Renting a Car in Japan: My experience and what you need to know

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Thinking about renting a car in Japan? This article will cover everything you need to know, plus my own experience renting a car in Japan (and why I loved it so much).

One of the things that I love the most about travel in Japan is that it is so easy and accessible to get around by public transportation. The train system in Japan is one of the best in the world, and you really can get just about anywhere by train or bus.

However, there is nothing quite like the freedom of traveling by rental car. I’ve rented a car in 20+ countries around the world, and it is always these experiences when we’re traveling by rental car that stick out the most. You have the freedom to be completely on your schedule, stopping for photos or exploring cool shops or trails along the way.

On our recent trip to Japan, my third visit to the country, we rented a car for a few days in Sendai to explore Hiraizumi, Yamagata, and Matsushima.

Renting a car in Japan is truly so simple, and works essentially the same as renting a car in the US (but usually everything runs even smoother because Japan has it all figured out).

Things to know before renting a car in Japan

The Japanese drive on the left side of the road (even the steering wheel is swapped)

The most important thing to understand before renting a car in Japan is that everything about the driving is swapped. Unlike in North America, in Japan, they drive on the left side of the road. This is definitely something that takes some getting used to.

Overall it is completely doable if you are a confident driver, but make sure to stay extra alert during turns, as this is often when that muscle memory kicks in and you find yourself driving on the right side of the road again.

And not only are the cars swapped, but the steering wheel in Japanese cars is also swapped. Instead of the driver sitting on the left side of the car, in Japan, you’ll sit on the right side of the car. This definitely takes some getting used to as it shifts your spatial awareness.

You must be 18 or older to rent a car in Japan

To rent a car in Japan, you will need to be at least 18 years of age. Pretty straightforward thing to know, but you won’t be able to rent a car if you are under 18.

You’ll need an International Driver’s Permit

In addition to hitting the minimum rental age requirement, in order to drive in Japan you will to have a valid International Driver’s Permit. These are super easy and affordable to obtain, but you’ll need to do it before your trip while you’re still in the US.

I get my International Driver’s Permit each year from AAA (you don’t need to be a member). You have the option of either mailing in an application, or visiting a center in person for same-day service. The permit is valid for one year.

The application cost is $20 and you will need to following to process the permit:

• 2 Passport photos (can be taken at the AAA office)
• Completed application form
• Valid US Driver’s License

Rent an ETC pass

When traveling via highway in Japan, you have the option to pay for tolls via three methods: 1) Japanese Yen in cash, 2) credit card, or 3) using an ETC pass. An ETC is similar to an EZ-Pass for my East Coasters.

While many toll booths do have the option to pay by cash or card, some exits in the small towns are ETC only. This is why renting a pass can be super beneficial. We ran into this issue quite a few times driving from Sendai to Hiraizumi to Yamagata, where some exits only had an ETC option.

In this scenario, the only option was to get off an exit earlier or later and circle back. While this isn’t a huge deal for a short trip, it can add quite a lot of time onto your journey if you’re road-tripping around the country.

Google Maps is reliable – get an eSIM

Many rental cars in Japan will come with a complimentary GPS navigation system, however, I find Google Maps is typically the most reliable and up-to-date.

I have the T-Mobile travel plan that offers free data in over hundred countries globally. If you do not have a travel data plan then I highly recommend using Airalo. Airalo offers digital eSIMs at affordable rates. You can purchase a Japan-specific eSIM or one that covers you for all of Asia.

Most Japanese rental cars are automatic transmission

Unlike renting a car in Europe, where many of the options are manual transmission (not always easy for us Americans), most of the rental cars available in Japan are automatic transmission.

This is great because even if you can drive a manual car, you may not be familiar with or comfortable with shifting with the opposite hand.

There are both self-service and full-service gas stations

When driving in Japan you have the option to refuel your gas with either a self-service or full-service gas station. Some stations offer both, and others only have a single option.

Self-service is simply refueling yourself without assistance. For the full-service option, you’ll pay a small fee to have someone pump that gas for you. The fee is small and often worth it compared to navigating an unfamiliar gas system.

Weather restrictions

Many of the roads in Japan will close due to heavy snow or rain. This is particularly common during the rainy season, in more mountainous areas.

There are a number of websites available for you to use to track these closures and ensure a safe and smooth road trip. I’ve personally used the Drive Traffic website and found it super helpful.

Parking outside of the cities is very affordable

Parking in the cities can often be quite difficult, and very expensive. This is why I typically recommend renting a car to explore the smaller towns and rural mountain areas, which are less accessible by trains and buses.

Outside of the cities, we found parking to be plentiful and super reasonable, even by major parks and attractions. We paid between 200 ($1.35) and 500 ($3.40) Japanese yen to park.

If you’re staying in any of the cities with a rental car, I would look for hotels that offer complimentary or cheap parking. In Yamagata, we were able to park at the hotel parking lot for 1000 yen ($6.75) a night, which was much easier than finding parking in the city.

Japan uses elevator parking lots

If you are parking in a city, or even just picking up your rental car, you may notice that Japan uses elevator parking lots. The cars are driven onto a rotating platform which moves the car via an elevator system into its spot.

This is a great way to accommodate lots of cars in tightly packed city areas. However, it may mean that it takes a bit more time to retrieve your car since you cannot pull right out. Overall I loved the system and found it super convenient.

Getting to Japan

Let’s chat about how to get to Japan from the US, because it’s actually easier than a lot of people realize. You can find direct flights from US destinations to Japan from major airports like JFK, LAX, SFO and SEA. From NYC to Tokyo it is a direct 15 hour flight, while a flight from LAX is only 10 hours (sometimes shorter).

Most flights from the US arrive in Tokyo, unless you have a layover somewhere else in Asia en route. In Tokyo there are two major airports – Narita (NRT) and Haneda (HND).

If you have the option to fly into Haneda airport, I recommend it. Unlike Narita, which is about 1.5 hours from the city center, Haneda is only about 40 minutes. It is a quicker and cheaper journey into the city center by both taxi and public transportation.

Places to visit in Japan

• Nagano – small city with access to the Alps
• Matsumoto – gorgeous mountain city in the Japanese Alps
• Kamikochi – a gorgeous park in the Japanese Alps with endless hiking trails
• Matsushima – a sleepy waterfront town known for incredible seafood
• Yamagata – city surrounded by mountains, Yamadera Temple is a must-visit
• Hiraizumi – home to the famous Chuson-ji temple complex
• Takayama – mini Kyoto, a stunning small city with Edo Period influencer
• Kanazawa – a popular Japanese city without the crowds of Tokyo and Kyoto
• Tokyo – Japan’s capital city and a must-visit destination in Japan
• Kyoto – popular Japan destination with gorgeous temples, hiking trails, and tea
• Uji – the capital of matcha in Kyoto region
• Nara – famous for the deer park (and mochi), a great day trip from Kyoto

Visiting Japan? Here are some other articles to check out:

• 12 Beautiful Places to Visit in Japan
• Guide to Uji, Japan
• 3 Week Japan Itinerary
• 21 Best Things to do in Kyoto
• 11 Things to Know Before Visiting Japan

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