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Should You Hire a Car in Tokyo? This can be broken down into two similar questions - do you need a car in Tokyo (in other words, will your holiday be ruined without one), and is it worth hiring a car in Tokyo - i.e. is a car better value than using public transport? We'll weigh up both questions and give you a response generated by AI, together with our own curated opinion before finally giving a yes or no verdict at the end.| âś… Car Score | 9 |
| đźš« No Car Score | 10 |
| đźš— Should you rent a car? |
(0= absolutely not; 10 = rental car or heavy dependence on taxis absolutely essential)
🗼 Tokyo: Car or No Car? Here’s the Clear AnswerTokyo 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.
đźš— 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 | âś… 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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âś… 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.
Should You Hire a Car in Tokyo — or Not? Advice on this page has been written using Chat GPT, backed up by 20 years experience in the travel industry. This site is planned for full launch on 1st January 2026. Full terms, advice, FAQs, disclaimer etc to follow. UN flag is a placeholder
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