Is It Worth Renting a Car in Japan?

Everything you need to know about renting a car in Japan, from booking to actually hitting the road.

Jump to: Why I rented a car | Booking & picking up the car | What driving in Japan is really like | What I gained | Is it worth it 

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Why I wanted to rent a car in Japan

During my trip to Japan, I wanted to visit both Hakone and Mount Fuji. But getting between the two isn’t exactly easy. They’re not connected by a direct train, so your options are a 2-hour bus ride, a 3-hour train ride, or renting a car and driving just an hour and fifteen minutes. Since I was working with a tight 8-day Japan itinerary and wanted to see as much as I possibly could without worrying about bus schedules, I decided to go for it.

There was also a bigger draw to it: I love seeing the lesser-known parts of a place. Renting a car opens up so much more of the countryside than trains and buses ever could. That said, I was extremely nervous and questioned this decision for quite some time. I’ve rented cars in many other countries, including Germany and France, but I’d never driven on the left side of the road before.

Keep reading for how it actually went, and whether I’d say it was worth it in the end.

Booking & picking up the car

Before you can pick up a rental car in Japan, you’ll need three things: your license, passport, and an International Driving Permit (IDP). You can easily grab one at your local AAA office for about $20. They’re valid for a year, so don’t forget to pick that up and/or check the expiration date!

There are a ton of companies to choose from when renting a car in Japan. I ended up renting with Orix, because it was the cheapest. Booking through Klook to compare options and lock in the reservation was super easy. I picked up a Suzuki Wagon R right at Odawara Station and dropped it off there again three days later. Total cost came out to $181 for the three days.

Picking up the car itself was super easy and straightforward, honestly almost exactly like picking one up in the US. We arrived at the office, right outside Odawara train station, and were greeted by friendly staff who spoke English. We filled out some paperwork, someone walked us to the car, and then we were off! As you’d expect in Japan, it was small, but that’s part of the charm, and it was perfect for two people. The one time we struggled was fitting two friends in for a ride from the train station to our Hakone hotel. It’s not built for four people plus all our luggage, lol.

What driving in Japan is really like

As I said at the beginning of this post, I was really nervous about renting a car in Japan and driving on the opposite side of the road from what I’m used to. But I’m happy to report that it wasn’t nearly as bad as I thought! I thought I’d be really struggling to stay in the correct lane, and that wasn’t the case. While it’s definitely a little funky at first, as long as I stayed mindful while driving, I had no problem. We’d literally say out loud as we made turns, “left inside, right outside”. It almost became second nature by the end of the trip.

Driving in a city like Tokyo probably would’ve been more nerve-wracking, which is why we decided to take the train to Odawara before picking up the car. Luckily, everywhere we actually drove was pretty low-traffic, which definitely helped us get comfortable faster. Reading the roads was simple too. The signs are pretty intuitive even without knowing the language, and plenty have English on them as well.

It also helped that our car was so small, since the lanes and parking spots are noticeably narrower over there.

What I gained from renting a car in Japan

Renting the car gave me so much freedom. It wasn’t just about making it easier to get between Hakone and Mount Fuji. It completely changed what we were able to do once we got there. This part of Japan doesn’t have as great a transportation system as Tokyo, so having a car is the best way to make the most of your time if you’re visiting.

This was especially true around Mount Fuji. It’s ringed by five lakes, known as the Fuji Five Lakes, and having the car meant we could easily see more than one. Most people who come for a day trip from Tokyo only visit Fujikawaguchiko, but we got to see so much more. We stopped at so many spots along the way, and my favorite was Makaino Farm. It’s a really fun farm with animals, picture spots, ice cream, and an amazing view of Mount Fuji.

My boyfriend (now fiancé!) actually pulled over at a random viewpoint we happened to be driving past to propose, which made for such a unique and special memory!

Since our time was limited, relying on public transport would have seriously limited how much we got to do. Instead, we hit viewpoint after viewpoint on our own time, with nobody else’s schedule to work around.

Is it worth it?

Absolutely. My time driving around Mount Fuji was hands-down my favorite part of the whole trip! Maybe one of my favorite travel experiences ever (especially since we got lucky with a completely clear view of Fuji). There’s nothing like turning a corner and seeing a giant Mount Fuji in front of you. It was unreal.

Having a car means you can pull over on a whim, whether that’s at an unplanned viewpoint or a local cafe with zero other tourists in sight. Between how easy the pickup process was and how reasonable the cost ended up being, there really wasn’t a downside.

So if you’re debating renting a car in Japan, my answer is yes, go for it. It’s more approachable than it seems, and it opens up a side of the country you can’t get from the train.