Things to know when renting a car in Japan

Having your own transport is by far the best way to explore Japan, a land of striking contrasts and off-beat travel experiences, particularly in the country's less populated and off-the-beaten-track areas. As a well-organised and highly-developed nation, you can expect to find petrol stations located at regular intervals along motorways and main roads with prices fairly uniform throughout Japan, with credit cards accepted in most places. The roads are well maintained and Japanese drivers tend to stick to the speed limits, which ranges from 100kph (62mph) on motorways down to 40kph (25mph) in towns and cities, with penalties for speeding notoriously severe. Should something unexpected happen, please call 110 for the police or 119 for ambulance and fire assistance.

Under Japanese law, child seats must be installed if the driver is travelling with children under six years old, while the driver and every passenger must wear their seat-belt at all times. Please also note that like many other countries, Japan now has a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to drinking and driving, which means that it's best to avoid alcohol when exploring the country by car. With Auto Europe you can create the itinerary of your dreams with the chance to collect your car hire in Japan from convenient pick-up points all over the country, such as Tokyo's Narita and Haneda airports, before exploring the place they call the Land of the Rising Sun. Travel tip: Many towns and cities have road-side establishments known as Michi-no-Eki parking areas where drivers and their passengers can rest for while during their journey. They also provide services such as info on the local culture, history and places of interest, plus they have a variety of regional products and souvenirs for sale. Please also note that if a public holiday falls on a Monday, establishments that normally close on Mondays (ie museums) will typically close on Tuesday instead.

Requirements for Renting a Car

The minimum age for driving a car rental in Japan is 18 years and you will need a valid driving licence and an International Driving Permit (IDP) in order to collect the vehicle when you arrive at your destination, be it Tokyo, Chitose, Sapporo, etc. You will also need to present your passport, Auto Europe car hire voucher and any coverage you have previously purchased like our very popular Full Damage & Theft Protection product which gives drivers total peace of mind whilst using the roads of Japan. Furthermore, we offer a variety of supplementary options that can be added to your rental contract with a single click of the mouse at the time of booking online, such as GPS navigational devices and child/booster seats. Please note that with Auto Europe, you also have the possibility of picking up your car in one place (such as Tokyo's Narita Airport, for example) and dropping it off somewhere else (ie Hiroshima Airport) for your added convenience and flexibility.

International Driving Permit (IDP)

Before arriving in the country to collect your car hire in Japan, you'll need to apply for an International Driving Permit (IDP) in order to drive, which is available from a PayPoint store (which replaced the Post Office as the issuing location in April 2024). Valid in conjunction with your regular driving licence, these international driving permits are recognised in Japan and elsewhere around the world, and is only valid if it is issued by the official issuing authority in the UK (namely PayPoint).

Age Restrictions

As previously mentioned, 18 is the lowest age permitted for renting a vehicle in Japan, although can vary depending on which provider and/or category you have opted for during the reservation process. If you are a younger or older driver and have any doubts at all regarding your age or whether or not you will be able to take to the road in Japan, please do not hesitate to contact our award-winning rental specialists for assistance and they will be more than happy to answer any questions you might have and put your mind to rest. You can find all the info you need by following the link to our dedicated age requirements page on our website, whilst newbies should click on the following link if they are renting a car for the first time. Please note that both younger and more senior drivers are obliged to register their correct age when booking an affordable car hire in Japan with Auto Europe in order for us to always be able to advise our customers of any restrictions that could possibly apply to their booking.

Car rental versus other modes of transportation

Despite the convenience (and independence) of discovering the country by car, arguably Japan's most cost-effective means of getting around is its extensive railway network, whether by local, rapid or the iconic bullet train. This works well if you're looking to save time and money travelling quickly between two cities, but the truth is there's no better way of really seeing the country than with your own set of wheels from Auto Europe, be it a sumptuous SUV or a modern motorhome with enough beds for your closest friends and family members. Buses and long-distance coaches are other options for visiting Japan's tourism hotspots but both are far less comfortable than travelling by car or train. Domestic air travel is another popular way of travelling from A to B in Japan in the shortest time possible, although the need for transfers and navigating one's way around the country's massive airports are both negative factors for people choosing to fly instead of drive.

How does car hire in Japan compare with public transport?

Particularly in the big cities, Japan is famed for its ultra-efficient public transport systems, many of which offer money-saving pre-paid cards allowing unlimited travel for a period of time. Buses are always a good way of getting around towns and cities, while a good number of Japanese operators offer long-distance coach journeys at a reasonable price. But Japan is mostly synonymous with its excellent rail network which covers the entire country thanks to six large regional companies that run under the JR (Japan Railways) banner, namely JR Hokkaido, JR East, JR West, JR Central, JR Shikoku and JR Kyushu. Many discounted train tickets are available, as well as rail passes on all the networks, so it is possible save money travelling by train in Japan, although you'll forfeit all the freedom and flexibility offered by driving a car.

The main advantages of renting a car in Japan

Despite the efficiency of Japan's public transport network, and the fame of its high-speed bullet train services, a rental car offers visitors the chance to create a bespoke itinerary tailored to their requirements, whether it's a fun-filled road-trip in and around the Mount Fuji area or a relaxing drive down the country's breathtaking Pacific coast. With your own vehicle at your disposal you'll be able explore towns and cities at your own pace and even head deep into Japan's interior to see places that would be difficult or even impossible to reach by train, coach or any other means of public transport. Although the monorail, metro and tram systems are excellent for getting around major cities like Tokyo, it's true to say that a car is essential for touring the country's rural areas and mountainous regions which are much less accessible but offer travellers a true taste of the real Japan.

Situations where public transport may be preferable

Renowned for its punctuality and general reliability, Japan's much-admired public transport system offers tourists and local residents alike the chance to get from A to B quickly and relatively cheaply at any time of the year. Japan boasts a comprehensive network of trains, underground trains, buses, coaches, ferries, monorails and the aforementioned Shinkansen bullet trains which facilitate seamless journeys from one end of the country to the other through a series of interconnected transport systems co-ordinated to help travellers reach their destination in as short a time as possible.

What are the cost considerations

From high-speed trains to local buses, Japan has a public transport option for every need and budget. Besides helping to alleviate traffic congestion and reduce their carbon footprint, visiting travellers can also take advantage of all-inclusive travel passes sold in most large towns and cities, making it a more affordable option over several days. Additionally, finding a parking space in Tokyo and other major cities can be expensive and time-consuming. But despite the costs being higher, booking a car hire in Japan through Auto Europe has many advantages that will greatly offset the increased expenditure, especially if your time is somewhat limited and the general objective is to see and do as much as possible during your stay. For instance, if you're travelling with a lot of luggage, a car is the best option, and with us you'll always have the chance to select a more spacious vehicle from our Large and Luxury categories, or even a modern minivan with seating for several people plus their luggage. Another cost-effective way of travelling around Japan is with an Auto Europe campervan equipped with all mod cons such as a kitchen, toilet, etc. and enough beds to cater for a group of friends or family members travelling around the country together whilst saving a lot of money on meals and accommodation

Driving in Japan

Driving your car rental in Japan should be a relatively routine and safe experience, especially for British drivers who are used to driving on the left. Understanding the Japanese road-signs is fairly straighforward as the majority you'll find in and around the large towns and cities are also in English which makes driving the country's potentially challenging city streets and expressways quite an easy process, especially if there's someone else in the car helping to navigate. The roads are generally well-maintained and most of the local Japanese drivers are very courteous and law-abiding citizens, which isn't always the case in Europe! If you're planning to use the tolled expressways, make sure your vehicle provider supplies you with an ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) card, as well as a GPS navigational device set to the English language before you start out, because changing it from Japanese on your own can be very challenging!

Navigating with GPS

Configuring your GPS device to the English language is a major plus when it comes in navigating the urban centres and expressways with your Auto Europe car rental in Japan. The screen where you input the destination is also in Japanese, so you may find yourself unable to operate the system at all. For this reason, when renting a car, it’s wise to ask the rental staff to explain how to use the navigation system. Japanese GPS devices offers a very useful feature that allows travellers to enter a phone number instead of an address for navigation. There are many ways to plot the route with your GPS, but the easiest is being able to simply enter the phone number of your destination, beginning with the number '0' (no international code necessary) followed by the rest of the number. Note that it's relatively easy to get the telephone number for establishments such as hotels, restaurants and shopping centres) through Google.

Another way of navigating the roads in Japan is with the location code for your final destination, which is a 6-digit number used to identify a specific place in Japan. The first three digits identify the prefecture and the last three digits identify the exact location within the prefecture, thus making it easier for drivers to find their destination. Location codes for use in Japanese GPS systems can be obtained from online mapping services such as Google Maps simply by entering the address and the respective location code will be displayed on the map. When you rent a car in Japan, you'll find that many GPS systems supplied with the vehicle come with pre-programmed location codes for commonly visited places, such as popular tourist destinations, hotels, airports, etc. Generally speaking, road signs in Japan are written in both Japanese (kanji and hiragana) and English, making it easier for foreign drivers to explore the country with their car hire in Japan. A good tip is to pay a little extra for a GPS device, plus it's worth noting that Auto Europe offers free GPS promotions throughout the year).

Travelling on toll roads

You'll have to pay tolls to drive on Japan's extensive expressway network, although many other perfectly good road are completely free of charge. There are many scenic routes to drive on that offer breathtaking views throughout Japan. Make your sightseeing and travel plans using expressways to make the most of the scenery on your road trip. Expressway tolls are collected at toll gates by either cash or credit card payment (gates with a green sign) or automatic ETC card payment (gates with a purple sign). In most cases you'll be able to obtain an ETC card from your car rental company. The amount of toll charges will depend on how far you wish to travel and which roads you intend to take. As a rough guide, the tolls from Tokyo to Kyoto cost approximately ¥10,070. For a group of people, renting a car in Japan is a certainly a very cost-effective way to visit Tokyo (or any other large Japanese city) before embarking on an exhilarating road-trip like the amazing journey drive from Hakone to the Izu Peninsula south-east of Tokyo, which affords some of the most privileged views of Mount Fuji en route. Please note that many great regional expressway passes provide unlimited use of major expressways in different regions throughout Japan and are available for purchase only to foreign travellers, such as the Hokkaido Expressway Pass, Tohoku Expressway Pass, San'in-Setouchi-Shikoku Expressway Pass (SEP）and Kyusyu Expressway Pass(KEP).

Petrol stations: How to refuel and payment options

There are three kinds of petrol stations in Japan - full-service (where staff serve you), self-service and some that are a combination of both. The three types of petrol are diesel, high octane and regular, the latter of which is used by the majority of rental cars in Japan. Many of Japan's petrol stations are branded by familiar names such as Shell, Esso, Mobil, etc. It's easy to fill up your car in a self-service station; all you need to do is stop next to the pump, select a payment method (you can pay with cash or credit card), select the type of fuel (the red nozzle is normally for regular petrol) and remove when finished.

Useful links: Japan Tourist Board