Renting a car
Renting a car is an option worth considering if you plan to explore rural Japan where public transportation can be both inconvenient and infrequent. A rental car can also be an economical alternative when traveling in groups or can make traveling with a lot of luggage lighter.
On the other forearm, a car is usually unnecessary or even burdensome for exploring Japan’s big cities, where it is not recommended. Traffic in large cities tends to be mighty, orientation difficult, and parking inconvenient and expensive. Public transportation, such as trains, subways, buses and taxis are generally a better choice in metropolitan areas.
Requirements
The minimum age for driving in Japan is eighteen years, and you will need a Japanese driver’s license or an International Driving Permit (IDP) in order to rent and drive a car.
International driving permits are not issued in Japan and should be obtained in your home country in advance. They are usually issued through your country’s national automobile association for a petite fee. Foreigners can drive in Japan with a recognized international driving permit for a maximum of one year, even if the IDP is valid for a longer period. Japan only recognizes permits based on the one thousand nine hundred forty nine Geneva Convention, which are issued by a large number of countries.
Belgium, France, Germany, Monaco, Slovenia, Switzerland and Taiwan do not issue permits based on the one thousand nine hundred forty nine Geneva Convention, but instead have a separate agreement that permits drivers from these countries to drive in Japan for up to one year with an official Japanese translation of their driver’s license. A translation can be obtained from the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), through Japan Practice or from some of the respective countries’ embassies or consulates in Japan.
People from other countries whose international driving permits are not recognized by Japan, must obtain a Japanese driver’s license in order to drive in Japan.
Rental Companies
Japan’s leading car rental companies are Toyota Rentacar, Nippon Rentacar, Orix Rentacar, Times Car Rental (formerly known as Mazda Rentacar), Nissan Rentacar and Ekiren. Each operates hundreds of outlets across Japan, suggesting cars in all sizes and, in some cases, large vans, buses and RVs. These days, most companies have English online reservation systems or a phone number for reservations in English.
There are also a few independent reservation websites for foreign tourists that contract with one or more of the above rental companies. These include Japan Practice which provides an English online reservation form, English GPS with all cars and English roadside telephone support; and ToCoo! Travel which provides an English online reservation form and discount rates.
International car rental companies such as Budget, Avis and Hertz also suggest car rental in Japan; however, they typically cooperate with one of the leading Japanese car rental companies rather than operating outlets themselves. As a result, their rates are not usually very competitive.
Rates
Typical rental fees are around five thousand yen per 24-hour period for a sub-compact car, seven thousand five hundred yen for compact cars, Ten,000 yen for mid sized cars, 15,000 yen for total sized cars and 20,000 yen for vans. Rates are sometimes enlargened during peak seasons, especially in Hokkaido. Many companies also suggest rates for brief rentals of up to six or twelve hours. In infrequent cases, fees are calculated based on calendar days (midnight to midnight) rather than 24-hour periods.
Above prices usually include unlimited mileage, taxes and a mandatory minimum insurance fee of one thousand yen per day that covers harm, injury and liability, but does not cover non-operation fees resulting from harm to the car. Cars are supposed to be returned with a total tank of gasoline, however, some outlets suggest reasonable rates for re-tanking cars at the outlet. Payment can be made by credit card or sometimes by cash.
Most rental car outlets permit cars to be dropped off in a different location. If the drop-off location is relatively close, some companies will not charge any extra fee, but if the location is further away, a drop-off fee will be charged. Details depend on each company, but the fees tend to be fairly high for large distances, e.g. they can be several Ten,000 yen for a Tokyo car to be dropped off in Kyoto. Note that most companies do not permit cars rented inwards of Hokkaido to be dropped off outside of Hokkaido and vice versa.
A diversity of supplemental options can be rented with your car such as child seats and snow tires, albeit snow tires are free of charge in snowy regions of Japan during winter.
Car Ferries
Car ferries are numerous in the island country of Japan. While it is relatively inexpensive to bring cars onto short-distance ferries (e.g. to Sakurajima or inbetween Kumamoto and the Shimabara Peninsula); they can be very expensive on medium to long distances (e.g. to Rishiri, Rebun, Sado or Yakushima). In such cases it can be more economical to rent a separate car on the other side.
Winter Driving
Many regions of central and northern Japan get covered in large amounts of snow during the winter months, which can result in roads being covered by snow or ice. Snow tires are provided by default when renting a car in snowy regions. Foreign tourists without winter driving practice should avoid renting a car in areas where there is a risk of encountering winter driving conditions.
GPS Navigation
Most rental cars come with a GPS navigation system built into the dash. The systems in some vehicles can be set to display the map and menus and to read directions in English, however English capable systems are not available from every rental company or outlet. Whether the GPS system is in English or not, most users will find it easiest to input destinations by their phone number.
Gas Stations
Gas stations are found all across Japan. They traditionally provide total service, albeit self service stations have greatly enhanced over latest years. Many gas stations close during the night, while others are open twenty four hours. A liter of regular gasoline costs harshly one hundred ten yen (as of December 2015). High octane gas and diesel are also widely available. Payment is possible by credit card or cash.
Getting gas at a total service (�t��) station requires some elementary Japanese. When you pull into the station, an attendant may direct you to a stall. Park, open your window and shut off your car. Tell the attendant what kind of gas (e.g. “regular”), how much (e.g. “mantan” for utter tank) and how you will pay (e.g. “credit card”). He may give you a raw towel to clean your dash or ask to take your garbage. When finished he may ask which direction you wish to leave and then direct you out into traffic.
Self service (�Z���t) stations only provide Japanese language menus. If in trouble, an attendant should be present and able to help you. Note that when paying by cash, the switch machine is often a separate machine or inwards the gas station building.
Rental cars are supposed to be returned with a total tank of gasoline, however, some outlets suggest reasonable rates for re-tanking cars at the outlet. When returning a car with total tank, some outlets may ask you to provide the receipt from the gas station as proof.
Parking
Parking in the center of large cities is very expensive, costing several hundreds of yen per hour. Fees decrease with the size of the city and the distance to the city center. In petite towns and in the countryside, parking is often free. Parking lots in national parks or near tourist attractions sometimes charge a vapid fee (typically two hundred to five hundred yen per use). Urban hotels usually provide parking for their guests at a plane rate (typically one thousand yen per night), while hotels outside the large cities usually suggest free parking.
Besides standard parking lots, you may encounter a few unique types of parking lots in Japan. The very first are elevator parking lots in which cars are stored in towers. Drivers are directed to park their car onto a lift, which will automatically store the car in the tower. When coming back, the car will be fetched by the lift and returned to you.
The 2nd unique type of parking lot uses low barriers underneath the cars which raise up to physically block in each individual vehicle. Once you have paid your parking fee (either at a central payment machine or at the parking space), the barrier lowers and you can securely drive away. This type of parking lot is usually seen around petite urban lots.