Page 387 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide: Japan

TR A VEL INFORM A TION  385

Japanese have developed rental com panies such as
various innovative parking Avis, Budget, and Hertz,
solutions, such as lifts and roll- though their rates are much
over systems. higher than those of Japan-
ese companies.
In the capital, Japan Bike
Gas Stations Rentals specializes in renting
Gasoline is readily available in motorcycles to foreigners. To
“Beware of bears” road sign in forested Japan. It is cheaper than in the combat the problems of
mountain region UK, but it is almost double the navigation, it also offers GPS
cost of gas in the US. The self-guided tours. For renting a
Road Maps
international chain ESSO is motorbike outside Tokyo, check
Most foreign drivers rely on familiar to drivers in Japan. JOMO for local motorbike dealers
Japan: A Bilingual Atlas, is a popular Japanese chain, the through the nearest Tourist
published by Kodansha name being derived from the Information Office. A 50cc
International, which gives phrase “Joy of Motoring.” scooter can usually be ridden
route maps but does not on an international driver’s
indicate toll roads or charges. Breakdown Services license (check your license);
For longer-term visitors who are anything above this capacity
seriously interested in driving Rental cars are invariably well requires an inter national
around Japan, Shobunsha’s maintained and mechanical motorcycle license.
thick Road Atlas Japan is the problems are extremely rare. In
best investment. The atlas the event of a break down, the DIRECTORY
can be purchased at specialist driver should call the car-rental
travel bookstores abroad or company at the number Drivers’ Licenses
any bookstore in Japan with provided when hiring the vehicle. Japan Automobile
a good foreign book section. Federation (JAF)
Car Hire 2-2-17 Shiba, Minato-ku,
Parking Tokyo 105-8562.
Since very few short-term Tel (03) 6833-9100.
Public parking is available, but visitors to Japan hire cars, car- ∑ jaf.or.jp/e
it tends to be expensive, and rental companies are generally
the parking fee becomes more not used to dealing with Car Hire
expensive as you move closer customers in English. Two Avis
to the city center. There are companies more likely to have Tel (0120) 31-1911.
cheaper car parks in most city English-speaking staff are ∑ avis-japan.com/jpn/
neighborhoods, but these may Toyota Rent a Car and Nippon reser vation/reservation_
be hidden away on backstreets Rent-A-Car. Costs are on par e.shtml
and difficult to find. On-street with the US and Western
parking is not permitted in Europe, in some cases cheaper. Budget
Japan, and parking meters are a There is also a greater chance Tel (0120) 054-317.
rarity. To overcome the problem of finding English-speaking ∑ budgetrentacar.co.jp/
english.htm
of lack of sufficient space, the staff with international car
Hertz
Tel (0120) 489 882
(toll-free in Japan).
∑ hertz.com
Japan Bike Rentals
7-7-3-101 Akasaka,
Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052.
Tel (03) 3584-5185.
∑ japanbikerentals.com
Nippon Rent-A-Car
Tel (03) 6633-8321.
∑ nipponrentacar.co.
jp/english
Toyota Rent a Car
Tel (0800) 7000-815
(toll-free in Japan);
Tel (03) 5954-8020.
∑ rent.toyota.co.jp/en/
index.html
Traffic at an intersection in Tokyo

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