A Traveler's Guide to Driving in Japan

Whether you are looking for the ancient or the modern, Japan has everything you need for your holiday. You have a wide range of places to visit and attractions to discover in this beautiful country. You might want to visit the ancient temples of Kyoto, visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, or visit the Churaumi Aquarium in Okinawa. The Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden and the streets of Tokyo are also interesting places to visit. There is something for everyone in Japan.

Car rental in Japan

Renting a car when you are going on holiday to Japan can be a good idea. It is often easier than public transport and you can move more freely around the places you want to visit. Foreign visitors can drive in Japan using both their national driving license and international driving license for up to a year after entering the country.

Gasoline and parking costs tend to be high in Japan, but you may still find it worthwhile to rent a car, especially if there are a number of places you want to visit that are not easily accessible by public transportation.

When you rent a car, make sure you have the company's phone number and emergency contact information in case you need to contact them before returning the car.

Road conditions and safety

Roads in most of the country are in excellent condition. You can find some dirt roads in the countryside, but in general the roads should be easy to drive without worry. Most roads in the country are free. Toll highways cost about $1 per mile.

Most signage in Japan is in English and Japanese. However, it is recommended that you be able to read Japanese if you intend to drive, as it will be difficult to understand traffic signs in many places.

Most drivers in Japan are tactful, careful and follow the rules of the road. However, traffic in cities is often very dense and there are still drivers who run red lights and don't use their signals. You must be careful of drivers and take a defensive approach to driving. Also, keep in mind that in the event of an accident, all drivers are responsible. The police will then provide an accident fault assessment for each of the drivers.

In Japan, you can't turn on a red light. The only vehicles that can turn are the ones with the green arrow signal.

Speed ​​Limit

Always obey posted speed limits when driving in Japan. If there are no speed limit signs on the roads, you can use the following rule of thumb.

• Roads - 60 km/h
• Expressways - 100 km / h.

Having a rental car in Japan can make it much easier to visit all the great places this country has to offer.