Driving A Rental Car in Japan, 6 Things You Should Know Before Driving in Japan - New Year's Japan Travel Day 7

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Driving A Rental Car in Japan, 6 Things You Should Know Before Driving in Japan - New Year's Japan Travel Day 7

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.

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!

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. ;)

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.)

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?

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.)