Renting a Car in Hiroshima

Oct 25, 2024

Renting a Car in Hiroshima

Want to explore Hiroshima by car? There are plenty of car hire options if you don’t want to go through the hassle of buying or importing a car after moving to the area. Hiroshima has some good public transport options but cars offer that added convenience. Renting means you can avoid the costs of maintaining your vehicle. Here’s what you should know.

Driving in Japan

Driving is popular in Japan and the country has good road infrastructure. Unlike most of the world, but similar to countries such as the UK and Australia, vehicles drive on the left side of the road in Japan, which means the steering wheel is on the right side. To drive in Japan, you need to be at least 18 years of age and will need to have a valid driving license. This means passing your Japanese driving test if you are a Japanese national. Foreigners can exchange their licenses, although the process depends on where you come from. You can check out Japan’s Road Traffic Act to learn more about driving rules and regulations. Speed limits vary from 30km/h on residential roads to 100km/h on freeways.

Requirements to Rent a Car in Hiroshima

The minimum requirement for car hire in Hiroshima is a valid driving license or international driving permit (IDP). In addition to this, most places will ask for a copy of your passport or valid ID if you are not a Japanese national. Bear in mind, although the legal driving age is 18, some companies may require you to be at least 21 or 25 years old. Basic insurance is typically covered by the car hire firm, but you can look into taking out extra coverage you wish. It’s a good idea to read through the rental T&Cs before making a decision on this.

How to Rent a Car in Hiroshima

You can rent a car in Hiroshima without too much hassle. Once you’ve chosen your car hire firm and vehicle you wish to rent, it’s usually just a case of making the booking and payment and then arranging to pick the car up. Most companies allow you to book everything online, but you can visit a depot if you prefer. You can book a car for a duration of your choosing, e.g. 24 hours, a week or longer, but bear in mind that you will usually be charged a penalty fee if you return the car late.

Car Hire Costs in Hiroshima

Rental costs vary according to car type but are typically between 7,000-10,000 yen a day on average. You can rent a small, cheap car from as little as 5,000 yen a day whereas a large vehicle that uses more energy can set you back up to 20,000 yen per day. Typically, you will pick the vehicle up with a full tank of petrol and will be expected to fill it back up before returning.

Check the latest car hire prices in Hiroshima here and the latest petrol prices here.

Car Rental Companies in Hiroshima

Popular vehicle rental firms in Hiroshima include:

• Europcar
• Hertz
• Momondo
• Nippon Rent-A-Car
• ORIX
• Times Car Rental

Mj-bird, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons