Every country has different traffic regulations.
Please see the Japanese 'Violation of Traffice Reguration' below:

Part 3. Rent-a-car

To rent a car in Japanese, the following items are required.
* Driver’s license valid in Japan
* Passport
* Credit card

When a customer rents a car:
1.        Making reservation
Though you can reserve a car by calling a reservation center
of leasing company or by visiting a branch location directly,
it will be easier and convenient for you to reserve a car through a
reservation center because you can talk to a person who can speak
English. There is few company’s staff to speak English at branch offices.

The following information should be given to the company’ staff
of a reservation center.

- Your name
- Phone number for contact
- Departure or arrival date and time
- Location for departure and for arrival
- Desired options (4WD vehicle, or other features)
- Number of passengers riding on the car
   If there is a child under 6 years of age, a child seat will be provided.

2.       When coming to a location:
- Tell that the clerk that you have a reservation.
- A contract will be prepared, which you should check
  and sign.
- Prepay an estimated amount
- Check the car for scratches and dents, etc. and cleanliness.

3.  When returning a car:
- Fill the tank with fuel at a nearby gas station or pay at the
  return location for the gas used as determined by the
  calculation formula based on the mileage.
- Check if any personal effects are left inside the car and
  return the car to the scheduled rental location.
- Together with a rental location staff member, check the car
  for scratches, dents, etc.
  If you used the car longer than originally scheduled,
  then pay the additional amount.

4.  Reservation changes and cancellation
Inform the company’s staff in advance of reservation change
and cancellation. Cancellation charges will be required if you
cancel your reservation after the deadline before a date for departure.
Moreover, if you do not contact the rental location even after one hour
has passed form predetermined time, the reservation shall be regarded
as cancelled.

For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

Part 2. Leasing

What is a car lease?
It is a system to lease a car in accordance by a contract between
the leasing company and the user at a certain price for a certain period.
The concept of the lease is a separation of ownership and use.
It is a system covering financing, taxes, insurance and
maintenance in a package.

You could obtain the following merits by arranging a car by leasing.
1)       By setting the residual value at the end of the lease contract,
      your monthly payment will be mitigated and become easier
      to switch to a higher-ranking car.
2)       Depending on leasing company, you can lease your desired
      car model from various carmakers, including imported
      foreign cars. So you will be able to have your option to
      choose your favorite new car.  When you want to lease a
      second-hand car, you may ask a person in charge if
      the company is able to provide such a service.
3)       You can take advantage of the vehicle discount deriving from
      the large car fleet of leasing company.
4)       Without a down payment, you can lease a car,
      depending on the car price. You may pay only a monthly
      leasing fee. You can also use a monthly payment method
      jointly with payments at the time of salary bonuses payment.
      Calculation of monthly leasing fee
      (Car cost + Miscellaneous expenses
       + Interest – Residual value) / Leasing period.
5)       You can include car insurance into the leasing fee.

Your option after the contract termination. 
You can have the following options after the end of the contract
in case of the open-end contract.
1)       Switch to a new car.
      A car under the current lease will be allotted as a trade-in car.
      The residual value (the expected sales price) and the actual
      trade-in price will be offset, easing your financial burden in
      the next contact of new car.
2)       Extension (Renewal)
      You can extend the contract at the leasing price calculated on
      the basis of the residual value.
3)       Return
      The leasing company collects the car and the balance of
       the residual value and assessed value will be settled.
4)       Purchase
      You can purchase the car at the price agreed at the outset.
      Expenses for name change, automobile tax, income tax, etc
      will be borne by you separately.

Open-end contract
It is a contract to settle the balance between the assessed value
and the purchasing price (the residual value)

Closed-end contract
It is a contract not to settle the balance between the assessed value
and purchasing price (the residual value)
Lease contracts with companies are usually made based on this contract.

For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

From 1st of June, 2008, you must wear a seat belt even you are
sitting in the back seat.

There's no penalty by driving without wearing seat belts 
in the back seats on general road/local street, however,
you will lose 1 point on Express way.*

Remember, seat belts save lives.  Please fasten your seat belt,
doesn't matter you sit in the front seat or in the back, wherever you go.

*As of 30, May 2008.  Rules may change in near future.







Another new rule.
When a person who is aged 75 and over drives a car,
he/she should endeavor to display the mark called 'Momiji Mark'
like below picture.  There's no fine for offenders at this moment,
but the rule may change in near future.

 









For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

Tolls for expressways and payments

Tolls for Japanese expressways are the most expensive
in the world.

For example, when you go to Nagoya from Tokyo by driving
ordinary car, you have to pay toll of 7,800 yen.
From Tokyo to Osaka, it's 11,600 yen.

Payments will be made either by cash, or by credit cards without
limitation of amount, or ETC below.
You can use the following cards for payments:
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, JCB, Nicos, and Diners Club.


ETC Process
ETC=Electronic Toll Collection






If your car's ETC system activated, you can go through the
blue 'ETC only' gate.  If your car doesn't have ETC system
or you wish to pay cash or by credit card, please go to the
green gate.  Some gates have the sign like above right 
'ETC(blue) / OTHER(green)', you can go through this gate
with or without ETC system.


1. Application for ETC card to credit card companies
2. Acquire ETC card from credit card company.
3. Purchase and installation of ETC device.  It costs about
    30,000 yen - 40,000 yen.
4. You can start to use ETC on expressways.

*Late night discount, early morning discount or mileage 
 discount are available in selected areas.  Please contact
  East Nippon Expressway Company Ltd for more information. 
  http://www.e-nexco.co.jp/ (Japanese)

Metropolitan Expressway Company Ltd.


For information about Real Estate in Tokyo, click here.
For information about Furniture Lease & Sales in Tokyo, click here.

11th of May (Fri.) - 20th of May (Sun.) 2007

Haru no Zenkoku Kotsu Anzen Shukan
(Spring's National Traffic Safety Week)
starts from tomorrow.  

Speed limit in most of the local streets in Tokyo
is from 30km/h - 50km/h.  Even on express ways
it's from 60km/h to 80km/h.

You will loose your points and
your license can be suspended if you don't follow the
rules such as driving over the limit, illigal parking,
or ignore signs like Stop Sign.

Drink driving is strictly prohibited in Japan.
If you drink and drive, your license will be suspended instantly
or you could be convicted or loose your license
from the result of alcohol level in your blood.

Talking on mobile phones while you are driving is also
illigal in Japan.  Even just holding a mobile phone without talking
you may get a ticket.









During this Traffic Safety Week, police will be standing in
most of the main streets and could be hiding anywhere.

It is important to drive safely EVERYDAY, ANYTIME.

All road users, including pedestrians and cyclists, should be
aware of Japan's road rules.

If you don't know the rules, please get a book called
'Rules of the Road'.

It is an easy-to-read translation of the "Rules of the ways
of the Road" prepared by the National Public Safety Commision.
Road usage diagrams and traffic signs with English translations
of meanings enable understanding of basic driving rules.
It is available in 5 languages 
(English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese and Hangul)
from JAF offices from 1,000 yen per copy.


Drive safely, and enjoy Spring in Japan!!



TOMARE (Stop) sign.  You must stop at stop signs.

Japan can be a challenge for drivers coming from
countries with much wider roads and different rules. 
Road signs in a foreign language and numerous one-way
roads in metropolitan cities like Tokyo intensify testing
driver's skills.
 
Tolls on almost all expressways and high fuel prices may
discourage beginners too.  But advantages such as freedom
to choose your own route are attainable. 

With this introduction, we suggest you become very well
informed before driving in Japan. 
The following sources can provide most of the information
necessary to prepare overseas drivers to obtain licensing
and drive legally in Japan.

Rules of the Road
An easy-to-read translation of the
"Rules of the Ways of the Road"
prepared by the National Public Safety Commission. 
Road usage diagrams and traffic signs with English
translations of meanings enable understanding of
basic driving rules. 
Changes in regulations are included in the booklet
and recent revisions are also detailed in an insert. 
Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, police and
precautions, as well as driving tips are covered too.

Available from JAF offices from 1,000 yen per copy.
(including tax but postage is extra for copies by mail)

Obtaining a Driving License in Japan
1. An International License is valid for up to one year.
   Conditions:
   1) Not more than one year from the date of issue
   2) Not more than one year from your date of etry into Japan
       (The above shorter period is for your driving period in Japan)

2. If you want to drive in Japan for more than one year,
    you are required to obtain a Japanese driving license.

Required documents
1) A valid foreign license
   (Applicants must have spent more than 3 months from
     the date their license was issued, in the country in which 
     they obtained their licenses.)
2) A Japanese translation of your foreign license which is issued
     by your embassy or Japan Automobile Federation(JAF).
3) Your alien registration card
4) A photograph (3cm length x 2.4cm width)
     A picture could be taken in the Samezu Driver's License 
     Testing and Issuing Center, if you don't have one.
5) Your passport (one from when the license was acquired and
     showing your date of entry into Japan)
6) Handling fee
    For automobile / about 4,200 yen - , Motorcycle / about 5,100 - , 
    Both licenses about 7,650 yen - .

There are two different country groups, one which requires
written and driving skills tests and the other an eye test only.

Group 1: Transferring process: Eye test only
Countries in which you obtained licenses
     Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Norway,
     Austria, Italy, Spain, Germany, Portugal, Luxembourg,
     Switzerland, New Zealand, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, 
     Greece, Ireland, Iceland, South Korea

Group 2: Transferring process: 
               Eye test, Driving test and Paper test
All other coutries, such as the United States