Renting a Car & Driving in Japan When a car is worth it, and what you need before you book

Not for most first trips. If you are visiting Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima, trains are faster between cities and you avoid paying to park at every stop. A car becomes worth it in rural Hokkaido, on Okinawa beyond Naha, in parts of rural Kyushu and on countryside road trips where buses are infrequent.

Yes, if you hold a license that is valid in Japan: an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention together with your home license, or, for licenses from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan, the original license with an official Japanese translation. Rental companies also ask for your passport. Nippon Rent-A-Car accepts drivers from age 18.

Yes, unless your license comes from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan, which use an official Japanese translation instead. Your home license alone does not allow you to drive in Japan. The permit must follow the 1949 Geneva Convention and be the paper booklet: JNTO says card-type and smartphone versions are not valid. You can drive for one year from arrival or until the permit expires, whichever comes first.

Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan. Drivers with licenses from these places carry the original license and a Japanese translation made by the issuing authority, that country's embassy or consulate in Japan, or a body Japan designates, such as JAF. A translation from a certified translator does not qualify, according to the National Police Agency.

Only with an International Driving Permit, carried together with your US license. In the United States only AAA and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA) are authorized to issue IDPs, so get one from them before you fly. Websites selling an "international driver’s license" are not a substitute.

Yes, with an International Driving Permit from CAA, the only organization authorized to issue IDPs in Canada, carried with your provincial or territorial license. Canadian permits follow the 1949 Geneva Convention that Japan requires.

Often, yes, outside Sapporo. Furano, Biei, the lakes and eastern Hokkaido are spread out and trains and buses are infrequent. Distances are long: NEXCO East puts New Chitose Airport about 300 km from Hakodate and 450 km from Shiretoko. You do not need a car in Sapporo itself, and in winter a car only makes sense if you are comfortable driving on snow and ice.

For most trips beyond Naha, yes. The Yui Rail monorail serves the Naha area only, so the northern half of the island, most beaches and Churaumi Aquarium are much easier by car. If you are staying in Naha for a short visit, buses and tours can work.

Rarely. Tokyo’s trains and subways reach almost everywhere a visitor goes, many hotels have little or no parking, and you pay to park at every stop. Rent a car for a day trip out of the city, such as the Fuji Five Lakes, and pick it up on your way out.

Most expressways charge by distance. JNTO gives about ¥10,070 for Tokyo to Kyoto, and NEXCO East lists ¥4,810 from New Chitose Airport to Asahikawa. An ETC card goes into the car's reader and pays tolls automatically; rental companies lend one for a small fee (¥550 at Toyota Rent a Car) and you settle the tolls when you return the car. Some toll gates now accept ETC only.

At least 18 at major companies such as Nippon Rent-A-Car, which sets no other age limit. You must also hold a license valid in Japan. Some rental companies ask for more driving experience, so check the rental terms if you passed your test recently.

Often, yes, but not everywhere, and usually for a one-way fee. Toyota Rent a Car does not allow one-way rentals between Hokkaido and the rest of Japan or off Okinawa, charges on some routes even within one prefecture or within Hokkaido, and does not include every car class or branch. In winter, Nippon Rent-A-Car refuses one-way rentals on normal tires into snowy areas.

Yes, on snowy or icy roads. Hokkaido's traffic rules require snow tires on all four wheels, or chains, when you drive on snow or ice, and rental cars there come with winter tires in the snow season. Nippon Rent-A-Car also makes its Hokkaido cars four-wheel drive in winter. Even with winter tires, ice makes braking distances far longer, so drive slowly and leave long gaps.

Toyota Rent a Car's standard list price for visitors booking a compact car is ¥10,340 for the first 24 hours and ¥8,690 for each further day, ¥11,990 for the first day in central Tokyo, and more in peak seasons. Other companies and booking sites price differently. On top come the damage waivers, an ETC card, tolls, fuel and parking, so compare the total, not the daily rate, with the train.

Outside the big cities, usually not. Main roads have English on direction signs, and car navigation and phone maps work well. What trips visitors up is driving on the left after a turn, very narrow village and mountain roads, full stops at every railway crossing, and snow and ice in winter. City driving is harder mainly because of traffic and parking.

Stop safely, help anyone injured and call 119 for an ambulance. Call the police on 110 for every accident, even a minor one with no injuries, then call the rental company. Do not settle privately: rental insurance may not pay if there is no police accident report.