Drive it your own way
Japan’s public transport is so good that it is easy to forget there is a Japan you can only reach by car. We work with Japan’s major rental car companies, and you can book online.
The Japan you can only reach by car
Between cities, the train wins every time. A rental car earns its keep past the last station. Places like these.
- Hokkaido: Furano, Biei, Shiretoko Single roads over the hills, lavender fields, a World Heritage peninsula. What makes Hokkaido is not the destinations but the space between them, and without a car you drive straight past it.
- Ishikawa: the Noto Peninsula Terraced rice fields above the sea, morning markets, the cliffs of the outer coast. One of the hardest peninsulas in Japan to tour by public transport, and a classic rental car region.
- Shikoku: the Shimanto River and Iya Valley Japan’s last free-flowing clear river, and the vine bridges of a genuinely remote valley. Where buses run a few times a day, a car is the trip.
- Where you go No limits The route is yours to decide
- Luggage It rides with you Suitcases stay in the trunk. No forwarding, no lockers
- Time No timetable Sunrise at the lookout or an onsen after dark, your call
How booking works
Our partner booking system is in English, and handles everything from search to confirmation.
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STEP 1
Choose dates and locations
Set the date, time and place for pick-up and drop-off. Searching by the name of the airport you land at is the easiest way in. One-way rentals are available too.
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STEP 2
Pick a vehicle class
Compact, SUV, minivan and so on. A kei car is about the size of a Fiat 500, fine for two people who are travelling light.
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STEP 3
Enter your details
Add the driver’s details and licence information (an IDP is accepted) to confirm the booking. A confirmation email follows.
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STEP 4
Pick up the car in Japan
Show your IDP, passport and credit card at the branch and pay there. Then you are on the road.
This opens our partner booking site, web-rentacar.com, in English. The booking is completed there, and you pay at the branch when you collect the car.
Frequently asked questions
Which licence do I need?
Only an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued by a country party to the 1949 Geneva Convention is valid, and a Canadian-issued IDP qualifies. Without an IDP to show at pick-up you cannot take the car, even with a confirmed booking. Japanese law also requires you to carry it at all times while driving.
Can I change or cancel a booking?
The system has no way to modify a booking. To change anything, cancel and rebook. Cancellations are made under “My Reservation” in the booking system (log in with the password in your confirmation email).
What do I need at pick-up, and when do I pay?
Three things: your IDP (or your home licence with an official translation), your passport and a credit card. You pay at the branch where you collect the car. If only cash is accepted there, talk to us before you book.
Can I pick up or drop off outside opening hours? What if I am running late?
Pick-up and drop-off outside opening hours are not possible. If you are going to be late returning the car, call the drop-off branch. Late fees apply.
Is the navigation system in English? Can I choose the model or colour?
Plans marked with a GPS icon include a navigation system, but multilingual units are limited and vary by branch (ask us if you need to be sure). You choose a vehicle class, not a specific model or colour. Non-smoking cars are available from almost every company.
Can I rent a child seat or snow tires?
Child seats are available as an optional rental from almost every company. Under Japanese law, a child seat is mandatory for children under six. Snow tires and chains can be selected on plans showing the “Snow Tire” icon, and they are essential in Hokkaido and other snow country in winter.
What should I watch out for driving in Japan?
Traffic drives on the left and cars are right-hand drive. The biggest difference from North America is that you may not turn on a red light. The equivalent of a right on red is a left turn in Japan, and it is not allowed. Parking in cities is expensive and tight, so it is more relaxing to treat the car as a rural and small-town tool only. On expressways, an ETC card (rentable) makes the toll gates painless.
Ask us where the car should start, because that part matters
Trains in the cities, a car in the countryside. Which station you switch at, and where you drop the car, decide how comfortable the trip feels. We will plan it together with your hotels and tours.