CAR RENTAL IN TOKYO
Pick up near Haneda or Narita and head beyond the city for Fuji views, hot springs and coastal roads. Compare airport car rental locations before you plan your route.
Plan your airport pick-up ↗Choose dates to compare options · Rates and availability vary by location and provider
Tokyo has two main international gateways. Both list rental-car counters, but the distance into the city and the pick-up process differ.
Approximate distance to central Tokyo. Road distance and drive time depend on your exact destination, route and traffic.
The closer airport for most Tokyo stays. Haneda lists car-rental counters in Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Confirm your counter, opening hours and vehicle handover with the rental company.
Tokyo’s official Haneda guide ↗Check Haneda rental counters ↗Narita is farther from central Tokyo. The airport lists rental counters in Terminals 1 and 2. Terminal 3 has no rental-car service, so follow airport signs to Terminal 2.
Tokyo’s official Narita guide ↗Check Narita terminal details ↗Arriving late or travelling with luggage? Check the rental counter’s hours and collection instructions against your flight. Some companies use a shuttle or off-airport branch. Ask before you book, especially if you need a one-way rental from Tokyo to another city.
A rental car in Tokyo makes more sense for the trip beyond the city: connect mountain towns, lakeside viewpoints or the Boso coast on your own schedule. If you plan to stay in central Tokyo first, check hotel parking and traffic before choosing an airport pick-up date.
Explore Tokyo road trips ↗For a Tokyo car rental, compare airport and city pick-up branches, the total price for your dates and luggage space. A compact car suits a couple; a minivan gives a group more room.
Easy to park and a good fit for two.
More room for bags and long days.
Room for people, luggage and day bags.
Vehicle models, seating and luggage capacity vary by rental company. Check the details before booking.
Start with the daily rate, then add insurance options, tolls, fuel and any extras. Each rental company sets its own cover, fees and fuel policy.
Daily rate, insurance cover and any excess waiver. Check limits and exclusions.
Fuel, expressway tolls, parking and an ETC card fee.
Child seat, winter tyres, additional driver or one-way fee.
Using expressways? Ask whether the car has an ETC device and whether you can rent an ETC card. Ask how the rental company bills tolls and whether the ETC card has a rental fee.
Returning in another city? Check the one-way fee and whether the branch accepts your return location before you book.
Spring blossoms and autumn leaves draw visitors to popular areas. June brings the rainy season to much of the country. Demand rises around popular destinations and holiday periods. Rental companies may set seasonal rates, so compare your dates and pick-up locations before you book.
Flowering dates move north with the season. Golden Week brings a run of national holidays in late April and early May.
Rainy-season timing varies by region. Summer holidays make some routes busier, while Hokkaido has its own peak season.
Autumn leaves arrive earlier in northern Japan and later in the south. Check local forecasts before you book around peak foliage.
Snow changes the drive in Hokkaido and parts of northern Japan. Ask your rental company about winter tyres and road conditions.
Season notes: Japan National Tourism Organization, weather by season and travel tips. Rental prices depend on provider, region, car class and exact dates. The chart shows broad travel patterns, not collected rental-price data.
Start from Tokyo and trade crowded streets for mountain roads, lakeside viewpoints or a stretch of coast. Build in time for tolls, parking and breaks, then check local access before you set off.
Tokyo road trips: Fuji Five Lakes, Hakone, Nikko, Izu Peninsula, Chichibu and the Boso Peninsula.
Drive towards Lake Kawaguchi for lakeside viewpoints and mountain scenery. Check visibility before you plan around a Fuji view.
Explore the Fuji-Hakone-Izu area ↗Pair hot-spring towns with views across Lake Ashi. The Ashinoko-Hakone Skyline is a toll road with fixed opening hours.
Check the Hakone Skyline ↗Climb the Irohazaka road to Lake Chuzenji and Akechidaira. The autumn foliage season can bring heavy traffic.
Read about Irohazaka ↗Follow the coast for sea views, small ports and hot-spring stops. An overnight stay gives you more room to explore the peninsula.
Explore Izu with JNTO ↗Take a slower drive through forested valleys, river country and mountain towns northwest of central Tokyo.
See JNTO’s nearby nature guide ↗Head south for Pacific coast scenery, beaches and the Boso Flower Line. You can also cross Tokyo Bay by ferry.
Plan a Boso visit ↗Trip-planning sources: Destination notes link to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO). A car can help with rural routes, but central Tokyo traffic and parking may add time and cost. Check local road conditions and rental terms before departure.
Japan drives on the left, with the steering wheel on the right. Check your licence requirements before you travel, then plan for tolls, parking and mountain weather along your route.
Check your documents
Many visitors need a paper International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. Rules depend on where your licence was issued.
Budget for the full trip
Compare the rental rate, insurance, fuel, tolls and parking before you choose a car.
Carry your passport, home licence and the permit or translation required for your licence.
Ask which fuel the car takes and whether you must return it with a full tank.
Walk around with staff. Point out any scratches and save a few photos before leaving.
Ask about ETC, navigation language, child seats and the rental company’s emergency number.
Check the details that can change your plans, from licence rules to winter tyres.
Haneda is about 15 km from central Tokyo. Narita is about 50–60 km away. These are approximate distances to the city centre, not road mileage; your drive depends on the pick-up point, route and traffic.
Both airports list rental-car counters. Haneda lists counters at Terminals 1, 2 and 3. Narita lists counters at Terminals 1 and 2; Terminal 3 has no rental-car service. Confirm the counter and collection process with your chosen company.
Many visitors need a paper International Driving Permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention, carried with their home licence. Some countries and regions use a Japanese translation instead. Check the rules for the country that issued your licence before you travel.
Drivers keep left, and most cars have the steering wheel on the right. Take extra care at intersections and when leaving a parking space if you usually drive on the other side.
Rates depend on the city, dates, car class and provider. Some companies apply seasonal pricing during busy dates such as Golden Week. Compare exact pick-up and return dates with the rental provider.
Yes. Ask the rental company whether winter tyres are included or available, especially for Hokkaido and snowy mountain regions. Check road and weather updates before each drive.
Children under six must use a child seat in Japan. Ask the rental company to add the right seat to your reservation, then check its fit when you collect the car.
Check the rental, insurance options, fuel, expressway tolls, parking and any one-way return fee. Include the rental rate, insurance options, fuel, expressway tolls, parking and any one-way rental fee. Check which items the quoted price includes.
Many expressways charge tolls. Drivers can pay at supported toll gates or use an ETC card with the car’s ETC device. Ask the rental company about card availability and fees before you set off.
Some companies allow one-way rentals, often with an extra fee and location restrictions. Check the return branch before you confirm your booking.
Confirm the car’s condition, fuel type and return policy. Set up navigation, check any ETC card or child seat, and save the rental company’s contact number.
For licence rules and current travel guidance, see the Japan National Tourism Organization’s guide to renting a car. Confirm licence documents with the issuing authority and rental company before travel.
KAWAII RENTAL · KAWAII-RENTAL.COM
Kawaii Rental brings local trip details together so you can compare a route and a rental with fewer surprises.
Where available, we link to airport, tourism, park and rental-provider information near the facts it supports.
Our guides flag the details that affect a real handover: licence documents, collection instructions, cover, fuel, ETC and vehicle condition.
Distances are estimates. Prices, fleet and seasonal access vary by date, branch and provider. Confirm the current terms before you travel.