Driving in Japan

[cpuer]

oh.. didn't know its possible... I rented from Toyota 2 years ago.. only the driver's credit card could be used as a "deposit"..


Had to overdraft as my limit was low..


take note of all these stuff.

Didn't sound like a rental company rule thingy, but its best to clarify still.

 

[oceanicmanta]

Is the Thai Airways check in counter in CTS particular about baggage weight? I don't have any status with the airline.

my recent trip, the flight was only half full so may not be representative:

the senior check in staff dint really add up the 6 pieces of luggages we had for 2 pax. I think we were mayb a couple of kgs over

they dint bother about our cabin bags either

other trips, we were within limits

dont think you'll get "budget airline" treatment ... just turn on your charm a little

but their security is very strict about suspicious or prohibited items ... no sweet talking

 

[zercab]

Can you get IDP with P Plate?

 

[oceanicmanta]

Can you get IDP with P Plate?

Call AA Singapore to ask.

 

[buzzmario]

hi , how about parking in Japan, i am planning self drive in Takamatsu (kagawa). just wonder how the payment for carparking. by cash or cash card like us, I guess ETC card cannot be use for carpark payment. thanks

 

[holee]

One type of public parking is
1) You drive into the lot and take note of the lot number on the ground
2) A barrier below the car will lift up and prevent the car from being driven
3) To pick up the car, first load all your shoppings into the car, then go to the payment booth (which is normally located at the entrance/exit).
4) Key in you lot number and pay the amount indicated using cash.
5) The barrier below the car will then go down, please remove your car before the barrier move up again.

Another type is,
1) Drive into the car park lot
2) Go to the cashier counter
3) Cashier will issue you a ticket and request you to handover the car keys
4) To collect your car, just product ticket and pay amount required.
5) Take your car keys and remove your car

Another type is, a man/woman will collect payment from you after you park your car. Normally its for a few hours of parking, sort of like per entry type.

 

[shawniiex]

Can you get IDP with P Plate?

can, been there done that

 

[Cheonga]

I am planning to drive in Hokkaido, from New Chitose Airport thru Noboribetsu and Hakodate to Otaru from 22nd to 25th Nov. Total car rental duration <72 hours.

Need some advice from experts for me, a newbie in self-drive in Japan:

1) Is it better to use the expressway during this end Autumn/beginning of Winter season and if so, is it worth getting the HEP (Hokkaido Expressway Pass)?

2) HEP is offered in package by days, such as 3 days, 4 days, etc. Do they count by dates or hours? By dates, mine would be 4 days, and by hours, 3 days so I am not sure which package should I sign up for.

3) The basic insurance package stated there is a 50K Yen deductible for collision coverage, and 50K Yen for non-operating charge, NOC, if the car cannot be driven to the drop-off point.
In the event of an accident, does that mean that my liability can be as much as 100K Yen, presuming the car can no longer be driven?

 

[oceanicmanta]

I am planning to drive in Hokkaido, from New Chitose Airport thru Noboribetsu and Hakodate to Otaru from 22nd to 25th Nov. Total car rental duration <72 hours.

Need some advice from experts for me, a newbie in self-drive in Japan:

1) Is it better to use the expressway during this end Autumn/beginning of Winter season and if so, is it worth getting the HEP (Hokkaido Expressway Pass)?

2) HEP is offered in package by days, such as 3 days, 4 days, etc. Do they count by dates or hours? By dates, mine would be 4 days, and by hours, 3 days so I am not sure which package should I sign up for.

3) The basic insurance package stated there is a 50K Yen deductible for collision coverage, and 50K Yen for non-operating charge, NOC, if the car cannot be driven to the drop-off point.
In the event of an accident, does that mean that my liability can be as much as 100K Yen, presuming the car can no longer be driven?

4 days seems a little rush for this itin. As such you shld take the Expressway to save time. From Hako to Otaru, half of journey does not have Eway.

Whether HEP is worth or not kind of depends where u r returning your car ...

A) if u r returning car at Otaru ... and

if the leg from Chitose to Hakodate falls on a weekend/public holiday, you can just rent a ETC card which gives u 30% discount on tolls

... this is the longest Eway leg and most costly. if can get 30% just on this leg, ETC shld be enuf and cost less than HEP

B) if u r returning your car at Chitose, then I think just get HEP bcos Otaru to Chitose is also quite far and costly via Expressway... and it's not on a weekend

HEP goes by calendar days matching your car period rental. Yours will be the 4D package

Re Insurance, besides Vehicle Damage Excess (CDW) 50k and NOC 20k/50k, there is also excess on Property Damage of 50k.

Your personal travel insurance may have cover for Rental Vehicle Excess to cover CDW and perhaps Personal Liability to cover Property Damage, but from policy wordings NOC may not be covered by Travel Insurance.

if u r in a group of 3-4, might as well get the full insurance which shld not cost much for just 4 days (maybe JPY 2-3k more per day) and for peace of mind.

use this to check the tolls http://dc.c-nexco.co.jp/dc/DriveCom...65&e_ic_cd=001&optCrTp=2&optSrt=time&ca=hokka

 

[Cheonga]

4 days seems a little rush for this itin. As such you shld take the Expressway to save time. From Hako to Otaru, half of journey does not have Eway.

Whether HEP is worth or not kind of depends where u r returning your car ...

A) if u r returning car at Otaru ... and

if the leg from Chitose to Hakodate falls on a weekend/public holiday, you can just rent a ETC card which gives u 30% discount on tolls

... this is the longest Eway leg and most costly. if can get 30% just on this leg, ETC shld be enuf and cost less than HEP

B) if u r returning your car at Chitose, then I think just get HEP bcos Otaru to Chitose is also quite far and costly via Expressway... and it's not on a weekend

HEP goes by calendar days matching your car period rental. Yours will be the 4D package

Re Insurance, besides Vehicle Damage Excess (CDW) 50k and NOC 20k/50k, there is also excess on Property Damage of 50k.

Your personal travel insurance may have cover for Rental Vehicle Excess to cover CDW and perhaps Personal Liability to cover Property Damage, but from policy wordings NOC may not be covered by Travel Insurance.

if u r in a group of 3-4, might as well get the full insurance which shld not cost much for just 4 days (maybe JPY 2-3k more per day) and for peace of mind.

use this to check the tolls http://dc.c-nexco.co.jp/dc/DriveCom...65&e_ic_cd=001&optCrTp=2&optSrt=time&ca=hokka

Thanks Oceanicmanta for your valuable advice.

We are a family of 4 travelling, with first night stop over at Noboribetsu before heading out to Hakodate the following Sat morning for 2 nights stay.
I will be dropping off the car at Otaru where we will turn to public transport to get around and thereafter to Sapporo and Chitose over a couple of days.

Heeding yr suggestions, I will just rent the ETC card and sign up for the full insurance package for a better peace of mind, even though my personal travel insurance does provide $1500 excess cover.

 

[oceanicmanta]

Thanks Oceanicmanta for your valuable advice.

We are a family of 4 travelling, with first night stop over at Noboribetsu before heading out to Hakodate the following Sat morning for 2 nights stay.
I will be dropping off the car at Otaru where we will turn to public transport to get around and thereafter to Sapporo and Chitose over a couple of days.

Heeding yr suggestions, I will just rent the ETC card and sign up for the full insurance package for a better peace of mind, even though my personal travel insurance does provide $1500 excess cover.

sorry my bad ... you shld be better off with a 4D HEP... after checking the toll fees :

Fri - Chitose to Nobo 1790
Sat - Nobo to Hako 2890 (after 30%)
Mon - Hako to Otaru 2720
Total = 7400 toll

vs

HEP = 6400

in late Nov, it gets dark around 5pm in Hokkaido so best to reach destinations early

 

[Cheonga]

sorry my bad ... you shld be better off with a 4D HEP... after checking the toll fees :

Fri - Chitose to Nobo 1790
Sat - Nobo to Hako 2890 (after 30%)
Mon - Hako to Otaru 2720
Total = 7400 toll

vs

HEP = 6400

in late Nov, it gets dark around 5pm in Hokkaido so best to reach destinations early

Thanks once again for taking the trouble for checking and pointing out.
Will get the HEP pass then!

 

[joanneklx]

Should I go for HEP?

Hi, I tried my very best to do research on getting HEP or not, but I got lost while doing it. Can anyone advise if I should get the HEP or not?

Our itinerary will be

Day 1
Pick up Car at New Chitose Airport
To Hotel Mystay Sapporo

Day 2
Set off to Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe
Return to Hotel Toyako Manseikaku Hotel Lakeside Terrace

Day 3
Silo viewing platform
Return to Hotel Noboribetsu Sekisui

Day 4
Jigokudani
Return to Hotel Mystay Sapporo

Day 5
Kokusai Ski Resort
Return to Sapporo to return the car

 

[oceanicmanta]

Hi, I tried my very best to do research on getting HEP or not, but I got lost while doing it. Can anyone advise if I should get the HEP or not?

Our itinerary will be

Day 1
Pick up Car at New Chitose Airport
To Hotel Mystay Sapporo

Day 2
Set off to Noboribetsu Marine Park Nixe
Return to Hotel Toyako Manseikaku Hotel Lakeside Terrace

Day 3
Silo viewing platform
Return to Hotel Noboribetsu Sekisui

Day 4
Jigokudani
Return to Hotel Mystay Sapporo

Day 5
Kokusai Ski Resort
Return to Sapporo to return the car

you could have proceeded directly to Toya/Nobo after picking up car from Chitose

still possible to change ?

 

[joanneklx]

Not too late but need to convince my travelling partner. will it save cost?

The reason why we put it at 2nd day is because we are worried about feeling tired from the flight.

 

[oceanicmanta]

Not too late but need to convince my travelling partner. will it save cost?

The reason why we put it at 2nd day is because we are worried about feeling tired from the flight.

what time does your flight arrive ?

going directly to Toya will save u overnight parking in Sapporo & expressway toll charges between Chitose to Sapporo (If u dont take Expressway, it takes 1 hour plus) .. u can have more time elsewhere other than Sapporo.

Sapporo to Nobo/Toya by Expressway will be costly as well.

Chitose to Lake Toya is quite manageable to drive, not much traffic at all (unlike driving into Sapporo, and then getting out)

these r some toll charges for parts of your itin :
Chitose to Sapporo JPY 1430
Chitose to Nobo JPY 2090
Sapporo to Nobo JPY 3350

if any leg falls on weekends/PH, you can get 30% off by renting a ETC card.

Alternatively, u can pick up car in Sapporo on Day 2 ... this would perhaps save on the drop-off charges as well ...

normally, I would not get the HEP for this route bcos the non-toll roads are pretty good.

However if u r going in winter, that's another consideration.

 

[joanneklx]

what time does your flight arrive ?

going directly to Toya will save u overnight parking in Sapporo & expressway toll charges between Chitose to Sapporo (If u dont take Expressway, it takes 1 hour plus) .. u can have more time elsewhere other than Sapporo.

Sapporo to Nobo/Toya by Expressway will be costly as well.

Chitose to Lake Toya is quite manageable to drive, not much traffic at all (unlike driving into Sapporo, and then getting out)

these r some toll charges for parts of your itin :
Chitose to Sapporo JPY 1430
Chitose to Nobo JPY 2090
Sapporo to Nobo JPY 3350

if any leg falls on weekends/PH, you can get 30% off by renting a ETC card.

Alternatively, u can pick up car in Sapporo on Day 2 ... this would perhaps save on the drop-off charges as well ...

normally, I would not get the HEP for this route bcos the non-toll roads are pretty good.

However if u r going in winter, that's another consideration.

Thank you for the breaking down of cost, we decided to take the non expressway route so that we can do a slow drive in the winter.

 

[Matt.Lee]

Any advise on which car rental company to use in Hokkaido? Any idea whats the rental charges like? Looking for a car to fit 4 pax - 2A2C.

 

[oceanicmanta]

Any advise on which car rental company to use in Hokkaido? Any idea whats the rental charges like? Looking for a car to fit 4 pax - 2A2C.

Compact car, per day about JPY 2000 - 3000 per day (excluding insurance)

use Jalan.net, a Japanese website, to search for car rental across many companies

can refer to separate thread on Hokkaido car rental here
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/japan-271/hokkaido-car-rental-5591963.html

 

[LPPLKPKB]

Any advise on which car rental company to use in Hokkaido? Any idea whats the rental charges like? Looking for a car to fit 4 pax - 2A2C.

Toyota Car Rentals and OTS Car Rentals are the two cos I use regularly. Toyota is a bit more expensive usually.

Just get the ETC and Express Pass lah, best deals in town. Japanese are so envy of our deals.