)}
Inside Tokyo the trains are faster than any car, but a hire car opens up everything around it: Mount Fuji and its lakes, the hot springs of Hakone, the temples of Nikko and the coast at Kamakura. Pick up at the airport or in the city and head out.
Car hire prices in Tokyo
From, total for 7 days
| Pick-up point | Small | Mid-size | Large / SUV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Haneda Airport | €461 | €494 | €655 |
| Tokyo Narita Airport | €461 | €494 | €974 |
| Tokyo city | €360 | €583 | €561 |
| Shinjuku | €560 | €759 | €822 |
| Yokohama | €360 | €494 | €561 |
Total for a 7-day rental, fully insured with everything included. Rates vary by car, availability and how far ahead you book. Updated 10 November 2026. About this price
What's included in the price
Excess refunded in full
If the desk charges the excess after damage, Sunny Cars refunds it.
- Collision damage and theft cover
- Damage to windows, tyres, roof and undercarriage
- Lost or damaged keys and towing after an accident or breakdown
- Third-party liability, topped up to €10 million
- Unlimited mileage
- Local taxes and airport fees
- Fair fuel policy: return the car with the fuel level you picked it up with
Not included: Expressway tolls (an ETC card is available at the desk); fuel; child seats and other extras you add at the desk; traffic fines and parking.
What to bring
- Driving licence
- Your own licence held for at least 1 year, plus an International Driving Permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention. Licences from Belgium, France, Germany, Monaco, Switzerland and Taiwan need an official Japanese translation instead.
- Credit card
- In the main driver’s name, for the deposit.
- Deposit
- Up to about €284 (50,000 yen), held on a credit card in the main driver's name. Some cars at Tokyo Haneda Airport, Tokyo Narita Airport and Yokohama have no deposit.
- Driver age
- From 18 on selected cars, from 21 on the others. Each car shows its age limits before you book.
- Additional driver
- Included with every car.
Picking up your car in Tokyo
You can collect your car at Haneda Airport, Narita Airport, in central Tokyo, in Shinjuku or in Yokohama. Haneda is close to the city; Narita is about an hour to the east. If you spend the first days in Tokyo itself, pick up the car on the day you leave the city: parking in Tokyo is scarce and expensive.
Free cancellation
Cancel free of charge up to 1 hour before your rental starts. After that, the full price of the booking applies.
Driving in Japan
- Traffic drives on the left. Most hire cars in Japan are automatics.
- Sort out your licence before you fly. Most licences, including those from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, need an International Driving Permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention. Licences from Belgium, France, Germany, Monaco, Switzerland and Taiwan need an official Japanese translation from JAF, the Japan Automobile Federation. Without it the desk cannot hand over the car.
- Tolls are paid by card. The expressways around Tokyo charge tolls. An ETC card from the rental desk, for a small fee, lets you drive through the toll gates without stopping.
- Speed limits are low. Usually 80 to 100 km/h on expressways and 40 to 60 km/h in towns, and they are enforced.
Frequently asked questions
How much does car hire in Tokyo cost?
A week of car hire in Tokyo starts at €360 for a small car, €494 for a mid-size car and €561 for a large car or SUV. That is the total for seven days, fully insured with everything included. Rates vary by car, availability and how far ahead you book. Updated 10 November 2026.
Is there an excess when I hire a car in Tokyo?
Excess refunded in full. If the desk charges the excess after damage, Sunny Cars refunds it. Updated 10 November 2026.
Can I cancel my car hire in Tokyo for free?
Yes. Cancel free of charge up to 1 hour before your rental starts. After that, the full price of the booking applies.
Do I need a credit card to hire a car in Tokyo?
Yes. Up to about €284 (50,000 yen), held on a credit card in the main driver's name. Some cars at Tokyo Haneda Airport, Tokyo Narita Airport and Yokohama have no deposit.
Which driving licence do I need to hire a car in Tokyo?
Your own licence plus either an International Driving Permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention, or, for licences from Belgium, France, Germany, Monaco, Switzerland and Taiwan, an official Japanese translation from JAF. Arrange this before you travel; the desk cannot hand over the car without it.
Is it worth hiring a car in Tokyo?
For the city itself, the trains are quicker and parking is expensive. A car is worth it for trips out of Tokyo, to Mount Fuji, Hakone, Nikko or the coast, where public transport is slower and less frequent.
How do I pay tolls in Japan?
Ask for an ETC card at the rental desk. It records the tolls as you drive through the gates, and you settle them when you return the car.
Day trips by car
- Mount Fuji and Lake Kawaguchi, about 2 hours west, for the classic view of the mountain across the water.
- Hakone, hot springs, lakes and views of Fuji, about 1.5 to 2 hours south-west.
- Nikko, the shrines and waterfalls in the mountains, about 2.5 hours north.
- Kamakura, the Great Buddha and the beaches of the Shonan coast, about 1 hour south.
When to go
Spring, with cherry blossom from late March, and autumn, with clear skies and red leaves in November, are the best seasons for a road trip. Summer is hot and humid, and winter is dry and cold, with the clearest views of Fuji.