How to Rent a Car in Japan as a Foreigner: 2026 Guide

Can foreigners rent a car in Japan? The short answer

Yes. Anyone visiting Japan can rent a car if they hold the right driving documents. Rental companies in Japan must see the originals at pick-up, and Japanese law accepts only three kinds of document, so this is the step that decides everything else. After that, renting a car in Japan works much as it does at home: book online, pick up, drive on the left, refuel, return.

This guide walks through the whole process for foreigners, with facts checked on official pages as of November 2026. Rules and prices can change, so check the official links at the end before you travel.

Step 1: Check that your driving licence is valid in Japan

According to the National Police Agency (NPA), a visitor can drive in Japan with one of these:

You can drive for up to one year from the day you land in Japan, or until your licence or permit expires, whichever comes first. An IDP itself is valid for one year from its issue date.

What is NOT accepted:

• An international permit in the 1968 Vienna Convention format.
• A card-type or smartphone IDP. JNTO says only the paper booklet is valid.
• A translation from a private translator. The translation must come from the issuing authority or your embassy/consulate in Japan, JAF, ADAC (Germany), the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association (Taiwan), or another body designated by the police.
• A PDF or home print-out of a JAF translation. JAF's translation is printed at a convenience store in Japan.
• Licences from countries outside the two groups above, including mainland China, Vietnam, Brazil and Indonesia. These are not valid for driving in Japan on their own.

Tip: your one-year count starts from the entry date in your passport. JNTO advises that if you pass through an automated gate at immigration, you should ask for an entry stamp. Not sure about your case? Use our 30-second licence check and read driving in Japan with a foreign license.

Step 2: Choose where to rent: chains, booking sites or an airport specialist

There are three main ways foreigners rent a car in Japan. None is "best" for everyone; each suits different trips.

Choose a chain if you need a one-way trip, a van or more than five seats, a pick-up before 09:00 or a booking at short notice. A booking site is useful for comparing many companies at once. Go on fits if you land at and fly home from Haneda, are up to five people and want the paperwork done before you fly. Our Haneda car rental comparison goes into more detail.

Step 3: Book: when and how

• Book early for peak dates. The New Year holidays and other Japanese holiday periods are busy, and automatic cars in popular classes go first.
• Check the pick-up time against your flight. Allow time for immigration and customs. Go on hands over cars between 09:00 and 20:00 Japan time, so a late-evening arrival means picking up the next day.
• Enter every driver. Only registered drivers are covered by the insurance.
• Ask for extras when you book: ETC card, child seats, English navigation. They can run out.

How much does it cost to rent a car in Japan?

JNTO lists these approximate 24-hour rates (unlimited mileage) for major companies:

These are averages, not quotes; actual prices depend on dates, branch and season. On top of the base rate, budget for:

• Accident waivers. Example: Nippon Rent-A-Car's Full support option costs from ¥2,200 per day (tax included) and waives the deductible and the NOC (as of November 2026).
• ETC card. Example: Nippon Rent-A-Car charges ¥330 (tax included) for up to 7 days.
• Fuel, expressway tolls and parking, which are never included.

At Go on Rent-a-Car the price starts from ¥14,650 per day, including tax and the required Safety Pack. Prices can change by date, so check the exact total for your dates on the booking page.

Insurance and NOC, explained simply

Every rental in Japan includes compulsory insurance plus the rental company's own insurance. But after an accident you can still owe two things:

1. The deductible (the first part of the repair bill you pay yourself).
2. The NOC (Non-Operation Charge): a fixed fee for the days the car cannot be rented out while it is repaired. Typically ¥20,000 if the car can still be driven and ¥50,000 if it cannot.

Example: with basic cover only at Nippon Rent-A-Car, a customer may pay up to ¥200,000 plus actual roadside costs after an accident. Buying the waiver brings that to ¥0 for covered accidents. At Go on, the Safety Pack is built in, so covered accidents cost you ¥0, NOC included. In every company, cover is lost if you do not report the accident to the police. Read our Japan rental car insurance and NOC guide.

ETC cards and expressway tolls

Most expressways charge tolls. You can pay by cash or credit card in General lanes (green sign), or drive through ETC lanes with an ETC card in the car. Around Tokyo, more and more entrances are ETC-only, so an ETC card makes driving easier. Most rental companies rent ETC cards and settle the tolls when you return the car. At Go on, please ask about an ETC card before departure. Details: Japan expressway tolls and ETC.

Child seats

Japanese law requires children under 6 to ride in a child seat, in rental cars too. Request seats when you book; at Go on they are subject to availability. See our child seat guide for families.

Fuel and returning the car

Fuel is not included. Rental cars are normally returned with a full tank, so fill up near the return point. Many stations are self-service. Use the fuel your car needs: our Golf Variant takes high-octane (premium) petrol, and diesel must never go in a petrol car. See how to refuel a rental car in Japan.

Parking and driving in Tokyo

Japan drives on the left. Parking outside marked spaces can bring penalties, and city car parks charge by time. For sightseeing inside Tokyo, trains are usually easier; a car pays off for Mt Fuji, Hakone or the coast. Read the Tokyo parking guide and the Japan road rules for visitors.

If you have an accident

1. Stop safely, switch on the hazard lights and help anyone injured. Call 119 for an ambulance.
2. Call the police on 110, even for a small scrape. Without a police report, insurance does not pay.
3. Call your rental company. Do not settle privately with the other driver.

With Go on, you can send photos and your location from the emergency guide on your phone and from your trip page. Full steps: what to do after a car accident in Japan and our emergency guide.

Common mistakes foreigners make

• Bringing a 1968-format permit, or the IDP without the home licence.
• A private translation instead of an official one.
• Booking a pick-up time before the counter or handover opens.
• Comparing base rates only, without the deductible and NOC waiver.
• Not asking for an ETC card, then meeting an ETC-only entrance.
• Driving into snow areas without winter tyres. In winter, check your route first.

Checklist before you fly

1. Passport (and an entry stamp if you use an automated gate)
2. Original home driving licence
3. 1949 Geneva IDP or official Japanese translation
4. Credit card in the driver's name for the deposit
5. Booking confirmation, with ETC card and child seats requested
6. Planned route, with expressway and parking costs

Renting a car at Haneda Airport with Go on

Go on Rent-a-Car hands over every car at Haneda Airport Terminal 3, P5 car park 8F, about 5 minutes on foot from arrivals, with no shuttle bus. Handover and return are 09:00-20:00 Japan time, and online booking closes 48 hours before pick-up (up to 180 days ahead). You upload your passport, licence and IDP or translation before you arrive; our AI and staff check them, so the handover takes about 30 minutes. Document images are deleted automatically 30 days after return. A ¥50,000 deposit is held on your card, not charged.

The car is a Volkswagen Golf Variant TSI Lounge (5 seats, automatic, high-octane), a European car rather than a JDM model. Circuit or competition use is not allowed, and driving on snow roads needs winter tyres and our prior consent, so tell us before you book if you plan to visit snowy areas (winter driving guide).

Example drives from Haneda: Hakone takes about 1.5 hours via the Shuto Expressway, Tomei Expressway and Odawara-Atsugi Road; Lake Kawaguchi about 2 hours via the Shuto and Chuo Expressways, without heavy traffic (Mt Fuji and Hakone drive). Step-by-step directions to the car are in the Terminal 3 pick-up guide, and our rental terms list every condition.

Ready? Check availability and book at Haneda.