Out of all possible transportation options available in Tokyo, I would suggest not using car the most. Renting a car in Tokyo is expensive, paying for parking is expensive. It’s slow, inefficient a hassle and their is very little benefit from renting or using a car in Tokyo. The only time I might recommend renting a car is for occasions in which you arrive in Tokyo and plan to drive away from the city right away.
Car’s in Japan drive on the left side, similar to the United Kingdom’s road’s, so drivers from Canada and the United states would have to adapt to the Japanese style. Japanese roads and highways are also know for their high toll’s which sometimes make it cheaper to fly then ride a car for what many would consider a close distance trip.
Requirements to be allowed to drive a car include:
- Possessing a passport
- Driver’s licence from country of origin
- An international driver’s licence
- Basic knowledge of Japanese roads would be helpful but is not required. You can read the rules in English here