Travel Japan on your own, with less to worry about.
What to know before you go — and what to do when something goes wrong. Driving, eating out and places to stay, from official sources.
The Short Answer
In trouble right now?
- Japan Emergency Numbers (110, 119) and Japanese Phrases for Accidents and Breakdowns
- Breakdown, Flat Tire, Dead Battery, Locked-In Key, Out of Gas
- If Your Car Stops on the Expressway
- If You Get Stuck at a Toll Booth
- When Something Goes Wrong in a Japanese Parking Lot
- Forgot Your License, or Turned Away at the Counter
Before you go
Start with one article per topic.
- Driving in Japan as a Tourist
- How to Choose a Rental Car Company in Japan as a Foreign Visitor
- Rental Car Insurance in Japan (CDW and NOC)
- Japanese Road Signs and Their Meanings
- Japan’s Expressways
- How to Get Gas in Japan
- Parking in Japan Comes in Three Types (駐車場)
- Driving in Japan in Winter, Hokkaido Included
- How to Order at a Restaurant in Japan
- Places to Stay in Japan Come in 4 Types
Common worries
- Can I drive in Japan with my license from home?
- Why does the same car show several prices?
- I bought full coverage — can I still end up paying?
- What if a sign is only in Japanese?
- How do I pay at a Japanese parking lot?
- Can I eat out without speaking Japanese?
- What if I can’t go into the shared bath?
Driving to a famous spot?
Where to park, and whether to drive at all.
All topics
Driving in Japan
- License & permits (5 articles)
- Choosing a rental car (9 articles)
- Insurance & coverage (5 articles)
- Road signs (6 articles)
- Expressways & ETC (5 articles)
- Gas stations (8 articles)
- Parking (19 articles)
- Accidents & breakdowns (6 articles)
- Snow & winter driving (6 articles)
- Eating out (15 articles)
- Places to stay (20 articles)
- Phones & internet (8 articles)
- Convenience Stores (1 article)
- Trains & Rail Passes (5 articles)
- Tours & Day Trips (3 articles)
- Seasons (2 articles)
- Shopping & Money (2 articles)
- Anime & Otaku Japan (6 articles)
- Itineraries (2 articles)
- Ski & Snow (2 articles)
- Japan from India (3 articles)
How we write
Every article is based on official and primary sources — government agencies, road operators, rental companies and local tourism offices — and lists them at the end.
Rules and prices change. Each article shows when it was checked, and we update it when the sources change.