Driving in Japan: Unlocking Hidden Japan
Japan’s bullet trains are famous, but the country’s rural interior — its mountain passes, hidden onsen valleys, coastal cliff roads, and agricultural landscapes — is best explored by car. Driving in Japan is genuinely straightforward for most foreign visitors: roads are well-maintained and clearly signposted (often in English), traffic behaviour is disciplined, and toll road networks make long-distance driving fast. A self-drive road trip unlocks a Japan that train passengers simply cannot access.
Driving Requirements for Foreign Visitors
- International Driving Permit (IDP) — Required for most foreign nationals. Japan accepts the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP. Some countries (notably France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Monaco, Taiwan) do not need an IDP; their domestic licence with a certified Japanese translation is accepted instead. Obtain your IDP from your home country’s automobile association before departure.
- Minimum age — 18 years old. Most rental companies require drivers to be 21 or older; some require 25+.
- Drive side — Japan drives on the left, same as the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Right-hand-drive vehicles are standard.
- Speed limits — Urban: 40–60 km/h. Highways: 100–120 km/h. Expressways are well-policed; GPS helps confirm limits.
- Toll roads — Japan’s expressway network is a toll system. Most rental cars come equipped with an ETC card (electronic toll collection) — confirm when booking. Cash lanes are available but slower.
- Alcohol limit — Zero tolerance. Do not drive after any alcohol consumption.
Car Rental Tips
- Major providers include Toyota Rent a Car, Nippon Rent-A-Car, Times Car, OTS (Okinawa), and international chains. Book in advance for peak periods (Golden Week, Obon, autumn foliage season).
- Japanese “compact” cars (kei cars, subcompacts) are often the most practical for mountain roads; larger vehicles may struggle on narrow rural lanes.
- GPS devices are standard; many rental cars now have English-language navigation. Confirm the language setting when picking up the car.
- Petrol stations in rural Hokkaido and remote areas may be far apart; top up when the opportunity arises.
- Most rental car companies offer one-way rentals between major cities for a modest extra fee — a practical option for scenic drives that don’t loop back to the start.
Top Road Trip Routes
Hokkaido: The Northern Loop
Fly into Sapporo and drive east through Furano’s lavender fields (July), the Daisetsuzan mountain pass via Route 39, and into Akan and Shiretoko National Parks. Return via the Shiretoko Peninsula and Abashiri’s Sea of Okhotsk coast, or continue to Hakodate in the south. Allow 7–10 days for a full loop. Hokkaido roads are wide, well-surfaced, and comparatively uncrowded — driving conditions are excellent outside winter.
San’in Coast: Honshu’s Hidden Pacific North
The Sea of Japan coast of Honshu — Tottori, Shimane, Yamaguchi — is one of Japan’s least-visited yet most rewarding regions. Drive west from Tottori (famous for its massive sand dunes) past Matsue and its feudal castle, to Izumo Taisha (Japan’s oldest and most important Shinto shrine), and continue to Hagi and Tsuwano in the mountains. The Sanin Kinsen Furusato Highway runs along dramatic sea cliffs. Allow 5–7 days.
Kii Peninsula: Ancient Pilgrimage Country
The mountainous Kii Peninsula in Wakayama and Mie is Japan’s spiritual heartland. Drive from Osaka south through Koya-san, then along the Kumano Kodo pilgrimage roads to the Kumano Sanzan shrines, continuing to Cape Shiono-misaki (Japan’s southernmost point on Honshu) and around to Ise-Jingu. Spectacular forest roads, sea views, and onsen throughout. Allow 4–5 days minimum.
Okinawa Island and the Yaeyamas
On Okinawa’s main island, the Kokusai-dori corridor is congested but the north (Yanbaru) is excellent for driving — remote beaches, mangrove rivers, and the subtropical forest of Yanbaru National Park. For Ishigaki and Iriomote, rent cars or scooters on each island; roads are narrow but the scenery (jungle rivers, coral beaches) is exceptional. ETC cards work across most of Japan including Okinawa.
Kyushu: Aso and the Volcanic Interior
Drive from Fukuoka south through Aso’s caldera (the world’s largest active volcanic caldera, with a grass-covered crater floor you can drive across) to the onsen city of Beppu on the east coast, then south to Kagoshima and Sakurajima. The Yamanami Highway between Aso and Beppu is one of Japan’s finest scenic drives. Allow 4–6 days for a southern Kyushu loop.
Related Pages
More transport: Japan Rail Pass | Driving in Japan (Residents) | Hokkaido Guide | Kyushu Guide | Japan Travel Hub