JAPANESE Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has taken a ride in several self-driving vehicles on Tokyo's public roads, showcasing the technology ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show.

Abe tried auto-piloting vehicles from Toyota, Honda and Nissan on the roads around Japan's National Diet Building on Saturday, as international auto makers compete with likes of Google and other technology firms to develop new types of cars with the goal of helping reduce accidents by eradicating human error.

"I felt with my body that the Japanese technology is the world's best," Mr Abe told reporters after riding the vehicles.

Auto makers have previously tested self-driving vehicles on highways that offer better driving conditions and with no pedestrians.

The Tokyo Motor Show this month will feature self-driving technology, as well as electric vehicles and other models.

Mr Abe has pledged to help advance auto-piloting technology as part of his economic policy, as well as measures that encourage various technological innovations and investments and that attract foreign talents to work in Japan.

Originally published as Japan PM tests self-driving cars