Rental Car Preparation

Introduction

Some sightseeing spots near each region are far and difficult to reach by public transport.

If you are not traveling alone, but with elderly family members such as parents or grandparents, it can be difficult to move according to train and bus schedules.

In these cases, renting a car can be a good option. 🚗

• Rental car cost is usually around 6,000 to 10,000 yen per day
• There is little price difference compared to buying multiple transport passes
• You can freely adjust travel time and routes, which is useful for flexible schedules

However, in Japan, the driver’s seat is on the right and cars drive on the left side of the road, so extra attention is required.

The first hour may feel unfamiliar, but you will adapt quickly. If you understand the information below, you can drive more safely.

Essential documents for renting a car in Japan

In Japan, you cannot rent a car with only an English driving license. You must carry both your original domestic driving license and an International Driving Permit (IDP).
The International Driving Permit is valid for 1 year and must be issued before departure.

Rental car booking checklist

1. Search by rental and return date & time
   • Some companies allow different pickup and return locations
   • If return location is different, the price may be higher
   • Always check the exact pickup office location
   • Early booking is cheaper — same as flights and hotels

2. Choose a vehicle

   • Select size based on number of passengers and luggage
   • Most companies provide a vehicle of the same class, not a specific model

3. Check all contract conditions carefully

4. Insurance is recommended as full coverage

5. Insurance coverage types

   • Bodily injury: damage to other people
   • Property damage: damage to other vehicles
   • Personal accident: driver’s personal injury
   • Vehicle damage: damage to the rental car
   • CDW (Collision Damage Waiver): accident deductible reduced to 0 yen
   • NOC (Non Operation Charge): compensation for car downtime after an accident
   • Some companies collect NOC on-site
   • JAF (Japan Automobile Federation): roadside assistance and towing

6. ETC card (Electronic Toll Collection)

   • Expressway-only lane system (similar to Korea’s Hi-Pass)
   • Paid rental option, postpaid system
   • See Expressway driving section for details

7. Drivers under 18 years old cannot rent

8. If driving experience is less than 1–2 years, rental may be restricted (depends on company)

9. Vehicles with 9 seats or more require a large-class license

10. Adding drivers

    • Additional drivers also need passport and license
    • Extra fee may apply
11. Always check change and cancellation policies before booking

Important traffic law violations in Japan

The following are traffic law violations in Japan. Most result in immediate fines and penalty points.

• Using a mobile phone while driving

  • Holding or touching a phone is a violation
  • Never hold a phone while driving

  

• Signal violation (entering on red light)

• Driving the wrong way on one-way roads

• Stop line violation and ignoring stop signs

  • とまれ (Tomare) means Stop — stop for at least 3 seconds and check both sides
  • Railway crossings require a full stop

  

• Continuous driving in the passing lane on expressways

• Entering bus-only lanes

• Insufficient following distance

• Unnecessary horn use

  • Most drivers do not use horns even when lights change
  • Do not use the horn excessively

• Not wearing seatbelts (all seats)

  • Mandatory for all passengers

• No child seat for children under 6

• Lane change on solid lines (especially before traffic lights)

• Blocking emergency vehicles

• Illegal parking or stopping

• Not using turn signals

• Overloading passengers

• Speeding

  • Exceeding the limit by over 30 km/h is a criminal offense
  • City: 30–50 km/h
  • Suburbs: up to 60 km/h
  • Expressway: 100 km/h (Okinawa: 80 km/h)
  • Always check speed limit signs

• Drunk driving

  • Passengers can also face criminal charges

• Driving at night without headlights

• Splashing water onto pedestrians on rainy days

• Winter driving without snow preparation

  • Studless tires or chains required
  • Extra caution in snowy areas such as Hokkaido

Core rules for safe driving in Japan

1) Vehicle crossing

• In Japan, crossing the center line to turn right is allowed.
• Whether solid or broken line, unprotected right turns are allowed if no signal or sign prohibits it.
• Cars may suddenly stop in the middle of the road, so keep enough distance.
• Prohibited where a no-crossing sign is posted.
  • If marked 'ここから 50m', it means "from here for 50 meters."

2) Red and green lights

• Red light always means stop
• If the square signal with yellow border is red, you must stop.

• No left turn on red

• Green allows straight, left, right, and U-turn (unprotected)
• Only when no U-turn prohibited sign is present

3) Left turn

• Pedestrians have priority on green crosswalk signals — always stop

4) Right turn

• On unprotected right turns, straight traffic has priority
• You may enter the center and wait
• Some intersections have no guide lines

• If already on the guide line, you may turn even after red
• If you have not entered the guide line, do not enter on red

5) Auxiliary signals

• Even if the main signal is red, follow the auxiliary signal

• Enter after checking straight traffic

6) Passing lanes

• Orange solid line: no overtaking, crossing allowed

• White solid line: no overtaking, crossing allowed

• White broken line: overtaking allowed
• Overtaking prohibited if a no-overtaking sign is posted

• Mixed lines
  • Orange solid + white solid: no overtaking in both directions
  • Orange solid + white broken: overtaking allowed only on broken side
  • White solid + white broken: overtaking allowed only on broken side

7) Expressway

• Right lane is for overtaking. Drive normally in the left lane.

Checklist before picking up your rental car

• Prepare passport, International Driving Permit, original domestic license, and booking voucher.
• Some cars are picked up at airports, but most are collected at nearby rental offices.
  • Depending on company, you may need to go to the pickup point or call for shuttle pickup.
  • Allow enough time before your flight when returning the car.
• If pickup is delayed due to flight delays, contact the office in advance.
  • Without notice, late arrival may be treated as no-show and your car given to another customer.
• You will receive the booked vehicle or a same-class model. If unavailable, you should receive a free upgrade.
  • If asked for extra payment, collect evidence and report to the booking platform.
• Early pickup may require extra fees.
• Check exterior scratches and interior functions carefully.
  • Unreported damage may become your responsibility.
  • Test signals, wipers, and navigation.
  • If navigation is in Japanese, ask staff to switch to English.
  • Confirm whether fuel is gasoline or diesel.
  • Recording a full vehicle video can be helpful.
• The car is provided with a full tank and must be returned full.
  • Keep the fuel receipt for return.
  • If returned without refueling, the company will charge you.
• The driver’s seat is on the right, gear is operated with the left hand, and turn signals with the right hand. Pedals are the same as in Korea.
• Giving your car a nickname is part of the travel fun.

Japanese parking culture and fines

• Reverse parking is standard practice in Japan.
• Japan has very strict parking rules. You cannot even register a car without proof of a parking space.
• Illegal parking fines range from 15,000 to 18,000 yen.

• If the rental company handles payment, you may be charged 25,000 to 30,000 yen.
• A 'P' sign indicates a parking lot. '空' means available space.
• Always check fees and operating hours.
  • Fees are calculated by 10 minutes, 30 minutes, or daily maximum.
  • For parking over 24 hours, check whether the max fee is repeated or applied once only (1回限り).
  • If you see '夜間最大' (night maximum), the fee applies only at night.

• Coin parking precautions
  • Check the position of the wheel lock.
  • After parking, the lock rises automatically.
  • Before leaving, pay at the machine and confirm the lock is fully lowered.
• Some parking lots issue a ticket at entry and require payment at exit.

Refueling in Japan

• Regular (レギュラー): gasoline
• High-octane (ハイオク): premium gasoline
• Diesel (軽油): diesel fuel
• At staffed stations, say 'Regular full, please' for a full tank of regular gasoline.

• The arrow on the dashboard shows the fuel cap side. If shown like the image, the cap is on the right side.

• Refueling method

  • Payment: cash (現金) or credit card (クレジットカード)
  • Amount: full (満タン), amount-based, or liter-based
  • If paying cash for full tank, insert money before refueling.
    • If cash runs out before full, fueling stops
    • If money remains, change is returned
  • Before fueling, touch the static discharge pad, then use the correct color nozzle.

• Always take the receipt.
• If cash is not refunded, scan the barcode on the receipt at the machine to get change.

Complete guide to Japanese expressways

• ETC: Japan uses an ETC system similar to Korea’s Hi-Pass for automatic toll payment.
• Pay attention to lane types at toll gates.
  • Mixed ETC / General: ETC, cash, and card accepted
  • Green General: cash and card accepted
  • Purple ETC-only: ETC vehicles only

• Expressway tolls in Japan are generally expensive.
• Toll fee search site
• Expressway Pass
  • A flat-rate expressway pass system similar to transport passes
  • Can be used with ETC
  • JEP (Japan Expressway Pass) for nationwide use
  • Kyushu KEP
  • Hokkaido HEP
  • Chubu CEP (NEP, AIP must be used with CEP)
  • Sanin Setoguchi SEP
  • Tohoku TEP

Exclusive TourCast Tips!

How to check expressway tolls

The Toll fee search site above requires IC names in English, which can be inconvenient for first-time users.

For easier searching, use the Japan Travel app introduced in the Essential Apps section.

Enter departure and destination, choose the taxi option, and you can check expressway tolls.

Press the round button on the left image to see the route map and toll fee at the bottom.
(※ Amount shown is ETC rate. Cash rate may differ.)

For example, the ETC toll from Hakata Station to Yufuin Station is about 3,580 yen.

Note that the Kyushu expressway pass KEP does not include Fukuoka Urban Expressway. Check only the Dazaifu IC – Yufuin section when deciding to buy KEP.