Driving in Japan
Is renting a car in Japan worth it? Car vs train
Japan has the best trains in the world, so it’s a fair question. The honest answer: it depends entirely on where you’re going. In the cities a car is a liability; in the countryside it’s the difference between seeing the famous places and seeing the Japan between them. Here’s how to decide, with the real trade-offs and costs.
The short answer
Cities: take the train. Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and the shinkansen corridors are faster, cheaper and far less stressful by rail — parking is scarce and expensive, and city traffic is slow.
Countryside: rent a car. Onsen villages, coastal roads, mountain valleys and the michi-no-eki roadside stations barely appear on train maps, and rural buses can run just a few times a day. A car is what makes rural Japan actually reachable — and it’s easier than most visitors expect: automatic, well signed, English navigation, calm drivers.
Car or train, trip by trip
| Your trip | Usually better | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Central Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka | Train | Dense rail, no parking, traffic — a car is a liability in the big cities. |
| Airport ↔ one city | Train | The shinkansen and airport expresses are faster and stress-free. |
| Onsen villages & coastal roads | Car | Sparse trains, rare buses — many spots have no rail access at all. |
| Hokkaido, Tohoku, San’in, Kyushu countryside | Car | Distances between sights are long and public transport is thin. |
| Island drives (Okinawa, Awaji, Shimanami) | Car | Islands are built for driving; Okinawa has almost no trains. |
| A family of four with luggage | Car | One compact car is often cheaper than four rail fares, door to door. |
What driving actually costs
A compact rental runs about ¥7,000–10,000 a day including full insurance cover, with regular gasoline around ¥170–185 a litre. The big variable is tolls — Tokyo to Kyoto is roughly ¥10,000 one way — but a huge share of the best drives use free national roads with no tolls at all, which is exactly where the michi-no-eki are. For the full breakdown, see the complete rental-car guide.
When the train still wins: the JR Pass
If your itinerary is mostly long hops between big cities, or your licence can’t be used in Japan, rail is the answer. The Japan Rail Pass and regional passes cover unlimited shinkansen and JR trains for a fixed price — the fastest way to cover distance. Plenty of travellers combine the two: a rail pass for the long legs, a rental car for a few countryside days.
Before you decide, check you can drive
Not every visitor can legally rent in Japan — it comes down to your licence’s country of issue and whether you need an International Driving Permit or an official translation. Read our licence rules by country and the road rules and signs guide first if you’re new to driving here.
FAQ
Is it worth renting a car in Japan?
It depends entirely on where you’re going. For the big cities, no — the trains are faster and a car is a burden. For rural Japan — onsen towns, coastal drives, the michi-no-eki roadside stations — a car is close to essential, because trains and buses barely reach those places. Most travellers do both: rail between cities, a rental for the countryside legs.
Is it cheaper to drive or take the train in Japan?
For one or two people over long distances, the train is often cheaper and faster. For a family or small group, a rental car frequently wins door to door — one compact car at about ¥7,000–10,000 a day plus fuel can beat four individual rail fares, and it reaches places no train serves.
Should I get a JR Pass or rent a car?
They solve different problems. The Japan Rail Pass is unbeatable for covering long distances between major cities quickly. A rental car is for the rural in-between the rail network skips. On a longer trip, many people use a JR Pass for the big hops and rent a car for a few countryside days.
Is driving in Japan difficult for foreigners?
Not especially. Cars are automatic, roads are well signed with English on major routes, drivers are calm and rule-abiding, and car navigation works in English. You drive on the left. The main things to prepare are the right licence documents and the full-protection insurance — see our licence and rental guides.