Japan's public transportation is amazing, but reaching outdoor crags deep in the mountains usually means a rental car. Here's the complete guide to renting, hacking transit, and beating the walls that trip up visitors.
1. Rental cars & the ETC card
Heading to Ogawayama or Mizugaki? Renting a car is your most realistic option — basically mandatory with a group and pads to haul. Japanese toll roads are expensive, so get an "ETC Card" (Electronic Toll Collection) — tourists can't issue their own, but rental companies lend one for about 330 yen/trip.
Bottom line: weekend or before-4AM departures make the 330-yen ETC rental a total no-brainer.
On Rentalcars.com, ETC add-on isn't in checkout — email or call the Japanese office right after booking to hold one. Klook usually lets you check an "ETC Card included" box directly.
2. The license wall — Geneva vs Vienna
Japan only accepts International Driving Permits issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. A "1968 Vienna Convention" IDP (common in some European countries) means you cannot drive here. Check before you leave home — if your country isn't in the 1949 convention, you'll need an official Japanese translation via JAF.
3. The bullet train wall — oversized baggage
Taking a crash pad on the Shinkansen? If your luggage's total dimensions (length+width+height) exceed 160cm — true of almost every pad — you must reserve a seat with an oversized baggage area in advance. Skip it and risk a 1,000-yen penalty or being denied boarding.
4. The payment wall — IC cards
Buying paper tickets every ride is a pain — get a Suica or PASMO. Due to a chip shortage, physical card sales are restricted. iPhone users: add a digital Suica/PASMO to Apple Wallet. Android or physical-card preference: grab a "Welcome Suica" or "PASMO PASSPORT" at the airport station (valid 28 days).
5. The pro move — train + car hybrid
Driving straight out of central Tokyo means brutal highway traffic. Instead, take a Shinkansen or Limited Express to a station near the crag — Sakudaira for Ogawayama, Kofu for Mizugaki — and rent your car right there. You get your JR Pass benefit, skip Tokyo traffic entirely, and only drive quiet country roads.
Summary
- ▸Rent an ETC card — travel weekends or midnight–4AM for an automatic 30% toll discount.
- ▸Some booking sites need a direct call to the rental office to reserve the ETC card.
- ▸Confirm your IDP is under the 1949 Geneva Convention.
- ▸Reserve an oversized baggage seat for a crash pad on the Shinkansen.
- ▸For long distances, train out of the city and rent a car near the crag.