With a Rent-A-Car service, you can go for a drive whenever you want because it be booked on the same day.
Here, you can find the information about how to rent a car and choose the best car rental company in Japan.
How to rent a car in Japan?
To rent a car in Japan, it is common to rent a car at a rental car shop. All you need to rent is a Japanese driver’s licenseor an international driver’s license for driving a car. Please note that when renting a car, all drivers are required to show their license.
When returning, it is necessary to fill up the gasoline and return it, and there will be a penalty if there are scratches (If you pay for insurance no need to worry about the scratches or accident, it will all be covered by the insurance company. Cost varies depends upon the plan which you choose)
The budget varies depending on the type of car and the company, but the average is about 5,000 yen for half a day.
How can I choose a rental car company
Location and open hours
When choosing a rental car service, choose a service where the sales office is close to the station or home. To rent a car, you must first go to the nearest store to complete the procedure. If you are traveling, you can also use the service that transfers you from the station or airport to the sales office.
24-hour reception
If you want to leave late at night or early in the morning, choose a service that is open 24 hours a day. If the service is only available during the day, you will have to rent a car and secure it before the departure time, which will incur additional charges.
There are also services that support unmanned rental if you register as a member in advance. If there is no 24-hour reception service nearby, an unmanned rental service may be good.
Immediate booking
If you suddenly need a car on the day of a business trip or urgent business, choose a service that can be accepted on the day. Please note that you may not be able to rent a car if you do not make a reservation the day before.
Variety of cars
If you’re traveling or driving far away, check out services that allow you to book “hybrid cars” such as AQUAand Fit. When you rent a car, it costs you unexpectedly to pay for gasoline. A hybrid car has good fuel economy per liter, and the fuel cost can be greatly reduced compared to a normal gasoline car.
City
If you drive in the city, check if you can rent a light car or a compact car with a small turn. It is easy to drive even on narrow roads, and you can easily park your car even in a narrow parking lot in the city center. Since many mini vehicles are tall, it is easy to see ahead and is suitable for beginners.
Date
If you use it for a drive date, please consider a service that allows you to rent a “foreign car/luxury car”. The interior is more gorgeous than a normal car, and many vehicles are comfortable to ride, making your date memories even more special.
There is also a service where you can rent a “light truck” or “van” type car when carrying large luggage such as camping or moving.
Price
The market price is about 5,000 yen for a 12-hour rental. Be aware of high season rates when renting a car. It is generally set for long holidays such as Golden Week, Silver week, summer vacation, year-end, and New Year holidays, but the specific date depends on the service. The period and price are posted on the homepage, so make sure if you are thinking of going out on consecutive holidays.
When renting a car, make sure you have a rate plan that suits your needs.
Day trip
For day trips such as shopping and road trip, we recommend a service that has an “hourly” rate plan. You can rent in small units such as a 3-hour plan or a 6-hour plan, so it is suitable for a quick outing.
Overnight
On the other hand, if you are going out overnight, check if there is a “day-night system” rate plan. Since the price is on a daily basis, you can rent it at a better price than renting on an hourly basis.
Cheap car rental
If you want to keep your rental fee down, consider using a so-called “cheap car rental“. With “cheap rental cars”, you can only rent a used car, but the price will be about 3500 yen for half a day.
If you have the opportunity to use the same rental car many times, choose a service that allows you to register as a member.
Just by registering as a free member, you can collect points and receive discounts on basic charges.
Insurance
When focusing on car rental insurance, check the amount of voluntary insurance coverage and subscription fee. Ideally, the amount of compensation is unlimited. The market price is about 1,000 yen per day.
There are two main types of “voluntary insurance”: exemption compensation and NOC compensation. If you subscribe, in the unlikely event of an accident, you will be able to receive compensation that cannot be covered by the compulsory automobile liability insurance alone.
Car equipments
Check “Car navigation system” and “ETC on-board unit“. Please note that depending on the service, both may be paid options.
Also, if you are going to a snowy area or if you are traveling with your family, make sure that you can rent “studless tires” or “child seats“.
If you’re traveling or moving, check for drop-off options. “Drop off” is a service that allows you to return the vehicle to a store different from the one where you rented the vehicle. Also called “one-way system” or “one-way rental“.
If you’re traveling or driving with your pet, choose a rental car with a ride option. As a general rule, it is prohibited to carry animals in a rental car. If you want to take your pet with you when you go out, please apply for the option for an additional fee.
Restrictions for beginners
If you are a newcomer or student renting a car, please be aware of any lending restrictions. Some rental cars have restrictions on rentals for beginner/student drivers who are inexperienced in driving skills, and some have refused to take out insurance.
Top 10 Recommended Rent-A-Car Companies in Japan
1. Toyota Rent-a-car
“Toyota Rent-A-Car” which is a Toyota affiliate. It claims to be the number one store and number of vehicles owned and is characterized by its ease of use. Both Narita and Haneda Airports have branches.
From fuel-efficient hybrid cars to sports cars and SUVs, you can choose the model that suits your purpose. If you make a reservation using the dedicated app, there is an unmanned rental service that allows you to omit the reception at the store, so it is easy to leave and return late at night and early in the morning.
I’m also happy that you can use the drop-off option to reduce the hassle of returning. In addition, the fee is about 5,500 yen for half a day, which is about the average amount. This is the best car rental service that has the highest reputation for car cleanliness and is the first choice for anyone who wants to rent a car.
2. Orix Rent-a-Car
“ORIX Rent-A-Car” is a service operated by ORIX Auto Corporation. We have more than 1,500 stores all over Japan. Both Narita and Haneda Airports have branches.
There are a wide variety of compact cars and hybrid cars that can be used for driving and traveling, and RVs and minivans can be accompanied by pets with advance reservations.
In addition, regular campaigns and discounts on online reservations are also substantial. Furthermore, if you register as a member, you will be able to use the car-sharing service, so it is also attractive to be able to start quickly without troublesome procedures.
Reservations are relatively easy to make and there is no problem with the cleanliness of the car. The price is 5,500 yen per half-day, which is an average amount.
3. Nippon Rent-A-Car
“Nippon Rent-A-Car” operated by Nippon Rent-A-Car Service. We have more than 800 stores nationwide, and we have branches at both Narita and Haneda Airports.
There are many sales offices near the station, and you can return it at other stores, so it is easy to use. It is also a nice point to be able to handle reservations up to 1 hour before departure.
Not only passenger cars and wagons, but also moving trucks and campers are available, and it is attractive that there are many types and manufacturers. You can choose a car according to your purpose and number of people.
The price is 5,500 yen per half-day, which is an average price, and the car is clean.
4. Budget Rent-a-car
“Budget Rent a Car” has stores all over Japan and also has branches at Narita and Haneda Airports. When traveling or on a business trip, you can pick up your car at the airport and leave it as it is. It is also a nice point that the drop-off fee is free within the same prefecture.
There are various benefits such as online reservations and early discounts, so be sure to check when making a reservation. Please note that the charge was a little high at 6,270 yen per half day.
5.Nissan rent-a-car
“Nissan Rent-A-Car” is a service operated by Nissan, and you can rent a Nissan car at sales offices nationwide. Both Narita and Haneda Airports have branches.
The feature is that various models such as Nissan’s compact cars and electric cars are available. Some stores are open 24 hours a day, so it’s also suitable for those who want to leave late at night or early in the morning.
Please note that there are many popular models and it is difficult to make a reservation. The price is a little high at 6,050 yen per half day, but you can ride a clean Nissan car.
6. Sky Rent-a-car
“Sky Rent-A-Car” is a rental car that operates in each region from Hokkaido to Okinawa. They also provide transportation from the airport, making it suitable for travel and business trips.
There are also several discount plans available, and it is also easy to use with great deals such as Web discount and early discount. In addition to the pick-up service, they also offer a drop-off service, so it is suitable for use while traveling. The fee is relatively high at 6,600 yen for half a day, but it is a very popular company, so make a reservation early.
7. JR-Eki Rent-a-car
“JR Station Rent-A-Car” is a rental car service that has sales offices nationwide. The store is located next to the JR station, so it is easy to use when traveling.
If you make a reservation with the JR Shinkansen, you can get a discount, so it is suitable for use as a local foot when traveling or on a business trip. There are a wide variety of vehicles, from mini vehicles to wagons, so there is no problem in using them as a means of transportation.
In the verification, the rental fee per half day was 6,600 yen, which was higher than other services.
8. NikoNIko Rent-a-car
“Niko Niko Rent-A-Car” has stores all over the country, and there are a wide range of models from light and compact cars to imported cars.
They maintain and rent used cars, so the rental price is as low as 3,080 yen per half day. However, keep in mind that basic in-vehicle equipment such as car navigation is a paid option.
9. 100 yen Rent-a-Car
“100 Yen Rent-A-Car” has stores all over the country. As the name suggests, it is a big attraction that you can rent a car from 100 yen.
Rental fee starts from 100 yen for 10 minutes. It can be used for everyday situations such as small shopping and picking up children. There are a wide variety of models, from mini cars to wagons, so you can choose the one that suits your situation.
The rental fee per half-day is 3,300 yen. It seems to be quite reasonable compared to other services, but the equipment and cleanliness in the car do not seem to be highly evaluated.
10. Times CAR RENTAL
They have sales offices in each region of the country. The service features “Pitto Go,” a system that completes rental procedures simply by touching a dedicated IC card. Available from 15 minutes, you can start quickly without any hassle.
The disadvantages are that it costs 7,920 yen per half day, which is more expensive than other services, and that many cars are not clean.
Renting a car in Japan
We have summarized how to rent a car with a book, recommended companies and how to choose them. Think about what you need and choose a company that has a plan that suits it. Your reservation may be full, so plan ahead.
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