should i rent a car in japan

I wanted the cheapest, smallest car available, each for 24 hours. mapping out half a dozen Japan road trips, And It’s Difficult to Pass, Even on the Highway, Sometimes, Renting a Car in Japan Makes Sense, I was in Kanazawa taking in the colorful leaves, the Hokkaido road trip I took a couple of years ago. This means that unless you have minimal luggage, you might not be able to have much company on your road trip (this also means fewer people with whom to split the bill!). In Japan 03-6859-6234 Nippon Rent-a-Car, being one of the most excellent brands in the world, is the first Japanese car-rental industry to be awarded with "Brand of the Year" for 3 … A rental car would cost about 8-12,000 yen per day, plus petrol, tolls, and parking. Some of the articles on this site contain affiliate links. There will be an excess, usually of around 100,000 Japanese Yen (between 700 and 900 Euro/pounds). 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. Traveling next week and thinking you should just rent a car in Japan? After you finish successfully renting a car in Japan, you’ll have to contend with driving conditions there. Read Privacy Policy or view sitemap. 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. You might want to take a trip to the rurals, for example, or do a run to the nearest (never very … Also, a valid driver’s license is (obviously) necessary. -:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:-This post has been removed at the author's request. There's still plenty of time to take advantage of this special discount deal! Whether you’ve used Web-Rentacar or reserved wheels directly over the phone or via a rental company’s booking site, you simply take your booking details to the designated rental office, confirm your payment information, and away you go. Additionally, content such as tours and tickets, hotels and apartments are commercial content. That’s certainly how I felt before the first time I got behind the wheel in Japan, in Hokkaido a few summers ago. Last autumn, for example, when I was in Kanazawa taking in the colorful leaves, I decided to make a day trip to Maruoka Castle. Answer 1 of 8: We're going to Japan in June-July next summer for a week before heading to China and my bro and I are going. Consider your cheapo self cautioned! If you’re planning to explore the deep south that is Okinawa or bounce around Hokkaido, it always makes sense to hire a car. It will make your life on the southern islands much easier. When you rent a car in Japan, a basic level of insurance is already included in the price. 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. Also, beware of blinkers and wipers commands which are reversed too. They offer more than 10 car rental brands, including familiar names like Budget and Nissan Rent a Car. We cover all the basics including things to do in Tokyo, Which would be no big deal, if it was possible to overtake people on Japanese roads. Toyota hire cars are plentiful. Here are some of the major names. Its not a problem to rent a car and traffic has gotten much better lately with the implementation of automated tolls. It’s The Great Snoopy Museum, Charlie Brown, Exploring Toyosu—Tokyo's Revitalized Fish Market, Visiting Okunoshima - Japan's Famous Rabbit Island, Tokyo Escapes: A Winter Camper Van Adventure in Nagano, Guide to Arriving in Japan During COVID-19. 2.2 Japan Car Rental Rules are Strict. 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 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. The costs for a car rental here in Japan depend on the type of car you’ll get and the number of people you’ll have in your ride. You can plan the itinerary without relying on anything else. Compare the different means and methods. If you’ve made it this far, you might find yourself discouraged from the idea of renting a car in Japan. 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. A lot of the island is not connected by any public transportation. Car rental can also be an economical choice especially if you are travelling in a group. While some Japanese-language ability will make the collection and drop-off of the rental car easier, it’s not essential. Make sure to get the multi-language GPS that support on your comfortable language. … Updated with the latest rules & regulations, as well as resources. Oh, and before driving anywhere, it pays to familiarize yourself with Japanese road signs. The actual shipping of a car to Japan is possible and can be pretty cost effective, especially depending on the value of your car. ), you’ll miss a lot of the beauty around you. 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. Last updated in August, 2020. A few car rental offices are prepared to do the refueling for you upon the return of the ride, but generally the responsibility is with the driver. Information—and inspiration—for all your trips to Japan. But mostly, driving between big cities is a drag. In the budget range, a compact, <1300cc car that can comfortably take four passengers typically costs just under ¥6,000 for a 24-hour rental. It is usually not possible to obtain one after already arriving. More > Toyota. Distances are large, public transport limited. Among other restrictions, you’ll need to have the international drivers license Japan requires before getting behind the wheel in Japan. In Fukuoka actually. The roadside stops are redeeming, to be fair (and there are lots of ’em). 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. The price is high, but not prohibitively (or surprisingly) so. Renting a car in Japan comes with a pretty long list of caveats! Neon-bathed streets and Michelin-starred eats, Travel back in time to Japan's ancient capital, A world of Japanese street food starts here, Climb Japan's iconic peak, or just admire its beauty, Enjoy Japan’s seasons in the “Kyoto of the North”, Year-round adventure in Japan’s great, white north, Flowery castles, volcanic lakes and snow monsters, Discover Japan’s most underrated, unexplored island, Trek the trails of Japan’s ultimate hiking paradise, Tropical paradise a short flight from Tokyo. Ditto much of the countryside in the rest of Japan. It always pays to drop off your rental car with the same amount of gas it had when you picked it up. Some of my favorite Japan road trips include: Of course, having wheels in Japan has its limitations. Read more to learn how to rent a car, how much it costs, and what license requirements you need. With regards to driving this was not a problem at all. How far off Japan's beaten path do you dare stray? Some folks get a bee in their beatnik bonnet about doing the road trip of their dreams in Japan. how to get from Narita airport to Tokyo, which JR rail pass to choose, getting a SIM card and pocket wifi. A credit card will also be required. It’s relatively easy to get the international driving permit Japan requires for foreigners to drive there; the service and quality of vehicles at Japanese rental car companies is expectedly excellent. A rental car would cost about 8-12,000 yen per day, plus petrol, tolls, and parking. 2.5 Japanese Rental Cars … I also wanted to have the cars delivered to myhotel and picked up from the hotel again. What You Need to Know Before Renting a Car in Japan. The nuts-and-bolts of the process seem to back this up. We like this car hire site for Japan because it’s pretty easy to use, and you can complete your entire booking in English. Most people renting cars in Japan will be required to have an International Driving Permit, or ‘IDP’ for short. Operating in Japan, for several reasons Online Reservation: at avis rent a car in Japan “. And wipers commands which are reversed too pretty long list of caveats resources... Than 10 car rental companies operating in Japan bring/import my own car to cost you around 5000 yen day... Traffic has gotten much better lately with the same amount of gas it had you... Toll gates ( and make no mistake, you need to be fewer speakers English!, please double check on the left side with mostly automatic gearbox cars Permit, or just dreaming one... Petrol, tolls, well, best from a safety perspective ) is that Japanese people almost speed... 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To find why we started this site, check out the Tokyo Cheapo, get in touch, and!, with plenty of time and higher-end cars should i rent a car in japan available, each for 24 hours may,! Dream drive Japan we rented with Toyota rent a car in Japan—especially not in Tokyo link. Experience under my belt family or a group words, images and design ©2018-2021 Robert Schrader all! It, and I 'm a Japan travel expert with nearly a decade of experience under my.! With Toyota rent a car in Japan is probably the best sights it always pays drop. To see the blurb about camper vans below ) those digits when moving to.! Can compare car rental increases to reserve a car in Japan comes with big. To hire a car in Japan, we bring you comfort to travels! ’ em ) tickets, hotels and apartments are commercial content reserve a car in Japan, parking.

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