Is my booking confirmed immediately?No. We first confirm vehicle availability and then send you a payment link by email. Your booking is confirmed once the payment is completed.
Do you support languages other than English?Yes. Message us on WhatsApp in whatever language you are comfortable with, for example Korean, Chinese, Spanish, French or German, and we will reply in that language. Booking pages and documents are in English.
What is the minimum rental period?Two days (48 hours). Online requests must be submitted at least 24 hours before pick-up. For pick-up within 24 hours, message us on WhatsApp and we will check what is possible.
Can I book a car for today, or for pick-up within 24 hours?Yes, if a car is free. Online bookings close 24 hours before pick-up, so for a same-day pick-up or any pick-up within 24 hours, please message us on WhatsApp. Once your booking is confirmed (car available and payment completed), please allow at least this much time before the handover: between 08:00 and 20:00, 2 hours for Haneda Airport and central Tokyo and 3 hours for Narita Airport; before 08:00 or after 20:00, 1.5 hours for Haneda Airport and central Tokyo and 2 hours for Narita Airport (the off-hours fee applies). Our staff drive the car to you from Hachioji, so heavy traffic can sometimes cause a delay. If that happens, we will keep you updated on WhatsApp. Thank you for your understanding.
How do I pay?By credit or debit card through a secure Stripe payment link. If you pick up and return the car at our Hachioji office, you can instead choose to pay the rental fee and the security deposit in cash at the office when you collect the car (except the 4WD Camper with Roof Tent, which is paid online only). Cash is not available for airport or hotel delivery. Tolls, fuel adjustments and other post-rental charges are settled from the security deposit after the return.
How much is the security deposit and when is it taken?The deposit is ¥50,000 for 5-seat cars, ¥100,000 for 7–8 seat minivans, the 10-seater and our other 4WD vehicles, and ¥150,000 for the Luxury Minivan 4WD (Toyota Alphard). With a credit card it is a pre-authorisation (hold): we send the deposit link within three days before your pick-up, and the hold is released after the return once tolls, fuel and other charges are settled. A card hold lasts up to about 30 days (shorter for some cards such as American Express). If your rental is longer than the hold can last, the deposit is charged and refunded to the same card after the return, minus tolls, fuel and other charges. Debit and prepaid cards are charged and refunded in the same way. The card you use for the deposit is saved securely with Stripe for your rental and is used only for a parking fine (放置違反金) from your rental, because these notices can reach us a month or more later: we first send you a copy of the official notice, then charge only the amount of the fine (no fee), within 90 days of the return. Speeding and other offences that require the driver in person are never charged to your card.
Can I cancel after payment?Yes. Before payment cancellation is free. After payment, if you cancel 72 hours or more before pick-up, the cancellation fee is ¥6,600 (¥7,700 in peak season) plus 4% of the amount paid, which covers the card processing fee that is not returned to us when we refund. Within 72 hours, up to the full basic rental fee may be charged. Rentals of 30 days or more use long-term terms instead: ¥6,600 plus 4% of the amount paid if you cancel 30 or more days before pick-up, 10% of the booking total 8–29 days before, 20% from 7 days to 72 hours before, 30% within 72 hours, and 50% for a no-show. Unused days after an early return are not refunded. See Cancellation & Changes for details.
Can I change dates, car class or pick-up location?Yes, subject to availability. Contact us before pick-up and we will recalculate the price. If the new amount is higher we send an additional payment link; if lower, the refund depends on timing and preparation status.
Does every driver need their own pre-check-in link?No. There is one pre-check-in link per booking, and it can be submitted only once. The form has a section for each driver: upload the passport, driving licence (front and back) and IDP or official translation for all drivers before you submit. For the IDP we need the photo page and also the page showing the date of issue and validity (the photo page alone is not enough): the form has a separate upload field for each of the two pages.
We are 6 adults and 2 children. Can we all ride in an 8-seat car?Yes, in a car with 8 seats. Every person, including children, needs their own seat with a seat belt, and children under 6 must use a child seat (¥550 per seat per day, up to 3 per booking). Our minivan class includes 7- and 8-seat models, so please write in the booking notes that you need 8 seats: we will then always provide an 8-seat car. You may also tell us which model you would like and we will do our best, but we guarantee the class and seat count, not a specific model: in special cases, for example if the requested car breaks down, we provide an 8-seat car of the same class from another brand. With 8 people luggage space is limited, so please also tell us how many suitcases you have.
When is peak season, and how is it charged?A peak-season surcharge applies when your pick-up date falls in a peak period, for example the year-end and New Year period from 25 December to 11 January. It is charged per day for the whole rental: ¥1,100/day for most cars and ¥2,200/day for the 4WD Van and the 4WD Camper with Roof Tent. In peak season the cancellation fee for cancelling 72 hours or more before pick-up is ¥7,700 instead of ¥6,600 (plus 4% of the amount paid in both cases).
Can I rent a car in Japan with a US driver's licence?Yes. You need your original US state licence, your passport, and an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention by AAA or AATA. The IDP is valid for one year from its issue date, and in Japan it must be used within one year of your arrival.
Which countries can drive in Japan without an IDP?Licence holders from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan can drive with their original licence plus an official Japanese translation (from the JAF or their embassy or consulate). The translation must match your current licence: if the licence has been renewed, get a new translation (JAF can issue it online). It can be used for up to one year after you enter Japan as a visitor; we check the entry date on your passport. IDPs issued in these six countries and regions are not valid in Japan, so the translation is required. Everyone else needs a 1949 Geneva Convention IDP together with the original licence, and only IDPs from countries that issue the Geneva format are valid (see the next questions).
How do I get the official Japanese translation from JAF, and how long does it take?Apply online on JAF’s Driver’s License Translation Application Site (translation.jaf.or.jp): upload photos of the front and back of your licence and pay JAF’s fee by card (currently ¥6,000, plus ¥20 per page to print it). When it is ready, JAF emails a print code and you print the translation at a 7-Eleven in Japan. The site only opens from a network in Japan, and the print code is valid for one week. JAF quotes an average of 2–3 business days and does not promise same-day issuance, but in our recent experience applications submitted on a weekday morning were often ready the same day, and afternoon applications by the next morning. We can apply on your behalf for free, which is handy because the site does not work from abroad: you only pay the costs (JAF’s fee plus the online card processing fee, about ¥6,300 per licence in total), send us clear photos or a scan of the front and back of your licence, and we print the translation and bring it with the car.
Is an IDP issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention accepted in Japan?No. Japan only recognises IDPs issued in the 1949 Geneva Convention format by a country that is a party to that convention. A Vienna-format IDP, a digital IDP, or a mainland China licence cannot be used for self-drive rental in Japan. France, Belgium, Monaco, Switzerland, Russia and Vietnam issue Vienna-format IDPs only. Some countries, such as the UK, Thailand and the Philippines, issue both kinds: make sure the cover of yours says "Convention on Road Traffic of 19 September 1949".
Can I drive in Japan with an Indonesian or Vietnamese licence and an IDP?No. Indonesia and Vietnam are not parties to the 1949 Geneva Convention (Vietnam issues Vienna-format IDPs), so IDPs issued there are not valid in Japan, and Japan does not accept a Japanese translation for these licences. Driving with them in Japan counts as driving without a licence. The same applies to licences from Brazil, Mongolia, Myanmar, Russia and mainland China. If you also hold a licence from another country that issues the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP, you can rent with that licence and its IDP.
My licence says I must wear corrective lenses. Are contact lenses fine?Yes. The condition means corrective lenses of any kind, so contact lenses satisfy it. Please have your glasses or contacts with you whenever you drive.
Can I add a second driver?Yes, additional drivers are free. Every driver must be registered and approved before pick-up: upload all drivers' documents in the one pre-check-in for your booking. If a driver is added later (for example their IDP is not ready yet), send their passport, licence (front and back) and IDP photos on WhatsApp by the day before pick-up at the latest, and we register them. Unregistered drivers are not covered by insurance and may not drive the car.
Why do I have to upload my passport in the pre-check-in?In Japan, a visitor can drive with a foreign licence and an IDP or official translation only within one year of entering Japan, and the documents must belong to the driver. We check each driver's passport to confirm their identity (the name and date of birth must match the licence and IDP) and their entry date. Please also bring the original passport at pick-up.
I renewed my licence after getting the Japanese translation. Can I still use the old translation?No. The official Japanese translation must match your current licence. If your licence has been renewed since the translation was issued, get a new translation before your trip; JAF can issue it online. This applies to licences from France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan.
Can I use my Malaysian digital driving licence (MyJPJ app)?Yes. A valid Malaysian digital driving licence in the official MyJPJ app is accepted together with a valid 1949 Geneva Convention IDP and your passport. In the pre-check-in, upload screenshots of the front and back of the digital licence from the app, and at pick-up show the licence in the app.
My Malaysian licence says Class D. Can I drive your 10-seater van?Only if box D is stamped on your International Driving Permit. "Class D" on a Malaysian licence is an ordinary car licence and usually appears as Category B on the IDP, which covers vehicles with up to 8 seats in addition to the driver. A 10-seat van needs Category D on the IDP itself, so please send us a photo of your IDP category page before booking. With Category B only, an 8-seat minivan is the right choice.
Can you deliver the car to Haneda Airport?Yes. We deliver to and collect from Haneda Airport (Terminals 1, 2 and 3) for ¥4,500 per one-way. Tell us your flight number: we park the car in the car park building of your arrival terminal (Terminal 1, Terminal 2, or P5 at Terminal 3), which is connected to the arrivals hall by a walkway, so it is very convenient. Before you land we send you the pick-up guide with the exact spot and the key-box code, so you can pick up the car yourself without waiting for staff. The 4WD Camper with Roof Tent is handed over in person at the open-air car park next to P5.
Can you deliver the car to my hotel in Tokyo?Yes, to hotels and Airbnbs in Tokyo's 23 wards, for ¥4,500 per one-way. If the hotel has a car park, we can leave the car there for you to pick up yourself with our pick-up guide, or hand it over in person at the hotel entrance; if there is no car park, we hand it over in person at the agreed time. Hotel and other parking fees during your rental are paid by you. Handovers before 08:00 or after 20:00 are arranged with you in advance and cost ¥2,200 each.
My Airbnb or hotel has no car park. How does the handover work, and where do I park at night?Our staff meet you at the entrance of your accommodation at the agreed time and hand over the car in person, and collect it the same way at the end. Parking during your rental, including overnight, is arranged and paid by you, usually in a nearby coin car park (コインパーキング). Many central Tokyo hotels only have mechanical or tower car parks with height limits, so please check before you book. Handovers before 08:00 or after 20:00 are arranged with you in advance and cost ¥2,200 each.
Can you deliver the car to Narita Airport?Yes. We deliver to and collect from Narita Airport (Terminals 1, 2 and 3) for ¥9,000 per one-way. Narita is about twice as far from our depot as Haneda, so the fee is higher. If you pick up and return at Narita, the round trip is ¥15,000. A Tokyo hotel pick-up plus a Narita drop-off is ¥4,500 + ¥9,000 = ¥13,500 in total.
Can I pick up or return the car outside Tokyo's 23 wards, for example near Tokyo Disney Resort or in Osaka?Our delivery area is Tokyo's 23 wards (hotels and Airbnbs), Haneda Airport and Narita Airport, and you can also pick up the car at our shops in Hachioji. Hotels near Tokyo Disney Resort (Maihama, Urayasu, in Chiba just outside the 23 wards) are charged the same as Tokyo hotels: ¥4,500 per one-way. For other places, including a one-way return in another city such as Osaka, message us on WhatsApp with the address and dates and we will send you a quote.
What if my flight is delayed?Message us on WhatsApp as soon as you know. Because the car is already parked at the airport with a key box, a delay of a few hours usually needs no change at all. For long delays, and for the 4WD Camper with Roof Tent, which is handed over in person, we agree a new handover time with you.
Can you pick me up as a passenger?No. This is a self-drive rental service only. We deliver the car; we do not provide a driver.
Do I need winter tyres for Mt. Fuji in December?Yes. From December 1 to March 31 every one of our cars except the Kei Car runs on winter tyres. They come with the winter rate (from +¥1,100 per day, charged for at most 10 days in every 30 days; already included in the price of the 4WD Van and the 4WD Camper with Roof Tent) and cannot be removed. Around Mt. Fuji, Hakone and the mountain roads of Yamanashi and Nagano, some sections are closed to cars without winter tyres when it snows, and police check at the roadside. The Kei Car has normal tyres only this winter (no winter surcharge), so please choose another car for Mt. Fuji, ski areas or snowy roads.
Can a foreign visitor drive a 10-seater van in Japan?Only if your International Driving Permit shows Category D. Under the 1949 Geneva Convention, Category B covers vehicles with up to 8 seats in addition to the driver, so a 10-seat vehicle (driver + 9) requires Category D. Japanese police only recognise the categories stamped on the permit, and most visitors hold Category B only. We rent our 10-seat Toyota HiAce Wagon to drivers whose IDP shows Category D; please send us a photo of the category page before booking. A licence class called "D" on a home licence (for example Malaysia's Class D) is not IDP Category D, and a Taiwanese licence with a Japanese translation cannot be used for the 10-seater. With Category B only, groups of up to 8 can take an 8-seat minivan, and larger groups can rent two cars.
What is a kei car, and why rent one?A kei car (軽自動車) is Japan's own class of small car, with a 660 cc engine and a tall, boxy body. It is the car many locals drive every day: about one in three new cars sold in Japan is a kei car. Ours is the Honda N-WGN. It uses very little fuel, is easy to drive on narrow streets and to park, and pays lower expressway tolls than a regular car (about 20% less). It is our lowest rate, so the limited-time 10% offer and other discounts do not apply to it. This winter it has normal tyres only (no winter tyres from December to March), so it is for city and dry-road trips, not for snow or ski areas.
How many people and suitcases fit in the kei car?It is best for 2 people. With the rear seats folded, 2 people can fit up to 3 suitcases. It seats 4, but with 4 people there is room only for small bags. With 2 people it is fine on expressways and mountain roads such as Hakone or Nikko; it is just slower on long climbs.
Which fuel does my rental car take?Most of our cars take regular petrol (レギュラー, red nozzle). Our 4WD Van and 4WD Camper with Roof Tent run on diesel: fill them with 軽油 (keiyu), the green nozzle. Petrol in a diesel engine can cause serious damage, so if you are not sure, ask the station staff or message us before refuelling.
Do I need a 4WD car for a ski trip from Tokyo?Not always, but it helps. All our cars have winter tyres from December to March, which is the minimum on snowy roads. Roads up to resorts such as Yuzawa, Hakuba or Nozawa Onsen can be steep and icy, and four-wheel drive gives more grip when starting and climbing. When a chain restriction (チェーン規制) is in force, every vehicle must fit snow chains, including 4WD cars with winter tyres. Snow chains can be added as an option when you book.
Can I rent camping gear?Yes. A ground tent, bedding, a table and chairs, a kitchen set and a campfire set can be added to the 4WD Camper with Roof Tent and to the 4WD Van. Gear is priced per rental (the full set for four people is ¥13,200). Tell us what you need in the booking notes or on WhatsApp and we add it to your quote.
Where can I use the roof tent?Only at campsites and RV parks (RVパーク). Opening the tent on the road, in an ordinary car park or at a roadside station (道の駅) is not allowed. Check with the campsite in advance that you can drive onto your pitch and use a roof tent.
How many people can sleep in the roof tent, and how is the camper handed over?The roof tent sleeps 3 adults, or 2 adults and 2 children; the car itself seats 8. The camper is always handed over in person: it only takes a few minutes, and there is no key-box self pick-up. If you have not used a roof tent before, we send you a short how-to video together with the pick-up guide. The tent may be opened only at campsites and RV parks.
Is damage to the roof tent or camping gear covered by CDW/NOC?No. Damage to or loss of the roof tent or camping gear is not covered by CDW/NOC; repair or replacement costs are charged and can be taken from the ¥100,000 deposit. Camping gear itself is optional and priced per rental.
How are expressway tolls paid?Every car comes with an ETC toll card, so you drive through the purple ETC lanes without stopping. Tolls are added up after the rental, together with the 10% ETC card fee, and settled from your deposit.
What if I return the car late?Contact us before the contracted return time. Unauthorised late return may result in extra rental fees and a Non-Operation Charge because the next customer may be waiting for the car.
What happens if there is an accident?Stop safely, help anyone injured, call the police (110), then contact us on WhatsApp. Never settle privately. The insurance included in every rental covers other people and their property, and CDW/NOC cover (required unless you have arranged Own Coverage with us in advance) means you pay ¥0 for repairs to the rental car and ¥0 Non-Operation Charge for the first accident in your rental, including single-vehicle and at-fault accidents, as long as no traffic law was broken and the accident is reported to the police and to us. You pay the ¥50,000 excess for third-party property damage unless you added Zero Excess Support. CDW/NOC does not cover accidents involving a traffic violation (such as speeding, running a red light or drink-driving) or a second accident in the same rental, and insurance and CDW/NOC do not apply to unregistered drivers, drink-driving or unreported accidents.
What should I do if I have an accident outside business hours (before 08:00 or after 20:00)?Our office hours are 08:00 to 20:00, but you can get help at any time. 1) Stop safely, help anyone injured and call the police (110). 2) Call the insurance company on the emergency contact card in the car: the line is open 24 hours with English support, and you can also ask the police to help you contact the insurance company. 3) Leave us a message on WhatsApp with photos and your location. Our staff will contact you the next morning and help with the next steps. Never settle privately with the other party.
What if I get a flat tyre or a flat battery?Message us on WhatsApp first (08:00 to 20:00). Outside these hours, call the roadside assistance number on the emergency contact card in the car (24 hours, English available). Roadside assistance from our insurance company is free, for example jump-starting a flat battery, help with a flat tyre on the spot, and towing if the car cannot be driven. You pay for anything beyond the free service, such as a new tyre or a tyre repair at a shop, a new battery or a lost wheel cap, and for replacing a tyre that is returned sealed with a puncture repair kit. Flat tyres, tyre damage and a battery that has to be replaced because the lights were left on are not covered by CDW/NOC. If you call a different tow or repair company instead of our roadside assistance, the full cost is yours. Free roadside assistance also does not apply in cases the insurance excludes, such as an unregistered driver, an unreported accident or drink-driving. All our tyres and batteries are within their service life and are checked before every rental.
Is CDW/NOC cover required, and how much is it?Yes, it is required for every booking and added to your quote: ¥1,100/day for the Kei Car, ¥1,650/day for 5–6 seat cars, ¥2,200/day for 7–8 seat minivans, and ¥2,750/day for the 10-seater, the Luxury Minivan 4WD, the 4WD Van and the 4WD Camper with Roof Tent. For long rentals it is charged for at most 10 days in every 30 days. Zero Excess Support is optional (¥1,100/day, same cap) and waives the ¥50,000 excess for third-party property damage. The only exception is Own Coverage, arranged with us in advance, when your own insurance or credit card benefit covers the rental car (see the next question).
Can I use my credit card's rental car coverage (or my own insurance) instead of CDW/NOC?Often, yes. If your own insurance or credit card benefit pays for damage to the rental car itself and for loss of use in Japan, you can decline CDW/NOC by agreement with us ("Own Coverage"). Message us before booking with the coverage certificate or policy; we check it and register the booking for you, and you sign our Own Coverage Agreement. Conditions: the coverage must be valid in Japan and include the car type (the 4WD Van, a commercial cargo van, and the 4WD Camper with Roof Tent are not eligible; a policy that only reimburses an excess does not qualify); you pay the rental and the deposit by card online with the card that provides the coverage, and we save that card with Stripe for this rental; the refundable deposit is ¥100,000 for 5-seat cars, ¥200,000 for 7–8 seat minivans and ¥250,000 for the 10-seater and the Luxury Minivan 4WD. If the car is damaged, you pay us the actual costs first and then claim them from your insurer: the repair cost (itemised repair estimate, then the final invoice after the repair), loss of use (repair days × the standard daily rate), towing, and an accident handling fee of ¥11,000. When you return the car we give you an estimate of the repair cost and of the loss of use; it is deducted from your deposit, and you pay anything above the deposit on the spot (by card, online or in cash). The ¥50,000 excess for third-party property damage still applies unless you add Zero Excess Support, which you can add without CDW/NOC. We give you the documents insurers ask for, in English: the rental agreements, the repair estimate and invoice, photos, a demand letter, a loss-of-use statement, and help with the police accident certificate.
The coverage chart says the insurance does not cover the rental car or loss of use. Am I covered?Yes, through CDW/NOC. The insurance included in every rental covers other people and their property, but not repairs to the rental car or the Non-Operation Charge (NOC, the fee for the time the car cannot be rented); that is exactly what the CDW/NOC cover is for (or your own coverage, if you arranged Own Coverage with us). With CDW/NOC you pay ¥0 for both for the first accident in your rental, including single-vehicle and at-fault accidents, as long as no traffic law was broken, the accident is reported to the police and to us and the rental rules are followed. Not covered: accidents involving a traffic violation (such as speeding, running a red light, drunk or drug driving, or driving without a valid licence), hit-and-run or unreported accidents, unregistered drivers, private settlements or other breaches of the rental terms, a second or later accident in the same rental, seat belts or child seats not used correctly, driving off maintained roads, refuelling with the wrong fuel, snow chains or child seats fitted incorrectly, theft when the car was left unlocked, a battery replacement after the lights were left on, and tyre punctures or tyre damage. Apart from that, the only amount you pay is the ¥50,000 excess for damage to third-party property, which is waived if you add Zero Excess Support.
Do I have to refuel before returning the car?The car is delivered with a full tank and should be returned full. If you have no time to refuel (for example before a flight), you can return it as it is: we fill it up and deduct only the cost of the fuel from your deposit, with no service fee.
Our store in Hachioji, Tokyo
Compact Fit or similar¥4,800/day+ CDW/NOC ¥1,650/day5 seats2-3 suitcasesGasoline
Compact Hybrid Fit Hybrid or similar¥5,500/day+ CDW/NOC ¥1,650/day5 seats2-3 suitcasesHybrid
Kei Car Honda N-WGN or similar¥3,600/day+ CDW/NOC ¥1,100/day4 seatsUp to 3 suitcases with 2 peopleGasoline
Compact Hybrid Wagon Freed Spike Hybrid or similar¥6,000/day+ CDW/NOC ¥1,650/day5 seats3 suitcasesHybrid
Minivan Stepwgn / Serena or similar¥8,800/day+ CDW/NOC ¥2,200/day7-8 seats4-6 suitcasesGasoline
Minivan Hybrid Serena Hybrid or similar¥9,900/day+ CDW/NOC ¥2,200/day7-8 seats4-6 suitcasesHybrid
4WD Van Toyota Hiace Van 4WD¥15,400/day+ CDW/NOC ¥2,750/day5 seats4WDSkis, boards & gearDieselNOVA BASECAMP: camping & 4WD trips →
Luxury Minivan 4WD Toyota Alphard Hybrid E-Four¥16,500/day+ CDW/NOC ¥2,750/day7 seats4WD3 suitcases with 7 peopleHybrid
4WD Camper with Roof Tent Mitsubishi Delica D:5 · NOVA BASECAMP¥19,800/day+ CDW/NOC ¥2,750/day8 seats4WDSleeps 3 in the roof tentDieselNOVA BASECAMP: camping & 4WD trips →
10-Seater Van Toyota HiAce Wagon GL (standard body)¥16,500/day+ CDW/NOC ¥2,750/day10 seats2WDLimited with 10 people; more with 6-7GasolineIDP Category D required