April 20269 min readBest Car Hire

Japan is famous for its bullet trains — and rightly so. But travelling by car reveals a completely different country: rural onsen towns, mountain passes, coastal fishing villages and rice fields that most visitors never see. A hire car in Japan is one of travel's great underrated experiences.

Why hire a car in Japan?

  • Public transport doesn't reach rural Japan — the most beautiful areas are only accessible by car
  • Roads are immaculate, well-signposted (increasingly in English) and drivers are courteous
  • Onsen (hot spring) towns, mountain routes and coastal roads are extraordinary
  • Car hire is very affordable outside of peak periods

Licence requirements

An International Driving Permit (IDP) is mandatory — Japan does not recognise foreign licences without one. The IDP must be based on the 1949 Geneva Convention (the type issued in the UK, Australia, NZ, USA). Swiss, German and French IDP formats are not accepted — citizens of those countries need a certified Japanese translation of their licence instead. Confirm before you travel.

The best routes

Hokkaido — Japan's northern island is the country's great road trip destination. Wide roads, minimal traffic, epic scenery and the best dairy food in Japan. The drive from Sapporo to Shiretoko National Park via the Shiretoko Peninsula is extraordinary.

Kyushu — the southernmost main island. Mount Aso (a live caldera), Beppu's geothermal hell pools, the medieval castle town of Kumamoto and the subtropical Nagasaki coastline.

Shikoku — Japan's smallest main island and its least-visited. Ancient temples, the Iya Valley gorge and the Cape Muroto coastline.

Central Alps — the Nagano highlands between Tokyo and Osaka. Matsumoto Castle, the mountain resort of Karuizawa and the Japanese Alps National Park.

ETC card: Japan's toll roads use an electronic toll collection (ETC) system. Ask for an ETC card when hiring your car — it's more convenient than stopping to pay cash at every toll booth and sometimes cheaper.

Driving in Japan — what to know

  • Drive on the left
  • Speed limits are strictly enforced — 100 km/h on expressways, 60 km/h on national roads, 40–50 km/h in towns
  • Avoid driving in Tokyo, Osaka and major cities — parking is scarce and expensive, and public transport is superior
  • GPS/satnav in English is usually available — ask when booking. Japanese roads are easier with it.
  • Convenience stores (7-Eleven, Lawson etc.) are everywhere and serve as petrol stations, ATMs and food stops

Compare car hire prices in Japan — Tokyo, Osaka, Sapporo, Okinawa and beyond.