My husband and I traveled Japan during New Year's holidays. As I mentioned in
my previous entry, after purchasing some souvenirs at Tokyo Haneda Airport, we finally flew to Fukuoka, where is our hometown.
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| Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan |
The flight from Tokyo to Fukuoka takes about one hour and 45 minutes.
Fukuoka is a prefecture of Japan on Kyushu Island. Around Fukuoka Airport, there are so many large billboards. When I see these billboards from the airport, I feel that I finally came back to Fukuoka!
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| View from Fukuoka Airport |
When we visit our hometown, we usually take a highway bus. Then, our family pick us up at a bus stop. During our staying in Fukuoka, we sometimes ask our family if we could borrow their car. Unlike Tokyo, we need a car in the countryside! This time, we booked a rental car in advance. ;)
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| At A Car Rental Nearby Fukuoka Airport |
When we lived in Osaka, Japan, we owned our car and had Japanese driver's licenses. We really loved road trips in Japan. :) Right before we moved to the U.S. from Japan, I gave away our car to my father. My parents were glad that they got the car for free! ;) After living in the U.S. for years, our Japanese driver's licenses were expired. Actually, we renewed our licenses once but finally decided to give them up because we live abroad and we cannot visit Japan only for a driver's license renewal. When I decided to give up my driver's license, I was so sad because getting a driver's license is not easy in Japan. ;(
Getting A Driver's License Is Not Easy in Japan
When I got a driver's license in the U.S., I was very surprised at how simple it is to get a U.S. driver's license. I only went to DMV twice to take the writing test and the road test, and it cost about $35! Unlike the U.S., getting a Japanese driver's license is not easy at all. It usually
costs about 200,000 yen, which is equivalent to about $2,000, and you need to go to a driving school, take so many
classes and must pass some examinations. I went to a driving school almost every
day for a month and a half (I tried to complete classes as faster as I could.), and I paid 220,000 yen or so to get a Japanese
driver license. Because driving in Japan is not easy, if you want to get a Japanese driver's license, you need to learn how to drive properly in Japan at a driving school.
The Reasons Why Driving in Japan Is Not Easy
・There are narrow roads and one way roads.
・Japan has steep roads. (You should know how to start a car on an uphill.)
・It sometime rains a lot. (You should know the danger of aquaplaning.)
・Driving in snow is not easy at all. (I think that you don't want to drive on snowy and icy roads in winter.)
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| Nissan March |
You Can Drive A Rental Car in Japan (without Japanese driver's license) If You Have Your IDP!
In order to drive a car without Japanese
driver's licenses in Japan, you need to get an International Driving
Permit (IDP) in your country. My husband got it at our local AAA office
in the U.S. It was about $20. When you get a rental car in Japan, you need
to show your IDP at a car rental.
This time, we booked
this compact car, Nissan March. We had three large suitcases, one large
duffle bag, one carry-on bag and one tote bag, and we could pack all our
baggage in this small car. ;)
Did you know that the license plate with "わ" means that it's a rental car?
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| Nissan March |
6 Things You Should Know Before Driving in Japan
1. Japan uses kilometers. (Japan does not use miles.)
2. You must drive on the left side of the road in Japan.
3. Japanese cars have the driver's seat and steering wheel on their right side.
4. You and all passengers must wear a seat belt.
5.
Drinking and driving is illegal. (A drunk driver must pay a fine up to
1,000,000 yen, which is equivalent to about $10,000, or serve up to 5 year of in jail. Passengers must pay a fine up to 500,000 yen or serve up to 3 year of in jail.)
6. Highway is not free. It costs a lot to drive on. (That's why the highway is clean and well maintained in Japan.)
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| Starbucks in Fukuoka |
After we got on Nissan March, my husband told me, "Let's go to Starbucks nearby Fukuoka Airport before going to my parent's home." I'll write about it
next time. :)
These are my entries you might like.
♥What He Got at Haneda Airport, Tokyo International Airport - Japan Haul
♥Bic Camera at Haneda Airport Tax Free Service
♥
Starbucks Japan Tumbler - Tokyo Haneda Airport Special Edition
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What I Ate at Haneda Airport Domestic Terminal
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13 Best Japanese Products I Purchased on Amazon Japan! - Beauty, Kitchen and Stationery Items
♥13 Muji Products I Purchased in Japan - Muji Haul
♥What You Should Take to Japan - Japan Travel Tips
♥3 Best Facial Sheet Masks Loved in Japan This Year
♥7 Best Japanese Beauty Products Hall of Fame
♥Top 5 Life-Changing Japanese Beauty Products
♥10 Best Japanese Beauty Products on Amazon Japan, You Can Also Purchase Them at Drugstores in Japan
My entries related to Tokyo can be seen here.
My entries related to Best Japanese Beauty Products can be seen here.
My entries related to Japan can be seen here.
My entries related to beauty can be seen here.
My entries related to Japan Haul can be seen here.
You can find my beauty entries by categories from here.
