and drops once you've paid. At a gate lot, take a ticket on the way in and pay with it on the way out (lose it and Times charges up to ¥30,000). At a camera lot, note your number plate. The "maximum rate" (最大料金) is a cap, but it can end at a set hour or at midnight, after which hourly charges start again. At Times lots the cap repeats, and you can park for up to 48 hours.
- Flap-lock lots
- The flap rises about 2 minutes after you parkIt drops once you’ve paid
- Lost ticket at a Times gate lot
- Up to ¥30,000 to exitThe amount varies by lot
- Maximum stay at Times
- 48 hoursUnless the lot displays another limit
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On this page
The rules here are Times' own, one of Japan's largest operators. Other operators set their own rules and write them on the sign; 当日1回限り means the cap applies once per day.
Key facts, checked 11 October 2026
Three systems at Times lots: number-plate camera (enter your plate number at the machine), flap lock (enter your space number) and gate (insert the entry ticket).
Flap-lock timing: park within 2 minutes; the flap rises automatically and lowers after payment. Check that it is down before you move.
Three cap types at Times: a cap for set hours after parking (駐車後○時間), a cap for a time band (時間帯最大料金) and a cap until midnight (当日24時まで). Caps repeat (繰り返し適用), and some lots have no cap.
Maximum stay at Times: 48 hours, unless Times gives permission or the lot displays another limit.
Lost ticket at a Times gate lot: pay up to ¥30,000 to exit; the amount varies by lot.
Payment rule: pay by the lot's method (the machine, or the Times Club app where offered) whatever the position of the flap or gate.
Times help line: eastern Japan 0120-77-8924; western Japan 0120-72-8924.
Sources for this section: Times Parking: how to use hourly parking · Times Parking: maximum-rate systems (Japanese) · Times Parking: English terms and conditions
Choose by what you see at the lot
A low metal flap in the middle or front of each bay: park within 2 minutes, note the bay number, pay at the machine using that number and drive out once the flap is down.
A barrier and ticket machine at the entrance: take the ticket and keep it in your wallet, not the car, then insert it at the exit machine.
No flaps, no barrier, and cameras on posts: note your number plate, enter it at the machine and pay before you leave.
A raised flap in an empty bay: don't park there.
The cap ends at 22:00 or midnight and you're staying overnight: expect the hourly rate to restart, and budget from the sign's night rate.
No cap shown: use another lot for a long stay.
Leaving the car for more than 48 hours: use a lot that displays a longer limit, or a hotel car park.
The machine won't take your card: pay cash, or call the number on the machine (Times: 0120-77-8924 in the east, 0120-72-8924 in the west).
Sources for this section: Times Parking: how to use hourly parking · Times Parking: maximum-rate systems (Japanese) · Times Parking: English terms and conditions
Worked example: the same 21 hours, three kinds of cap
Times illustrates its three caps with one lot: ¥100 per 20 minutes by day (¥300 an hour), ¥100 per 60 minutes at night, and a ¥1,000 cap. Each example is a 21-hour stay.
Cap for set hours after parking: the normal charge would be 14 hours × ¥300 = ¥4,200 by day plus 7 hours × ¥100 = ¥700 at night, ¥4,900 in all. The cap covers the whole stay, so you pay ¥1,000.
Cap for a time band ending at 22:00: the 12 hours until 22:00 are capped at ¥1,000, then 9 hours × ¥100 = ¥900, so you pay ¥1,900.
Cap until midnight: the 14 hours until 24:00 are capped at ¥1,000, then 7 hours × ¥100 = ¥700, so you pay ¥1,700.
What it shows: the same sign headline ("max ¥1,000") costs ¥1,000, ¥1,700 or ¥1,900 for the same night, depending on when the cap ends. Read the small print under 最大料金.
Sources for this section: Times Parking: maximum-rate systems (Japanese)
Identify the parking mechanism before you leave the car
At Times flap-lock lots, the flap rises automatically once you've parked, and Times says to park within 2 minutes. Don't park over a raised flap, and after paying, check that the flap for your own space is fully down before you move.
At Times gate lots, a lost ticket means paying up to ¥30,000 (the exact amount varies by lot) to exit. Keep the ticket in your wallet or phone case, not on the dashboard.
Sources for this section: Times Parking: how to use hourly parking · Times Parking: English terms and conditions
"Maximum rate" can mean three different charging patterns
Times describes three cap structures: a cap for a fixed number of hours after parking, a cap for a set time band and a cap until midnight. Times says its caps repeat (最大料金は繰り返し適用されます), but the start, end and repeat point differ. Read the full sign, including any hours that the cap doesn't cover.
Times' repeat rule applies to Times lots. Other operators set their own rules and write them on the sign; 当日1回限り means the cap applies once per day.
Sources for this section: Times Parking: maximum-rate systems (Japanese)
Pay by the lot's method, whatever the flap or gate shows
Times' terms require the lot's payment process whatever the position of the lock plate, gate or other equipment. Camera lots without an exit barrier still need payment. Rates and payment methods vary by lot, so carry some cash.
Times generally limits parking to 48 hours, with exceptions where permission or the displayed lot conditions allow otherwise. This is a Times rule, not a nationwide one; check the actual lot before leaving a car for several days.
Sources for this section: Times Parking: English terms and conditions · Times Parking: how to use hourly parking
Do this now
1. Before you leave the car, photograph the rate sign and either the bay number, the ticket or your number plate.
2. Find the cap type on the sign: 駐車後○時間 (set hours), a time band, or 当日24時まで (until midnight).
3. Work out your exit time against it, as in the worked example.
Sources for this section: Times Parking: maximum-rate systems (Japanese)
Questions about this guide
How do I pay at a Japanese coin parking lot?
At the machine, before you drive out. At a flap-lock lot, enter your bay number and pay; the flap drops. At a camera lot, enter your number plate. At a gate lot, insert your entry ticket at the exit. Payment methods vary by lot, so carry some cash.
What does 最大料金 (maximum rate) mean?
A cap on what you pay for a period. At Times it comes in three types: a cap for set hours after you park, a cap for a time band, and a cap until midnight. After that period, hourly charges restart, and at Times the cap then applies again for the next period. Some lots have no cap.
What if I lose my parking ticket?
At Times gate lots you can exit after paying up to ¥30,000; the exact amount varies by lot. Keep the ticket in your wallet or phone case, not on the dashboard.
Can I leave a car overnight or for several days in coin parking?
Overnight, yes. Times limits stays to 48 hours unless the lot shows a different limit or you have permission. For longer, use your hotel's car park or a lot that displays a longer limit.
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Sources & review
Official pages for this guide
The rules in this guide come from the official pages below. Japan, Booked. does not book or submit requests on your behalf.
Published · Based on official sources · no affiliate links
Official sources
These official sources explain the rules and conditions used in this guide. Live availability and your own booking, admission or service outcome still need to be confirmed for your trip.
- Times Parking: how to use hourly parking
What this confirms: Describes the camera, flap-lock and gate systems, the 2-minute flap-lock rule and the help line numbers.
Last checked - Times Parking: maximum-rate systems (Japanese)
What this confirms: Explains the three cap types with the 21-hour worked figures, and states that caps repeat.
Last checked - Times Parking: English terms and conditions
What this confirms: Gives the payment rule, the 48-hour limit and the lost-ticket charge of up to ¥30,000.
Last checked
About this guide
Use Japanese coin parking without getting stuck: spot flap-lock, gate or camera lots, read the maximum-rate sign, then pay. A lost ticket can cost ¥30,000.
Last checked 11 October 2026 · Check again by 8 April 2027. The worked example uses Times' own illustration; the sign at your lot sets the real rates.
How we checked this
Sources and limits of this guide
These dated notes clarify what is confirmed by official sources—and what you still need to verify yourself.
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| Question | What we found | Where it comes from | What this means for your trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| How do I pay at a coin parking lot? | At the machine before you drive out, using your bay number, ticket or number plate. | Times Parking: how to use hourly parking | Photograph the sign and the bay number before you walk away. |
| Does the maximum rate cover a whole night? | Only if the cap runs that long: a cap that ends at 22:00 or midnight lets hourly charges restart. | Times Parking: maximum-rate systems (Japanese) | In Times' own example the same ¥1,000 cap costs ¥1,000, ¥1,700 or ¥1,900 for 21 hours. |
| What if I lose the parking ticket? | At Times gate lots you pay up to ¥30,000 to exit; the amount varies by lot. | Times Parking: English terms and conditions | Keep the ticket in your wallet, not in the car. |
| How long can I leave a car at a Times lot? | Up to 48 hours, unless Times gives permission or the lot displays another limit. | Times Parking: English terms and conditions | For a longer stay, check the limit shown at the lot before you leave the car. |
Based on official sources, linked below.
Guide updates Reviewed
When this guide was checked and what changed
- First published
- Last checked
- Check again by
- What we checked
- Times Parking's English how-to and terms pages and its Japanese maximum-rate page, checked 8 October 2026.
- Latest update
- : Rechecked on 11 October 2026: the dated facts in this guide were compared with their primary sources. Nothing had changed.
The date above reflects when these checks were last run. If an individual source was rechecked later, you’ll see that date next to it below. Other copy edits are listed in the update history.
Who edits this guide
One editor looks after this guide
Japan, Booked. is run and edited from Japan. The same editor checks the Japanese and English sources, writes the traveller-facing guidance and keeps the correction history up to date.
What changed
Update history
- Scheduled recheck
Rechecked on 11 October 2026: the dated facts in this guide were compared with their primary sources. Nothing had changed.
- Rebuilt as a full guide
Rebuilt as a full guide with key facts, a chooser, a worked example and FAQs, checked against official sources on 8 October 2026.
- First published
Published in English as a short problem guide.
If an operator, organiser or product changes in a way that affects the guide, we check it again sooner. Reader reports help us spot what to investigate, and we verify them against current official information before publishing. Read our update and corrections policy. See every guide's review schedule. Suggest an improvement to this guide.