Blog → Renting a Car in Japan: Requirements
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2026 / 05 / 09
Renting a Car in Japan: Requirements
What the counter asks for, how booking works, what insurance to expect and the documents that decide whether you drive away.
JDLTC editorial team · Camjyo Inc.
Why Rent a Car in Japan?
While Japan boasts one of the best public transit systems in the world, renting a car is the only way to truly explore rural areas like Hokkaido, Okinawa, and the Japanese Alps. Renting a car gives you the freedom to visit hidden hot springs (onsen) and remote shrines at your own pace.
The Golden Rule: Documentation
Before you even book a car, ensure you have the correct documentation. Japanese rental car companies are extremely strict. You must present:
- Your passport.
- Your valid driver's license from your home country.
- The correct international driving document (either a 1949 Geneva Convention IDP or an official Japanese translation such as the JAF translation, depending on your nationality).
If you forget even one of these documents, you will be turned away at the counter with no refund.
Choosing a Rental Company
Major rental companies like Toyota Rent a Car, Nippon Rent-A-Car, Orix, and Times Car Rental are highly recommended for foreigners. They offer multilingual GPS systems (English, Korean, Chinese) and provide excellent roadside assistance. Budget options like NicoNico Rent-a-Car exist, but they often lack English support.
The Pickup Process
When you arrive at the rental desk, the staff will photocopy your documents and explain the insurance policies. Always opt for the maximum insurance coverage, including the Non-Operation Charge (NOC) waiver. The staff will then walk you around the car to inspect it for pre-existing scratches. Be thorough and point out any damage before you drive away.
🚐 Rent a campervan in Kyushu →
From the two of us who run this site
Driving on your IDP? Give Kyushu two weeks
We are Karen and Doko, a couple in Fukuoka. Besides the licence translations, we rent out campervans for trips around Kyushu under the name VAN TRIP JAPAN. When friends ask us where to drive in Japan, we send them south to Kyushu, the island we live on.
Our 7-day loop takes in Aso, Takachiho Gorge and the hot springs of Beppu and Yufuin. With two weeks you can add Nagasaki and Shimabara in the west and Kagoshima in the south, and you stop rushing. We've written up the 14-day loop day by day, with drive times.
Two weeks is also where the price starts to work. Rentals of 14 days or more get 15% off the whole booking (10% from 7 days, 20% from 21). Weekday rates start at ¥22,000 a day with insurance, bedding and a cooking set included, and you pick the van up 10 minutes from Fukuoka Airport.
Licence from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan? The campervans work with the Japanese translation too, and VAN TRIP JAPAN takes ¥5,000 off the rental when the translation was done through us (just mention it on WhatsApp; the driver's name has to match the order).
Your translation, ready for your trip
For licences issued in Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan. Eligibility depends on the issuing country, not your nationality or current location.
