Car Rental Tips And Tricks
Japan is a paradise for would-be train passengers, with a public transport network probably unrivalled anywhere in the world. But there are times when you want to drive yourself, both for the ease and freedom of getting around, and to transport cumbersome, messy thngs - like children. In those situation, a car is the absolute best way of getting around. So what should you consider when you want to rent a car - and after you have done it?
Cars in front of a Buddhist temple in northeastern Japan.
WHEN YOU RENT A CAR
* Renting a car in Japan means planning ahead. You have to reserve the car well in advance.
* Consider getting a hybrid, if not an electric car. While electric cars are still uncommon, hybrids are everywhere - and much more fuel efficient than other cars.
* Check carefully how to get to the rental office in advance. There are normally several car rental offices around the train stations - but usually a few blocks away.
* Get the full insurance and rescue coverage. Nothing usually happens, but if it does, you will need the insurance.
* Make sure the drive recorder works, and that you know exactly what memory card it takes. Most new Japanese cars come with drive recorders and they are invaluable in proving whose fault an accident was, but the police will take the memory card as evidence, so you need to put in a new one in case something happens again. And the recorders only accept a limited number of card types.
* Renting a car in Japan means planning ahead. You have to reserve the car well in advance.
* Consider getting a hybrid, if not an electric car. While electric cars are still uncommon, hybrids are everywhere - and much more fuel efficient than other cars.
* Check carefully how to get to the rental office in advance. There are normally several car rental offices around the train stations - but usually a few blocks away.
* Get the full insurance and rescue coverage. Nothing usually happens, but if it does, you will need the insurance.
* Make sure the drive recorder works, and that you know exactly what memory card it takes. Most new Japanese cars come with drive recorders and they are invaluable in proving whose fault an accident was, but the police will take the memory card as evidence, so you need to put in a new one in case something happens again. And the recorders only accept a limited number of card types.
USING HIGHWAYS
* Get an ETC card, that lets you charge your road use to the card. Before the Corona virus pandemic hit, there was also options to get cards with tourist discounts. Ask in the rental office if they still have something like that.
* All highways in Japan are toll highways. The only exception is in Okinawa. The toll is lower around major holidays and for family vehicles on ordinary days.
* The ETC card makes getting on and off the highway much more smoothly, since you do not have to fiddle with cash or wait for the attendant to calculate the price.
* Get an ETC card, that lets you charge your road use to the card. Before the Corona virus pandemic hit, there was also options to get cards with tourist discounts. Ask in the rental office if they still have something like that.
* All highways in Japan are toll highways. The only exception is in Okinawa. The toll is lower around major holidays and for family vehicles on ordinary days.
* The ETC card makes getting on and off the highway much more smoothly, since you do not have to fiddle with cash or wait for the attendant to calculate the price.
Did you find these tips useful? In that case, you probably will be interested in a whole book full of tips and more about the reasons why things are as they are in Japan. You can find out how to order the ebook and paper book from this link. Just select the store that works best for you and put it in your shopping basket.
