Japan Road Trip Planner

Best times vary by experience: Spring (Late March-May) - Cherry blossom season, mild weather, most popular but crowded. Summer (June-August) - Festival season, hot and humid, typhoon risk in southern regions. Fall (September-November) - Autumn foliage, pleasant temperatures, excellent visibility of Mount Fuji. Winter (December-February) - Snow festivals in Hokkaido, fewer tourists, skiing opportunities, challenging driving conditions in northern regions.

Yes, absolutely required. International visitors must have: International Driving Permit (IDP) issued in your home country before arrival, valid passport, home country driver's license. Japan does not accept foreign licenses alone. Get IDP from your country's automobile association before departure. Also note: Japan drives on the left side of the road, GPS navigation essential (many roads lack English signs), ETC card useful for expressway tolls.

Average Japan road trip costs: Budget (¥12,000-18,000/day or $80-120 USD), Mid-range (¥25,000-40,000/day or $170-270 USD), Luxury (¥60,000+/day or $400+ USD). Costs include: Vehicle rental (¥5,000-15,000/day), Expressway tolls (expensive! ¥3,000-8,000/day), Fuel (¥150-170/liter), Accommodation (¥6,000-25,000/night), Food (¥3,000-8,000/day), Attractions (¥2,000-5,000/day). A 2-week trip typically costs ¥170,000-560,000 ($1,150-3,800 USD) per person. Tip: JR Pass may be cheaper than driving for some routes.

Essential Japan driving rules: Drive on LEFT side, steering wheel on right. Speed limits: 40-60 km/h urban, 80-100 km/h highways. Zero tolerance for alcohol (0.00% BAC). Must stop completely at stop signs. Parking: Never park on streets in cities (expensive fines), use paid parking lots. Etiquette: No honking except emergencies, extremely polite driving culture, wave to thank other drivers. Navigation: GPS essential (rent with English), many roads lack English signs. Expressway tolls expensive but roads excellent quality.

Depends on your route: Rent car for: Rural areas (Japanese Alps, Hokkaido, Okinawa), Multiple stops in countryside, Flexibility with luggage, Visiting remote onsen towns. Use trains for: Major city connections (Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka), JR Pass holders, Single destination trips, First-time visitors to major cities. Best approach: Combine both - trains for city-to-city, rent car locally for rural exploration. Note: Parking expensive/difficult in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka. Consider picking up car after leaving major cities.

Navigation essentials: GPS with English maps is MANDATORY - rent with car or use Google Maps (download offline). Road signs: Major highways have English, rural roads often Japanese only. Download translation app for signs. Expressway system: Excellent quality but expensive tolls (get ETC card for discount). Color coding: Blue = expressway, Green = national route, Prefecture routes vary. Key signs to recognize: 止まれ (tomare = STOP), 徐行 (jokō = slow), 一方通行 (ippō tsūkō = one way). Service areas (SA) and parking areas (PA) frequent on expressways with food, rest facilities.