Asia > Japan > Tokyo (HND)
The Car or no Car advice for Tokyo can be broken down into three similar questions - do you need a car in Tokyo ; is it worth it (based on costs), and ultimately - should you rent one? (a balance of the two).🚆 🚌⛴️ Do we need to rent a car in Tokyo ?
These scores are based on the quality of public transport and other travel options. If these are good enough to see the main points of interest, then you don’t need to rent a car.
💰💶💳 Is it worth hiring a car in Tokyo?
These scores reflect the practical factors that affect whether renting a car is convenient, good value, and stress-free.
Tokyo is one of the most technologically advanced and efficiently organised cities in the world. The trains run with astonishing precision, the metro goes almost everywhere, and taxis are safe, clean, and abundant. So, Should you rent a car in Tokyo? The short answer is almost certainly no—unless you plan to leave the city for rural regions.
Let’s explore both options to understand why.
🚆 Why You Don’t Need a Car in Tokyo
Tokyo’s public transport network is not just extensive—it’s elite. It connects airports, neighbourhoods, attractions, and even distant suburbs with ease.
🚇 Reasons to Skip the Car:
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Trains and subways connect all major districts including Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ginza, Asakusa, and Akihabara
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Driving is slower than public transport due to traffic and complex road layouts
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Parking is expensive and scarce
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Locals overwhelmingly use trains, not cars, for city travel
➡ Whether you’re visiting shrines, shopping districts, or observation decks, you’ll get there faster and more easily without a car.
🚗 When Renting a Car Might Make Sense
Now, Should you rent a car in Tokyo if you are leaving the city? Possibly—if your trip includes rural Japan. Many of Japan’s most scenic places are best accessed by car once you leave the Shinkansen routes.
✅ Consider Renting a Car If You’re Visiting:
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Mount Fuji’s Five Lakes region
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The Japanese Alps or countryside villages
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Hokkaido (after flying or taking a train from Tokyo)
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Remote coastal areas or onsen towns
➡ Outside Tokyo, public transport becomes less frequent, so a car adds flexibility and freedom.
🧭 Quick Decision Table
| Your Tokyo Itinerary | Car Needed? |
|---|---|
| Shinjuku, Shibuya, Asakusa, Ginza | ❌ No |
| Museums, temples, shopping, nightlife | ❌ No |
| Disney Resort (train direct) | ❌ No |
| Mount Fuji or Hakone day trip (train/bus) | ❌ No (optional car for flexibility) |
| Multi-day countryside road trip | ✅ Yes |
🎯 Final Verdict
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🚫 Don’t rent a car if you are staying in Tokyo. The trains outperform cars in speed, cost, convenience, and stress levels.
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✅ Rent a car only when you leave the city and begin exploring rural Japan, scenic mountain areas, or national parks.
🚅 In Tokyo, the train is not just transport—it’s a way of life. Embrace it.
