Trains are sufficient if you are only staying in central Tokyo or Osaka, but a car is an essential item if you plan to tour regional areas, nature-rich national parks, Kyushu, Okinawa, or Hokkaido. There is no need to worry about bus or train timetables or walk around dragging heavy suitcases. If you think, "Wow, this place is beautiful!" you can immediately stop the car and make a detour. Gaining such "freedom" and "time" is the greatest benefit of a rental car.

There are many rental car companies in Japan, but we especially recommend "Nippon Rent-A-Car" for first-timers. The reason lies in their overwhelming "quality of peace of mind."

You will find Nippon Rent-A-Car's red signs almost everywhere, not only at major airports (Haneda, Narita, Kansai International, New Chitose, Fukuoka, Naha, etc.) but also right near Shinkansen stations (Tokyo, Shinagawa, Nagoya, Kyoto, Shin-Osaka, Shin-Kobe, Hiroshima, Hakata, etc.). This allows for seamless travel, such as "departing immediately upon arrival at the airport" or "taking the Shinkansen and then sightseeing by car from the station."

You will likely be surprised by the cleanliness when you get into a Nippon Rent-A-Car vehicle. In addition to thorough car washing and cleaning by professionals, safety checks of tires and engines are strictly conducted. Precisely because it is a car carrying your precious family or partner, this "cleanliness and safety" is the greatest value of all.

From here, we move to the practical guide. First, let's start with pre-departure preparations and how to make a reservation.

To drive in Japan, the following three items are mandatory. You cannot rent a car if even one is missing.

Web reservation is essential to avoid the situation of "no cars available" when you go to the counter on the day. Nippon Rent-A-Car's official website supports English, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Thai, avoiding the complexity often found on Japanese booking sites.

Furthermore, simply by clicking the banner below and booking from the dedicated page where the coupon code (iUzM2RfVlJ) is automatically entered, the LIVE JAPAN exclusive discount will be applied!

Upon arriving at the branch, present your passport and driver's license. The staff are accustomed to serving international tourists and will carefully explain the contract details and insurance using translation tools like Google Translate. Also, there is no need to worry about "not being able to speak Japanese". In addition to the multilingual reservation site, branches have introduced a "three-way interpretation service" covering over 10 languages. If you want to hear a detailed explanation during rental or return procedures, you can call an interpreter operator via the telephone receiver to converse smoothly with the staff in your native language, ensuring peace of mind.

There are mainly two types of car navigation systems in vehicles: multilingual types and Japanese-language only (smartphone linkage compatible) types. With a multilingual navigation system, staff will help you set the language before departure. Even if the vehicle has a Japanese navigation system, you can connect your smartphone to Apple CarPlay or Android Auto to display and use familiar apps like Google Maps on the navigation screen in your native language, ensuring peace of mind. (*We recommend bringing a USB cable for connection.)

The biggest anxiety when driving in an unfamiliar land is likely an unexpected accident. In the unlikely event of an accident, please call the dedicated support line. Multilingual support is available via interpreter operators. A system that allows you to accurately convey the situation and receive support without feeling a language barrier during an emergency is the greatest source of comfort when driving abroad.

Japanese expressways often have toll sections, but if you rent an electronic toll collection(ETC) card (paid option) and insert it into the on-board device, you can pass through toll gates without stopping. Payment can be settled all at once when returning the rental car, so there is no need to worry about small change.

Basically, you should refill the fuel tank at a gas station near the branch before returning. Saying "Full Tank" is understood, and while there are many self-service stations recently, if you don't know how to use them, call a staff member and they will kindly teach you.

Nippon Rent-A-Car branches are located near stations and airports, offering excellent access. However, return procedures (checking for scratches and payment) and transfer via shuttle bus from the branch to the airport terminal take more time than you might expect. Japanese roads can often be congested, so absolutely avoid returning the car right before your flight departure time.

Finally, we have summarized questions frequently asked by international visitors.

Clean cars, 24-hour multilingual support, and free adventure. With Nippon Rent-A-Car, your trip to Japan will surely become deeper and more vivid. Now, are you ready? Book via the banner below to receive the LIVE JAPAN exclusive special discount! Have a safe trip on your very own best road trip!


Simply by clicking the banner below and booking from the dedicated page where the coupon code (iUzM2RfVlJ) is automatically entered, the LIVE JAPAN exclusive discount will be applied!