Tokyo, Kyoto, Kobe Nagasaki, Hiroshima - hands up if you have visited these Japanese cities. Most of us who have travelled to Japan have caught a train, the subway or better still a bullet train. But how many have rented a car and hit the open road? The only thing you need to arrange before you leave is an International Driving Permit. 

The opportunity to get out in to the beautiful Japanese countryside is too good to miss. As you  can see, the roads are much like anywhere else.

Japan takes much pride in its excellent bridges and road system. There are plenty of English-friendly car rental companies. If your Japanese isn’t good, save yourself some on-road stress by reserving a car with English-capable GPS before you go. 

NOTE: In most countries you enter an address into GPS. In Japan, you can enter a destination’s phone number or a 12-digit number called a ‘Mapcode’ as well as the address. Make sure you have the phone numbers of your accommodation and destinations handy to make it easier.

You can also ask for a child seat or snow tires if needed. By law, children under six are required to use child seats and there are three different types depending on the age of the child. As for costs, there are no real surprises here: petrol, tolls and the usual taxes and insurance fee. Rental car companies will usually provide a 24/7 hotline to call in case of accident or emergencies.

Some car companies allow you to pick up and drop off the car at two different locations. 

Fuelling up is easy, as many full service petrol stations have staff that will fill up your tank for you. Just say ‘mantan’ if you would like a full tank. Be sure to check the type of fuel before filling up the tank! Fuel types are typically regular (red), high-octane (yellow) or diesel (green). 

Most rental car companies will expect you to return the car with a full tank, so make note of petrol stations (called ‘gas stands’) close to your return point and confirm the type of fuel your car needs before leaving the car rental shop.

NOTE: many stations, especially those in rural areas, close at night so be sure to have a full tank if you’re driving through the night.

Road signs and rules follow international standards, with most signs on major roads displayed in both Japanese and English.

The basic rules you’re already familiar with: 

– The legal driving age is 18 years old
– They drive on the left (phew!) with right-hand drive cars
– Using a phone (even if it’s hands-free) can incur a fine in Japan, so best not use it whilst you’re driving
– Drinking and driving is strictly prohibited
– Pedestrians have right of way

The electronic toll collection (ETC) card usually comes with your rental car. Similarly to Australia and New Zealand, your car will be wirelessly connected to all toll gates. Just look out for the purple ETC lanes on the expressway. If you are planning to use the expressways a lot, consider getting an expressway pass for your region, which allows unlimited use of expressways for a flat daily fee. 

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