4WD Van Rental in Tokyo: Toyota Hiace Van 4WD
Heading to the snow with skis, snowboards or a lot of luggage? Our Toyota Hiace Van has four-wheel drive, a 3.0 L diesel engine, seats for 5 and a long cargo area behind the second row. From ¥19,250 per day, including the required CDW/NOC cover and tax.
New in our fleet: available for pick-ups from 15 October 2026.
The vehicle
| Model | Toyota Hiace Van, 4WD |
|---|---|
| Seats | 5 including the driver |
| Engine / fuel | 3.0 L diesel, automatic. Refuel with 軽油 (keiyu), the green nozzle. |
| Luggage | Long cargo area behind the second row for skis, snowboards, suitcases and outdoor gear |
| Winter | Winter tyres from December 1 to March 31 (¥1,650/day) |
| Equipment | Navigation, ETC toll card reader, Bluetooth audio, non-smoking |
| Licence | Ordinary car licence (Geneva Category B) plus IDP or official translation. Every driver must have held a licence for at least 1 year. |
Snow trips from Tokyo
- Yuzawa, Naeba and GALA Yuzawa (Niigata): about 2.5 to 3 hours via the Kan-Etsu Expressway.
- Hakuba and Nozawa Onsen (Nagano): about 3.5 to 4.5 hours via the Chuo or Joshin-etsu Expressway.
- Fujiten Snow Resort and the Mt. Fuji area: about 1 to 1.5 hours from our Hachioji base.
Driving times are for normal conditions; snow, holiday traffic and chain checks can add a lot.
Driving on snow: what to know
- Four-wheel drive helps you start and climb on snow, but it does not shorten braking distances. Drive slowly and leave long gaps.
- When a chain restriction (チェーン規制) is in force on a road, every vehicle must fit snow chains, including 4WD cars with winter tyres. Ask us before your trip if you expect to need chains.
- Check road conditions and closures on the expressway companies' websites before you set off.
- If you are stuck or waiting in falling snow, keep the exhaust pipe clear or turn the engine off: a blocked exhaust can fill the cabin with carbon monoxide.
- In very cold areas, fill up locally. Diesel sold in snowy regions in winter is a cold-weather grade that does not thicken at low temperatures.
Example: 3 days, Tokyo hotel pick-up and return
| 4WD Van base rate | ¥15,400 × 3 days = ¥46,200 |
|---|---|
| CDW/NOC cover (required) | ¥3,850 × 3 days = ¥11,550 |
| Delivery / collection | ¥4,500 × 2 = ¥9,000 |
| Total (tax included) | ¥66,750 |
Excludes tolls, fuel, winter tyres in Dec–Mar (¥1,650/day), peak-season surcharge (¥2,200/day) and off-hours handover (¥2,200 per side outside 08:00–20:00). Promotions, if running, are applied automatically at booking. Refundable deposit: ¥100,000.
Related questions
The deposit is a card pre-authorisation: ¥50,000 for 5-seat cars, and ¥100,000 for 7–8 seat minivans and our 4WD vehicles. Because international card holds are only guaranteed for about 7 days, we send the deposit link within three days before your pick-up. The hold is released after the car is returned and post-rental charges are settled.
Yes. From December 1 to March 31 all our cars are fitted with winter tyres (from ¥1,100 per day). 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.
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.
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.
More guides
- Haneda Airport delivery
- Tokyo hotel delivery
- IDP & licence guide
- Roof-tent camper
- 10-seater vans: licence rules
- Mt. Fuji self-drive
- FAQ
NOVA Car Rental, Hachioji, Tokyo. Email hachioji@novarentacar.co.jp. All prices include tax; final approval is subject to document verification and vehicle availability.