Travel Guide Japan – inspiration for your travels

With its unparalleled depth of tradition and vast range of regional cultures, Japan ranks very highly as one of the world's most geographically varied travel destinations. From the snow-capped mountains of Hokkaido to the subtropical beaches of Okinawa, no other place offers the visitor such a kaleidoscope of sights and sounds at any time of the year.

Japan offers a great diversity and intensity of experiences quite unmatched these days, with motorists able to choose from a great selection of leisurely road-trips all over the country. Some of the highlights include the chance to drive through Shikoku's picturesque landscapes before enjoying some high-octane urban living in megacities like Tokyo, Fukuoka and Osaka, which are simply irresistible to the modern traveller, young or old.

More than 75 per cent of Japan is covered by densely forested mountains, to the scenery is spectacular wherever you go and at any time of the year. Japanese cuisine is another major attraction, which changes by the season and features mainstay dishes ranging from delicious noodles to grilled rice cakes, both sold as street-food all over the country. Takoyaki is another firm favourite originally from Osaka made with octopus and served on a stick.

Founded over 70 years ago, Auto Europe is a strong leader of the international car rental industry, providing its many customers more than 28,000 convenient pick-up/drop-off locations in over 190 popular destinations worldwide, including Japan. We work with all the top vehicles suppliers to offer you the widest range of vehicles at the lowest rates, always matched by the best level of service.

If you want to discover this amazing country by car then our travel guide for Japan will be a great help. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask our award-winning rental specialists for assistance and they will be happy to assist you and find you the cheapest deal for your trip. Another advantage of booking with Auto Europe is all the freedom and flexibility of being able to pick up your car in one destination (such as Tokyo) and dropping it off in another, say Osaka.

Consult the Travel Guide Japan topics listed below and take a look at each page for information on a specific aspect of travelling around the country by car.

• Japan Car Hire Guide - A comprehensive summary of what is needed for hiring a car in Japan.

Road trips with my car hire in Japan

Great drives can be enjoyed all over Japan, so we've compiled a short-list of scenic drives comprising some of the many must-see destinations en route. Japan's mix of history, culture, beautiful countryside and stunning architecture is a big draw for tourists, with Tokyo being one of the most popular destinations in the Far East. The motorway system allows easy access for driving through the countryside of Japan, making most of the country easily accessible at any time of the year.

Kumamoto: With an affordable car hire in Japan from Auto Europe you can drive right into the heart of Kumamoto's Land of Fire where you can enjoy scenic drives, wild hikes and long soaks in volcanic hot springs in and around the breathtaking Aso-Kuju National Park.

Shikoku Karst: Extending along rolling mountains, the Shikoku Karst offers visitors the chance to travel across this unique geological formation caused by the erosion of limestone hillsides. This is a place to experience nature of a different kind, the sweeping grasslands of which are scattered with white limestone mounds and conical sinkholes. With a car, the scenic drive from either Kochi or Matsuyama takes around two hours.

Yamaguchi Prefecture: For quiet beaches, high-quality pottery and a large dose of samurai history, there's no place like the Yamaguchi Prefecture, one of the best places to relax and drive around for a few days under a golden sun. Here you can explore the old castle town of Hagi (and its five UNESCO World Heritage sites) and visit the stunning pagoda at the Rurikoji Temple before chilling at Yuda Onsen.

Noto Peninsula: Some of Japan’s finest coastal scenery can be found along the coastline of the Ishikawa Prefecture on the enchanting Noto Peninsula. Besides witnessing amazing sunsets, this route passes many shrines and some dramatic seascapes, as well as the Shiroyone Senmaida rice terraces and the port city of Wajima, home to its world-famous 1,000-year-old market.

What to do in Japan

Japan is a very popular tourist destination, with Tokyo in particular being one of the main attractions for most first-time visitors. Given its geographical diversity (the country is comprised of more than 14,000 islands) – and thanks to a first-rate motorway and road system – it's very easy to get around with a car hire in Japan, which means that moving from place to place is quick and easy, with many excellent beaches located close to the main cities.

• Tokyo: Surrounded by walls and moats, Tokyo's magnificent Imperial Palace is an absolute must for people visiting the Japanese capital for the first time. Still used by the Imperial Family, a highlight is the East Higashi-Gyoen Garden where the ruins of the original Edo Castle exist. The long list of other top attractions in Tokyo includes the Sensō-ji Temple (the city's most famous shrine), Yomiuriland (a large family-orientated theme park) and the Tokyo National Museum which houses more than 100,000 important works of Japanese, Chinese, and Indian art.


• Kyoto: Another of Japan's largest cities, Kyoto is one of the country's few places to have escaped the devastation of World War II, and as such offers visitors a true taste of the nation's imperial past. There's much to see and do in this beautiful city, most notably the Golden Pavilion with its idyllic lakeside location, the Kiyomizu-dera Temple (an important UNESCO World Hertage Site) and Nijo Castle, which also houses Ninomaru Palace and the Hall of the Imperial Emissary. With no less than 1,600 Buddhist temples and 400 Shinto shrines scattered around the Kyoto prefecture, the city continues to play an important role in Japanese religion and modern culture.


• Osaka: A vibrant city with a host of wonderful tourist attractions, Osaka's origins date right back to the early days of the Japanese Empire. Stylish and ultra-modern, it is blessed with numerous first-rate cultural institutions, including several excellent museums, art galleries and popular music venues. There are many sites your simply cannot miss, chief amongst being Osaka Castle which was built in the 16th century, the Shitennō-ji Temple (Japan's first Buddhist temple) and the amazing Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan, one of the largest aquariums in the world with no less than 27 tanks.


• Mount Fuji: As iconic as the Statue of Liberty and the Eiffel Tower, Mount Fuji is the country's highest and most photogenic peak. Snow-capped for most of the year, it lies within the boundary of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park, which covers a total area of 1,227 square-kilometres (474 square-miles) right in the heart of Japan. Visitors to the Mount Fuji area can climb the mountain (which at 3,776 metres high is a very rewarding and relatively easy accomplishment), whilst hiking along some of the most popular trails, followed by some kayaking or fishing in the enchanting Five Lakes region at the foot of the mountain. Don't miss the Healing Village (Saiko Iyashino-Sato Nenba), a traditional Japanese village portraying the daily lives of the locals over many centuries.


• Hiroshima: Nowadays regarded as the world's Peace Capital, Hiroshima's name and cityscape remained blighted for many decades after World War II on account of the devastation caused by the atomic bomb dropped on the city on the 6th of August 1945. Today it has metamorphosed into a unique tourist destination with many important cultural events, such as the annual Hiroshima Flower Festival. Many of Hiroshima's top sights are related to that tragic moment in world history, including the Peace Memorial Museum, the Memorial Cenotaph, Flame of Peace, Monument to the Victims of the Atomic Bomb and the Atom Bomb Dome. Another highlight is Hiroshima Castle, a 16th-century fortress museum dedicated to the city's history.

Frequently Asked Questions about travelling in Japan

We have compiled a list of some of the most common questions that customers often raise when planning to book their car hire in Japan. Scroll down for information on visa requirements, time zones, the local currency and much more. Please also take a look at our comprehensive travel tips section where we cover a wide variety of topics ranging from coverage information to all the rules and regulations regarding minimum and maximum age requirements and any driving restrictions that might apply in Japan and elsewhere around the world.

Useful Links

Travel inspo - Hanami - Visit Japan during Cherry Blossom Season

Official Tourism Website of Japan

Gov.uk Japan Travel Advice