It was really simple to reserve a car as their website is in English and so is all the confirmation details. Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons. … When it comes to car rental, Japan is definitely slower than the Shinkansen. 2.3 Japanese People Drive Slowly. This rental car booking agency will be happy to help, though. Its not a problem to rent a car and traffic has gotten much better lately with the implementation of automated tolls. We cover all the basics including things to do in Tokyo, First of all, they drive on the left side with mostly automatic gearbox cars. After you finish successfully renting a car in Japan, you’ll have to contend with driving conditions there. That said, there are some occasions when renting a car in Japan is the easiest (or only) way of getting from Point A to Point B. Firstly, understand that public transportation in Japan is probably the best in the world. Renting a car in Japan comes with a pretty long list of caveats! Its not a problem to rent a car and traffic has gotten much better lately with the implementation of automated tolls. Say “mantan de onegai shimasu” for a full tank of whatever it is you need. If you are traveling as a couple, a family or a group, the value proposition of Japan car rental increases. Also, beware of blinkers and wipers commands which are reversed too. How are gas prices in Japan? However, before you go mapping out half a dozen Japan road trips to take over the next few years, allow me to spill a little cold water on you. Orix Car Share and other providers allow you to “borrow” their cars, which are parked all over the show, especially in bigger cities like Tokyo and Osaka, for short periods of time (even 15 minutes)—making mini, semi-spontaneous (you reserve cars through an app or website) and cheap drives a breeze. I have driven in England and I know I can drive on the 'wrong side' of the road without too much problem. As a tourist driving in Japan, you are required to have an IDP to rent a car, and you must obtain it before you arrive. I have a U.S. driver’s license so that won’t be a … The companies listed have websites with English-language booking capabilities, so it really is as easy as putting in the required dates, vehicle, and any other add-ons you need. But for safety, please double check on the GPS when you look for a rental car. If you want to contribute to or sponsor Tokyo Cheapo, get in touch. I haven't and I am glad that I made that decision. It’s up to you if you want to upgrade the insurance. na0905/Flickr. For more detailed … Just take it. Hybrids can sometimes be had for a competitive price. Most rental companies allow you to return the car at a different branch (for a fee), making one-way road trips simple. While it is of course possible to rent large sedans or SUVs in Japan, the majority of vehicles are rather small. Requirements To Rent A Car In Japan: Driver’s License. We provide services in over 165 countries. However, rental cars for foreigners are not very developed in Japan, for several reasons. If you stay within those areas, it’s better to utilize public transportation. If you had any plans of burning rubber from Tokyo to Osaka, for example, shelve them and take the shink (or a bus) instead. Can you rent a car in Japan? You can plan the itinerary without relying on anything else. Hello, My third time in Japan but first time will rent a car. For popular places like Hokkaido with many foreigner travelers, this GPS is very common and in place. There are a bunch of different companies serving the vehicle rental market in Japan, and you can compare car rental options on Web-Rentacar. Here are some of the major names. Budget around ¥6,000 a day for a cheap hire car—but check prices carefully with the rental company, as they can fluctuate quite a bit depending on the season and demand. Car rental can also be an economical choice especially if you are travelling in a group. For example, when driving in Okinawa (or any other island group, for that matter), you are usually confined to just one island. You’ll need to carry your local license with you when you use it. If you purchase from or sign up with some companies we link to, we will be compensated. This might request a double adaptation time which can slow down some everyday drivers, accustomed to drive on right side with manual gearbox cars. Indeed, if you read about the Hokkaido road trip I took a couple of years ago, then you know that in spite of all the potential drawbacks of Japanese car rental, it can still unlock incredible experiences. Make sure to get the multi-language GPS that support on your comfortable language. If your home country is a signatory of the Geneva Convention of 1949, this is your only option if you want to rent a car in Japan. Last 2 questions the hardest to google... Is Nippon obvious… When you’re on your way to bring the car back, be sure to stop off at a gas (petrol) station (“gasorin sutando” in Japanese) and fill up. For more about the people behind this site, check out the profiles of the cheapos. Choose from a range of brand new economy and luxury cars, across our 224 stations. It all depends on what sort of wheels you’re after and how many people you need to pack into the back. With regards to driving this was not a problem at all. Being able to rent a car in Japan is essential if you’re going outside the city of Naha. However, in addition to the fact that Japan traffic rules are extremely strict, most Japanese roads (again, even expressways) feature one lane on each side—in some places, it’s just one land period! Hi all, I'm visiting Hokkaido this coming May/June and I'm now in a dilemma if I should just rent a car for my 11 days trip. Some folks get a bee in their beatnik bonnet about doing the road trip of their dreams in Japan. A rental car would cost about 8-12,000 yen per day, plus petrol, tolls, and parking. The author may post again if desired.Posts on the Tripadvisor forums may be edited for a short period of time. There are loads of choices in terms of type of car, from the small kei-cars to big 4x4s, but also with added extras, and the gift of English satnav. There's still plenty of time to take advantage of this special discount deal! Additionally, content such as tours and tickets, hotels and apartments are commercial content. The price is high, but not prohibitively (or surprisingly) so. 2.4 And It’s Difficult to Pass, Even on the Highway. More > Times Car Rental . ), where I'll stay for 3 days, then travel to Sapporo (4.5 hrs drive! I also wanted to have the cars delivered to myhotel and picked up from the hotel again. Whether you're seeking information or inspiration, all your trips to Japan start here. Otherwise, you’ll need to pay cash at the 一般 toll gates (and yes, they do give change). When you rent a car in Japan, a basic level of insurance is already included in the price. It will make your life on the southern islands much easier. In a big city like Tokyo, you have plenty of ways to get around with public transportation on a small budget. The majority of rental cars come with multilingual GPS systems. It usually costs about $20.00 (USD) to acquire one. Not bothered by the speed limit in Japan, and already had an IDP at the ready? They also have some of the world’s slowest speed limits—70 km/h is not uncommon, even on expressways. And this was just me! Given the cost and complication of taking the bus there, it turned out that car rental was the less-stressful option. Subscribe to email updates. A credit card will also be required. Follow our budget Tokyo to Kanazawa itinerary without missing all the best sights! If you can’t or don’t want to drive, you can always take a taxi or use one of the various JR Passes for your escapades. If you’re looking to rent a camper van in Japan, we recommend Dream Drive Japan. While some Japanese-language ability will make the collection and drop-off of the rental car easier, it’s not essential. Sponsored posts are clearly labeled with a "Sponsored" tag. To rent a car in Japan, you need to have a driver’s license. But mostly, driving between big cities is a drag. Should I bring/import my own car to Japan or should I just buy new in Japan? Find out how to avoid transaction fees and get the best rates. Ask whether you run on “regular” or another kind of fuel before you leave the rental car office; “regular” refers to regular unleaded petrol, “hai-oku” is premium unleaded, and “keiyu” is diesel. More > JR Eki Rent-a-Car. Some of the articles on this site contain affiliate links. My name is Robert Schrader, and I'm a Japan travel expert with nearly a decade of experience under my belt. Between the cost of the rental car, insurance and gas alone, you’re looking at a minimum of ¥10,000 per day, and that’s a somewhat optimistic figure. The nuts-and-bolts of the process seem to back this up. Rent a car in Japan and find great deals with Europcar. Also, parking is really pricey in the cities. Renting a car in Japan is a great choice when traveling in rural areas without convenient trains and buses, like Hokkaido, Nagano, Hida Takayama, and Okinawa. how to get from Narita airport to Tokyo, which JR rail pass to choose, getting a SIM card and pocket wifi. Passing is often impossible, and even when you can do it it’s downright treacherous. Here are 5 top reasons why you might want to rent a car to go around in Japan: Any tip will do...! If you don’t speak Japanese you might be best off with trying to hire via one of the major car rental companies directly as they may have more English help available. If you have an international driver's license, you might want to head to a car rental stand and see what kind of vehicles are waiting for you. I've considered renting a car in Japan. To rent a car in Japan, drivers must be at least 18 years of age. Young drivers should check age restrictions beforehand. 2.2 Japan Car Rental Rules are Strict. We rented with Toyota Rent a car at their Kawaguchi-ko branch. If you have an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued in line with the Geneva Convention, you’ll be able to rent a car in Japan—but not from all companies (lookin’ at you, Niko-Niko). That’s certainly how I felt before the first time I got behind the wheel in Japan, in Hokkaido a few summers ago. Most rental companies allow people to rent cars from the age of 18, but this depends on the individual company, and the type of vehicle may differ. Another drawback of renting a car in Japan is one drivers everywhere experience: Driving necessarily consumes all your attention. You’ll also need to pay tolls in many parts of Japan, as well as parking fees, which can further increase the cost of hiring a car in Japan. For the most part, you probably won’t need to rent a car in Japan—especially not in Tokyo. -:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:-This post has been removed at the author's request. A lot of the island is not connected by any public transportation. Telephone number or map code can be use to find your destination. The tolls, well, take their toll on your bank balance (seriously, they can be very steep). In the US you can apply for this at a AAA office, but issuance isn’t always immediate so plan ahead. Awesome! 2.1 Driving in Japan is Expensive. If you are curious you can check live traffic information for Need help planning your road trip around Japan? It's like a trip to Japan every week, right in your inbox! There are a number of major and smaller specialist rental companies operating in Japan offering wide networks and choices. Or perhaps renting a car simply seems like the best way to travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. For tourists, we generally suggest simply relying on the extensive public transport network to get around the big city, instead of fussing with car hire in Tokyo. While getting out of Tokyo itself (if you opt for city pick-up) might be a little hair-raising, this is actually a great way to get around the country: you can rent a budget camper van to get out of the hotels and off that beaten track that hipsters seem to hate so much. Updated with the latest rules & regulations, as well as resources. In Hokkaido there seem to be fewer speakers of English than in south. Before roaring off, it’s worth noting that while all rental contracts carry built-in basic insurance, this doesn’t necessarily cover you 100% in the event of an accident. There are a few spots where traffic backs up in the city, the most notorious being Hamazakibashi and Hakozaki. Last autumn, for example, when I was in Kanazawa taking in the colorful leaves, I decided to make a day trip to Maruoka Castle. You might want to take a trip to the rurals, for example, or do a run to the nearest (never very … If you’ve made it this far, you might find yourself discouraged from the idea of renting a car in Japan. Not so fast! They offer more than 10 car rental brands, including familiar names like Budget and Nissan Rent a Car. Read Privacy Policy or view sitemap. UPDATED: How to get your (sanitized) hands on those discounts—when it's safe to do so again. popping down to see the legendary Fuji Rock Festival (see the blurb about camper vans below). Some of my favorite Japan road trips include: Of course, having wheels in Japan has its limitations. Read our guide to getting those digits when moving to Japan. Planning a trip to Japan, or just dreaming of one? IDPs cost $20, and all you need are a valid U.S. driver’s license and two passport-size photos. You won't be tied to timetables either in a car. You should exercise careful judgement with any online purchase. With the exception of a few European countries like Germany and Belgium, whose citizens may submit their domestic driving license with an official Japanese translation, it is essential to have an International Driver’s Permit (IDP) to rent a car in Japan. Information—and inspiration—for all your trips to Japan. There are a host of car rental companies to choose from in Japan. First off, let’s take a look at your driver’s license. If you have young ‘uns, you can add a baby seat or child seat when you make your booking, as well as winter tires, GPS devices and ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) cards—though the latter two are not always available. More > Orix. 1 Reasons for Renting a Car in Japan. 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Just rent a camper van in Japan: driver ’ s license, you won. Developed in Japan dealing with public transport staff -: - Message from Tripadvisor staff -: - Message Tripadvisor... Of gas it had when you rent a car simply seems like the best way to to! Who 's included a lot of the world ’ s take a look at your driver ’ s up you... The right place different companies serving the vehicle rental market in Japan, cost! Sanitized ) hands on those discounts—when it 's like a trip to,. The same amount of gas it had when you rent a car the back that... Almost never speed Japan during COVID-19 for safety, please double check on GPS... You around 5000 should i rent a car in japan per day, plus petrol, tolls, and what license requirements you need to an. Toyota rent a car simply seems like the best way to travel to Japan COVID-19.
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