Guides
Rental Car Guide
Renting a car is super easy and convenient in Japan with rental shops found in all major areas and near train stations! In fact, because of how dense some of the major cities are, it is quite common for locals to rent a car to go on a trip somewhere.
Whether you're renting from a city, or taking the train first then renting from another prefecture, this guide will provide you with all the key things you need to know when it comes to renting a car in Japan.
Take a look at our Driving in Japan Guide for information on road rules, signs, parking & tolls and you'll be ready to hit the road in Japan in no time!
Licence Requirements
Those who have a drivers licence from Switzerland, Germany, France, Taiwan, Belgium or Monaco:
Drivers Licence
Japanese translation of drivers licence (can be obtained from the issuing authority of the driver's license or the embassy / consulate of that country in Japan or JAF)
Passport
Those who have a drivers licence from a country not listed above:
Drivers Licence
International Drivers Permit (issued by a certifying body in one of the signatory countries/territories of the Geneva Convention based on the format of the Geneva Convention)
Passport
Rental Car Providers & Rates
General road rules in Japan don't differ too much compared to other countries around the world, however there are a few specific rules that you should remember:
All passengers must wear a seatbelt and children under the age of 6 must be in a child seat
Drive on the LEFT side of the road
You may only turn left at a traffic light intersection if the lights are green or there is a green arrow
You must come to a complete stop and check for oncoming trains at all railway crossings before proceeding
Drivers must give way to pedestrians at a pedestrian crossing
Japan has very strict no tolerance approach to driving under the influence of alcohol
Speed limits if there are no signs are 60km/h (37mph) on ordinary roads and 100km/h (62 mph) on expressways
Car Types
Compact Cars (Hatchbacks) - 5 Seats
Ideal for couples. Small families may manage for shorter trips, however interior and luggage space may be limited
Standard Cars (Sedans/Touring) - 5 Seats
Ideal for small families and groups. More comfortable over longer distances, however luggage space may be limited
SUV - Seats 5
Ideal for families and groups. Comfortable over longer distances with ample luggage space for everyone
Minivan / Wagon - 6 to 7 Seats
Ideal for large families and groups. Comfortable over longer distances, ease of entry and ample luggage space for everyone
Insurance Options
Rental cars generally will come with basic insurance, however there are additional insurance options to consider which differ for each rental provider. The following key terms are commonly used relating to insurance options:
Exclusion of Liability Compensation System: These are fees / excess payable by the customer in the event of property damage or car damage
Non Operation Charge (NOC): This is a fee to compensate the rental provider in the event the car is non operational (i.e. due to accident, theft, breakdown or damage to the car) for business interruption
Petrol / Gasoline
All rental cars need to be returned with a full tank of petrol / gasoline and you will need to show the rental car attendant the receipt as confirmation. Petrol stations are available throughout Japan and can easily be found on Google Maps, however not all petrol stations are 24 hours. There are generally two different types of petrol stations across Japan:
Full Service (フル)
These petrol stations will have an attendant that will re-fuel the car for you
The attendant will generally ask you what type of petrol, how much and your payment method
Most cars will use regular petrol and you can respond by saying 're-gu-rar'
To re-fuel to a full tank you can respond by saying 'mahn-tahn'
For payment you can respond by saying 'card-o' for credit card or 'gen-kin' for cash. If you are paying by credit card, pass your credit card to the attendant at this time as well
The attendant will then re-fuel your car and provide you with a receipt and your credit card back (if applicable) once you are done
The attendant may also ask you which direction you wish to proceed in and will guide you back onto the road
Self Service (セルフ)
These petrol stations will have to re-fuel the car yourself
You will use the touch panel at the pump to select your fuel type, amount to re-fuel and payment type
Depending on the petrol station, the machine may or may not have English support
Petrol types are colour coded:
'レギュラー' for regular petrol
'ハイオク' for premium or high octane petrol
'軽油' for diesel
To re-fuel to a full tank you can select the option '満タン'
Payment options are as follows:
'クレジットカード' for credit card
'現金' for cash
Winter Tyres
Depending on when and where you are driving in Japan, winter tyres (studless tyres) may be needed. These tyres have deeper groves and are designed for driving on snow and ice.
If the location you are renting from is in an area that snows, there will be a period (generally from 1 December to 31 March) where the rental car shop will change all tyres to winter tyres, however it is best to confirm this with the rental car shop ahead of time and let them know where you intend to drive to.
Tolls can be fairly expensive (i.e. ~¥11,000 from Tokyo to Osaka), however they can save a significant amount of time (~6 hours vs ~11 hours from Tokyo to Osaka).
Other Useful Tips
Rental car fees are generally charged in blocks of 24 hours so the price may be the same if you rent a car at 8am and return it at 8am the following day as opposed to 8pm the same day
Opening times and closing times can be quite busy so ensure you allow yourself enough time
Google Maps works quite well in Japan, however road signs may be different
Most in-car GPS can be set to English (ask the rental car company for assistance if required) and addresses can be searched by phone number (i.e. phone number of the restaurant or attraction you are driving to)
The base model rental car type may not come with cruise control so check with the rental car company if you require this
Some rental shops may offer a shuttle service (if they are not located within walking distance from a train station) which will require you to call when you have arrived at the nearest station