While public transport is great in most cities around Japan, renting a car can still be worthwhile depending on where you are going and who you are travelling with. If you plan on exploring the inaka (countryside) where trains, buses and taxis are less frequent, having a car is your best bet for getting around.
But you don’t have to be heading to Hokkaido or Okinawa, to make good use of a rental car. Even in Tokyo, renting a car can help when moving house, or just going on a big shopping trip to Ikea or Costco.
If you’re looking to rent a car in Japan, here are some things you should know in advance, including what documents you’ll need and how the rental process works, plus general road rules and some of the major car rental companies for English-speakers in Japan.
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