holioo.comJapan Drive & Travel Guide
Rental car travelling on a Japanese road near Mount Fuji

Japan Drive & Travel Guide

Driving in Japan for the first time? We collected the parts people get wrong

Rentals, traffic rules, parking, ETC and regional road trips — the questions that actually come up when you drive in Japan.

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First time driving in Japan: a reading order

  1. 1Can I drive in Japan? Licence and IDP
  2. 2Driving on the left: what to know first
  3. 3How renting works, from booking to pickup
  4. 4Do you actually need an ETC card?
  5. 5Reading and paying at Japanese car parks
  6. 6Refuelling and choosing the right fuel
  7. 7What to do after an accident
  8. 8Start planning your route

Main driving topics

Traveller collecting a car at a Japanese rental counter
Renting & Returning
Japan left-side driving, traffic lights, pedestrian priority and stop sign
Traffic Rules
Japanese parking signs, lock-plate and gated car parks
Parking
Rental car with winter tyres on a snowy Japanese road
Snow Driving
Car safely stopped with a warning triangle during a roadside emergency
Accidents
Driving responses for earthquakes, tsunami, heavy rain and road closures
Disasters
Location, emergency call, roadside assistance and medical help icons
Useful Information
Rental car travelling along the Izu Peninsula coast
Road Trips

Questions people actually ask

If something goes wrong

What to do after an accidentEmergency numbersMedical assistanceRoadside assistanceEarthquake & tsunamiTyphoon & heavy snowRoad informationJAF

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Disclaimer

Information about driving, transport, attractions and roads in Japan is provided for travel-planning reference only. Rules, road conditions, opening hours, fees and related requirements may change; always confirm the latest information with the relevant Japanese authorities and official operators.