Car Rental in Japan - Tips & Prices Driving in Japan

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Updated: 23. January 2024 05:03

When does renting a car make sense?

If you want to explore the rural areas of Japan (e.g. Hokkaido, the Tohoku region, Nagano, Takayama, etc.) it is worth renting a car. Trains only run at large intervals here and the last connection is usually in the early evening. Especially in Okinawa, you should rent a car to be able to explore the island thoroughly.

If you are traveling in larger groups, with pets, have a lot of luggage or are planning remote cycling tours, a rental car is also recommended. Depending on your needs, the providers offer various models that can be rented for certain periods of time.

When is it not worthwhile?

In big cities like Tokyo or Osaka, I recommend taking the train, of course – you don’t often find such a sophisticated train system as in Japan and you save a lot of time. Especially during rush hour, you’ll be stuck in traffic with a car more than you’ll be able to move forward. Few parking spaces, most of which are chargeable and not cheap, make the journey even more difficult. Orientation is also difficult. Street signs are usually bilingual but can often cause confusion.

Requirements for renting a car

To be able to rent a car in Japan, you must be at least 18 years old, have a valid credit card and a driver’s license.

You have to be careful here: for example, the international driver’s license is not valid for everyone. Residents of Austria and Switzerland can use this driver’s license, but German citizens must rely on a Japanese translation of their German driver’s license.

The international driver’s license

The international driver’s license is usually issued in the home country and may only be used in Japan for a maximum of one year. Currently, only documents issued in Austria and Switzerland are permitted to drive in Japan without further verification.

The driver’s license with Japanese translation

For travelers from Germany and various other countries, a Japanese translation of their own driver’s license is required. This can be requested locally in Japan, but it is advisable to have the translation made in advance, for example online.

This can be done either by the Japanese embassy or you can contact the JAF (Japan Automobile Federation), comparable to the German ADAC.

In Germany

Online providers for driver’s license translations

If you want to request a translation of your driver’s license before your trip to Japan, I can recommend the online translation service Driving-Japan *!

You can request the translation online and have it sent to your home (Europe or Asia) or to the hotel in Japan. Delivery takes about 1-5 weeks. The whole thing costs between 84.90 - 89.90 euros.

Alternatively, you can also get the translation online and then print it out at a 7-Eleven store in Japan. Delivery only takes one week in this case and you will also get instructions on how to do it. This option costs 74.90 euros.

In Japan

Driver’s license translation in Japan

The best choice in Japan is the JAF. A translation can be requested by mail in advance or you can apply for it in person at the organization's local offices. The cost is 3,000 yen / about 26 euros and the issuance can be done directly on the same day, unfortunately, it can also take up to two weeks.

*Affiliate Link: If you make a booking through my affiliate link, I will receive a small commission. There are no additional costs for you and you support my blog. I am very grateful to you and wish you a lot of fun traveling (^_^)

How to rent a car – Procedure

The process of renting a car is hardly different in Japan from the rest of the world. You can call the office, book online or even directly on site and make an appointment.

On the day of your big trip, you pick it up from the provider and pay the basic fee by credit card. The car will be briefly checked for damage and then your journey can begin.

When you return the car, it must be full of fuel. There are providers who specify certain gas stations in the area and also charge the fuel bill, so it is advisable to keep all receipts. In some cases, it is also possible to return the car without filling it up first. This is best discussed with the provider before departure and make sure it is okay.

My personal recommendation: Since I have rented cars through Toyota Rent a Car or Nippon Rent a Car very often, I can particularly recommend these two rental car companies.

Rental duration

A car can be booked for 6, 12 or 24-hour intervals. The return time should be adhered to as much as possible. However, if there are complications or you are stuck in traffic, you can warn the provider by phone and negotiate a new time. Since only a few offices have English-speaking staff, it would be good to have someone with good Japanese skills in this case.

Navigation system

Most cars have a Japanese navigation system installed in the car. In case of understanding problems, I suggest asking the rental car provider if the system is also available in English.

A small tip: For safety reasons, you can only set the navi when parking. Therefore, make sure you enter the address correctly before the journey.

When renting

When renting in Japan, you usually go through a small procedure before you can start. First, all valid documents must be presented and you have the option of taking out vehicle insurance for the duration of the trip. After paying by credit card (caution: not every foreign credit card is accepted!), the car will be checked for damage. If you want to be on the safe side here, I recommend taking a short video of the rental car.

After that, you will be handed the vehicle documents and you can familiarize yourself with the vehicle functions. If something is unclear, the provider's staff is of course always available.

Also, be sure to note the emergency numbers and ask right at the beginning if English-speaking staff are available. The type of fuel required is usually communicated to you, but you can also ask if something is unclear.

Furthermore, I can generally recommend taking out full comprehensive insurance in advance so that you can rent a car and drive through Japan without any worries.

What costs are to be expected?

The driver’s license translation, if necessary, costs some money and the rental fees and any additional insurance will be paid on the day the car is picked up. On the journey itself, costs such as petrol, tolls, parking spaces and, depending on the destination, car ferries will be incurred.

Prices for rental cars

The rental price depends on the car. It is not only the season and the vehicle model that play a role, the rental duration is also crucial. It is realistic to expect around 5,000 yen / 41 euros for a 24-hour rental.

The price includes basic insurance, taxes and unlimited mileage.

Registering a second driver or renting for a one-way trip is usually charged extra.

Toll fees

In Japan, you pay toll fees on highways, which can be quite expensive. You can pay the toll in cash on site or use the ETC system (Electronic Toll Collection system). To do this, you must register beforehand, which requires a Japanese address. Therefore, this system is not recommended for tourists. However, if you have acquaintances who have an ETC card, you can also borrow and use it.

Toll costs are about 3,000 yen per 100 kilometers.

Car ferries

In Japan, ferries are used for crossing at many places with lakes or areas by the sea and are highly recommended for short distances.

However, for longer distances, such as changing between main islands, the prices skyrocket so much that it makes more sense to return the car and rent a new one on the other side.

Gas stations

Gas stations can be found almost everywhere in Japan (caution in rural areas: sometimes you have to look for them) and also from different providers. You can choose between self-service or service. The former is slightly cheaper, but the instructions are all in Japanese.

As elsewhere, there is no fixed price for petrol, but you can expect around 160-170 yen / about 1.08 euros per liter.

Parking

Parking spaces can cost between 100 and 500 yen per hour. The closer you are to a big city, the more expensive parking facilities become and are sometimes even charged every 15 minutes. Even near popular tourist attractions, parking is only advantageous to a limited extent and turns out to be an expensive experience. Watch out: Parking is sometimes only possible with cash, so it’s best to always have coins with you. Sometimes credit cards don’t work at such parking spaces.

On the other hand, public parking spaces in villages, sometimes also in malls or hotels outside the cities, are usually free.

Driving behavior

In Japan, left-hand traffic prevails everywhere. Cars are allowed to park at the roadside (except, of course, on the highway) and it is not uncommon for drivers to take this opportunity for a short nap.

In winter, it is especially worthwhile to drive carefully, as poor road conditions can sometimes cause some difficulties. Caution is also advised in the mountains: due to the steep drop and the winding roads, it can quickly happen that the brakes overheat.

The speed limit should also be adhered to, as it is monitored here and there with speed cameras. In rural areas, up to 50 km/h is common and on most highways 80 km/h.