

These include and ToCoo! Travel which allow for English online reservations for multiple rental companies. There are also a few independent reservation websites for foreign tourists that contract with one or more of the above rental companies. These days, most companies have English online reservation systems or a phone number for reservations in English. Each operates hundreds of outlets across Japan, offering cars in all sizes and, in some cases, large vans, buses and RVs. Japan's leading car rental companies are Toyota Rentacar, Nippon Rentacar, Orix Rentacar, Times Car Rental (formerly known as Mazda Rentacar), Nissan Rentacar and Ekiren. International Driving Permit alongside a Japanese driver's license Rental companies People from other countries whose international driving permits are not recognized by Japan, must obtain a Japanese driver's license in order to drive in Japan. A translation can be obtained from the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), through Driving-Japan (use voucher code "JapanGuide22" for a 5 EUR discount) or from some of the respective countries' consulates in Japan.

Japan recognizes only permits based on the 1949 Geneva Convention, which are issued by a large number of countries.īelgium, France, Germany, Monaco, Switzerland and Taiwan do not issue permits based on the 1949 Geneva Convention, but instead have a separate agreement that allows drivers from these countries to drive in Japan for up to one year with an official Japanese translation of their driver's license. Foreigners can drive in Japan with a recognized international driving permit for a maximum of one year. They are usually issued through your country's national automobile association for a small fee.

International driving permits are not issued in Japan and should be obtained in your home country in advance. The minimum age for driving in Japan is 18 years, and you will need a Japanese driver's license or an International Driving Permit (IDP) in order to rent and drive a car.
