Japan is a highly developed Asian state with an original culture, a long history and traditions . Going to travel alone in the Land of the Rising Sun, many tourists are interested in how to rent a car.
What is important to know?
Renting a car in Japan is quite difficult, but possible. The main reason for the difficulties is the differences in international law. The fact is that among the local population they belong to the Geneva Convention, and among the inhabitants of the CIS countries - to the Vienna Convention.
To be able to travel through the territory of the state by car, you will need to take an examination on your rights once again upon arrival. Most companies that carry out car rental in Japan do not check the driver's documents. They believe that travelers are required to know the local laws.
Some tourists risk and take the car on their documents, but this is fraught with heavy fines (from $ 170) and legal proceedings. You can also rent a car in Japan with the help of a guide. In this case, he must have local rights.
One of the ways of self-relocation in the country is a car together with a driver. Such services are offered by various companies that organize group or individual tours (My Tokyo guide). They are relevant for those who do not want to use public transport and can not control the car.
In order to rent a car, travelers should know and take into account some of the subtleties:
- At the rental offices, they mostly speak and fill out the documents in Japanese. English is known in companies that work in international airports .
- In most machines, a local language navigator is installed, keep this in mind before processing the documents.
- Signs and signs on the roads are written either in 2 languages, or only in Japanese.
- The movement in the country is left-handed, which for many is also unusual.
Where to rent a car and how much does it cost?
To make a lease, a tourist will need: a passport, a credit card, a driving experience of 1 year and a driver's age of at least 18 years. For travelers in the country there is a huge number of rental points where you can take a car. The most popular of them are:
- Nippon Rent-a-ca is the most popular network in the state, in which there are a variety of cars;
- Orix - here you can take cars of different brands;
- Toyota Rent-a-car - at the point of issuing machines from Toyota;
- Nissan Rent-a-car - here you can rent a car brand Nissan.
Such European rental sites, like Avis and Hertz, are practically not developed here.
The cost of renting a car in Japan depends on the capacity, brand and number of days of use. For example, a small car for 4 people will cost about $ 115 per day, and minivan will cost about $ 250. The price does not include insurance, without which it is strictly prohibited to travel around the country (the penalty is up to $ 885). Some firms may provide a discount if the car is taken for a long time.
Terms of car rent in Japan
Before signing the contract, it must be carefully read, inspect the interior for scratches and damage, check the presence of a first aid kit, emergency sign, fire extinguisher and spare. Many companies require a deposit for the car, which is the cost of renting. It can be paid in cash or by credit card. In the second case, this amount on the account will be frozen until you return the car.
The car is always issued with a full tank of gasoline, it is necessary to return it in the same condition, so as not to pay a fine. If you return the car before the agreed time, you will also pay a penalty.
All penalties must be paid within a week at any post office. Rent a car in Japan makes sense if you travel through the countryside, and in large cities because of the high cost and endless traffic jams it is not profitable.
Parking in Japan
All parking in the country is paid and equipped with special machines. There are 2 types of parking:
- Municipal - leave the car here for 40-60 minutes. After that, you need to either leave the parking lot, or leave, and then return. The place is paid in advance, the receipt is attached to the windshield. The cost varies depending on the location: on the outskirts of the city the price is $ 1.5, and in the center - $ 6 per hour.
- Private are multi-storey parking lots that have several levels underground and are equipped with outboard systems. At the entrance there is a reversal disk, which moves the car in the opposite direction, so that it would be more convenient to leave the parking lot. Here, in addition to machine guns, there are employees who monitor the safety of the machine. The cost is from $ 9 per hour.
- Some parking do not accept payment at night, and after 03:00 the cars located here take evacuators.
Features of traffic rules
In Japan, when renting a car, it should be borne in mind that many routes are paid, and the prices are quite high. For example, the road from Narita Airport to the center of the capital will cost about $ 25. Payment is made at the cashier at checkpoints or through the UTS system, which is installed in the cabin. It allows you to travel without stops on the barriers.
Nuances in the rules of the road:
- If you leave the car for a couple of minutes in the wrong place, then you will immediately be fined.
- The road patrol in the country works all over the place.
- If the driver is drunk while driving, he will be stripped of his rights, and even the passengers will be fined.
- In the car there should be absolutely everything, a penalty of $ 440.
- For babies it is necessary to have a child seat.
- Traffic jams in cities are long and permanent.
In Japan, there are 2 grades of gasoline: PRE MIUM and REGULAR, the price of the latter is $ 1.5 per 1 liter. There are 2 types of gas stations in the country: automatic and conventional. On the first staff there, and refuel the tank yourself. Payment is through a terminal, which often only has a Japanese menu.