Do not rent your car in Hakone. Rent it in Tokyo or at Odawara Station and drive in. Hakone itself has very few rental counters, the ones that exist have small fleets, and by the time you have taken a train to Hakone-Yumoto to collect a car you have already spent the morning you were trying to save.
That is the practical answer. Below: what the rental counter asks a foreign visitor for, what it costs in 2026 including our own R34 rates, the toll roads with their current prices and closing times, where the parking fills up first, and an honest comparison against the Hakone Freepass.
Where to Rent a Car for Hakone
Three options, in the order most visitors should consider them.
| Pick-up point | Drive to Hakone | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo (Shinjuku, Shibuya, Shinagawa) | 1.5–2 hours via the Tomei and Odawara-Atsugi Road | Multi-day trips, and anyone who wants a specific car |
| Odawara Station | 25–40 minutes | Arriving by Shinkansen or Romancecar and driving only in Hakone |
| Hakone-Yumoto and inside Hakone | Already there | Very short local hires; expect limited stock |
Odawara is the sweet spot for a car-hire-only-in-Hakone plan: you keep the fast train from Tokyo, you skip the expressway tolls, and you are on the good roads within half an hour. If what you want is the drive itself, pick the car up in Tokyo — the run down the Tomei is part of the trip.
Want to see it for yourself?
Can Foreigners Rent a Car in Japan? What the Counter Checks
Yes, and the process is quick — but only if you arrive with the right paperwork. Japanese rental companies are legally required to check it and they do not make exceptions at the desk.
- An International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. Japan does not accept the 1968 Vienna Convention version, which is what much of continental Europe issues.
- Your original domestic licence. The physical card, carried with the permit. The permit is not valid on its own.
- Your passport.
- A credit card in the driver's name for the deposit hold.
- An official Japanese translation instead of a permit if you hold a licence from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, Slovenia, Estonia or Taiwan. Those eight are handled separately and do not use a Geneva permit at all.
Two things to sort out before you fly. A US licence alone is not enough — American drivers need the permit as well, and AAA issues them over the counter. And Taiwanese drivers cannot use a Taiwan-issued permit in Japan at all; the Japanese translation is the only route, available at any Motor Vehicles Office in Taiwan for NT$100, usually within an hour.
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International Driving Permit Japan: Complete Requirements for Tourists Who Want to Drive Here
Yes — to drive in Japan on a foreign licence you need an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention, and you must get it in your own country before you fly. Japan does not accept the 1968 Vienna Convention permit, and no Japanese authority can issue you a permit after you land. There are exactly eight countries that use an official Japanese translation of their licence instead, and everyone else is either covered by the 1949 permit or cannot legally drive here at all. The issuing organisations explain how to get the document. What they do not ...
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Hakone Car Rental Prices in 2026
A cheap compact for a Hakone day trip runs roughly ¥5,000–¥8,000 a day before tolls and fuel. Anything described as a sports car sits in a different bracket entirely, and it is worth knowing both numbers before you decide what kind of trip this is.
| Class | Typical daily rate |
|---|---|
| Kei car (light vehicle) | ¥4,000–¥6,000 |
| Compact (Yaris, Fit class) | ¥5,000–¥8,000 |
| Mid-size sedan or SUV | ¥8,000–¥15,000 |
| Minivan for 6–7 people | ¥12,000–¥20,000 |
Add roughly ¥2,000–¥3,000 each way in expressway tolls from Tokyo, ¥500–¥1,000 for parking at the major stops, and the Hakone toll roads listed further down. A one-way drop-off at a different branch is usually a ¥3,000–¥6,000 surcharge.
Renting a JDM Car for Hakone
Hakone is the reason a lot of people rent a Japanese sports car in the first place, and it is the trip we get asked about most. Our self-drive fleet is four Nissan R34 Skylines, hired from Tokyo for 24 or 48 hours.
| Car | 1 Day (24h) | 2 Days (48h) |
|---|---|---|
| R34 White, automatic | ¥65,000 (¥70,000 with damage waiver) | ¥110,000 (¥120,000) |
| R34 Bayside Blue, automatic | ¥75,000 (¥80,000) | ¥130,000 (¥140,000) |
| R34 Silver, automatic | ¥75,000 (¥80,000) | ¥130,000 (¥140,000) |
| R34 Bayside Blue, manual | ¥85,000 (waiver included) | ¥145,000 (included) |
The conditions that matter for planning a Hakone day:
- Minimum driver age 23, and up to four people per car on a self-drive hire.
- A 1949 Geneva permit is required, or the Japanese translation if you hold one of the eight licences listed above.
- Fuel and tolls are on you on the 24- and 48-hour plans. An ETC card is lent free of charge, so you never stop at a toll booth.
- The damage waiver is ¥5,000 per day (¥10,000 for the 48-hour plan) and caps your share of vehicle damage at ¥100,000. Without it there is no cap. The manual car includes it and cannot be hired without it.
- A deposit is held on your credit card — ¥150,000 with the waiver, ¥250,000 on the manual car. It is a pre-authorisation, not a charge.
- Tyres, wheels, undercarriage and interior damage sit outside the waiver, and track use voids it. Hakone's toll roads are public roads and are fine; a circuit day is not.
Third-party injury and property cover is unlimited on all of our cars — the waiver only decides your exposure on the car itself.
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JDM Car Rental in Japan: The Complete Guide for Overseas Enthusiasts
JDM Car Rental in Tokyo & Japan — Self-Drive Your Own R34 to Daikoku Take the Wheel of an R34 and Drive to Daikoku Yourself You drive; our lead car guides the way and handles the navigation. Pick your R34, choose a date, and the route to Daikoku is yours. Check R34 availability → PlansFleetPricingBookReviewsFAQ Searching for JDM car rental in Tokyo? The most popular way to do it is simple: get behind the wheel of an R34 Skyline and drive to Daikoku yourself, following our lead car the whole way. If you have always wanted to self-drive to Daikoku ...
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The Roads: Turnpike, Ashinoko Skyline and Route 1
Two toll roads are the reason to bring a car to Hakone at all, and both of them close at night. Check the times before you plan an evening drive.
| Road | Standard car toll | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Anest Iwata Turnpike Hakone (Hakone–Odawara main line) | ¥900 | 5:30–22:30, last entry 22:00 |
| Anest Iwata Turnpike Hakone (Hakone-Izu connector) | ¥200 | Same |
| Ashinoko Skyline (main line + Kojiri line) | ¥1,000 | 7:00–19:00 |
| Ashinoko Skyline (Kojiri line only) | ¥200 | Free outside opening hours |
- The Turnpike climbs about 15.8 km from Odawara to the Daikanzan ridge at roughly 1,011 m, with long open curves and a view over Sagami Bay. Note the name: the Toyo Tires naming rights ended in 2018 and it has been Anest Iwata Turnpike Hakone since.
- Ashinoko Skyline runs the ridgeline on the western side of Lake Ashi and is the quieter of the two. When it closes at 19:00 the main line shuts; the short Kojiri line stays open and is free.
- Route 1 is the free road through Hakone and the one everyone else is on. In the November foliage weeks it is where an hour disappears.
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Hakone Turnpike: Japan's Most Scenic Toll Road for Driving Enthusiasts in 2026
Short answer: the Hakone Turnpike is a privately run toll road of about 15.8 km between Odawara and Lake Ashi, and three practical details catch first-time drivers out. Its official name is now the Anest Iwata Turnpike Hakone — the Toyo Tires naming deal ended in 2018, so older guides and older signage disagree. It is not open around the clock: the gates run 05:30 to 22:30 with last entry at 22:00, so a midnight run is not possible here. And the toll for a standard car on the main Odawara–Hakone line is ¥900, with the shorter Hakone–Izu connector at ...
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Reading vs. driving
Parking in Hakone, and Where It Fills First
Parking is the biggest single disadvantage of driving in Hakone, and it is concentrated in three places. Everywhere else you will find a space.
- Owakudani — around ¥500, and full by mid-morning at weekends. Go before 10:00 or after 15:00.
- Moto-Hakone and the lakeside — ¥500–¥1,000 for a few hours, busiest between 12:00 and 15:00 when the sightseeing circuit converges there.
- Hakone-Yumoto — small lots, tight streets, and the worst place in Hakone to look for a space on a Saturday afternoon.
- The reverse itinerary works. Because the train circuit runs in a fixed order, a driver who does the same stops in the opposite order finds the car parks half empty.
Car Hire or the Hakone Freepass?
Do you need a car in Hakone? No. The sightseeing circuit is genuinely good and covers the headline sights. A car buys you the mountain roads, the western lakeshore and control over your timing — nothing else.
| Car | Hakone Freepass | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost, two people, one day | Rental + about ¥5,000 in tolls, fuel and parking | ¥7,100 each, 2 days from Shinjuku |
| Reaches the toll roads and ridges | Yes | No |
| Ropeway over Owakudani and the lake cruise | Not included | Included |
| Time lost to connections | None | About 3 hours |
| Parking stress | Real | None |
| Drinking at the ryokan | No | Yes |
The combination a lot of people land on is the Odawara version of the Freepass at ¥6,000 for the circuit on day one, and a car on day two for the roads. Neither choice is wrong; they are answers to different questions.
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Hakone Free Pass 2026: ¥7,100 — Worth It? 8 Lines Covered
What Is the Hakone Free Pass? The Hakone Free Pass is an all-in-one sightseeing ticket issued by Odakyu Electric Railway that grants unlimited rides on eight different transportation networks throughout the Hakone area. It also includes a round-trip ticket on the Odakyu Line between Shinjuku and Odawara (or a one-way supplement option if you depart from another station). Designed specifically for tourists and day-trippers, the pass is widely regarded as the most cost-effective way to explore Hakone's sprawling network of trains, buses, cable cars, ropeways, and sightseeing boats. For travelers planning a trip to Hakone from Tokyo, the Hakone Free ...
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Hakone Car Rental FAQ
Are there cheap car rentals in Hakone?
The lowest rates come from a kei car or compact booked at Odawara Station, from about ¥4,000–¥8,000 a day. Rates inside Hakone itself are not lower and the choice is much smaller.
Can I rent a car at Hakone-Yumoto?
There are counters in the Hakone-Yumoto area, but fleets are small and popular dates go early. If your plan depends on having a car, book from Tokyo or Odawara instead.
Do I need winter tyres in Hakone?
Snow is occasional rather than routine, but the mountain roads sit above 1,000 m and chains or winter tyres can be required at short notice between December and February. Confirm what the car is fitted with when you book.
Can I drive to Hakone and back in one day?
Yes. Leaving Tokyo by 07:00 gives you a full day in Hakone and an evening return. A 24-hour hire covers it comfortably; 48 hours covers an overnight stay.
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Hakone: The Ultimate Travel Guide for 2026 — Hot Springs, Mt. Fuji Views & Scenic Drives
Why Hakone Should Be on Every Japan Traveler's List Hakone is one of the most beloved destinations near Tokyo, offering a rare combination of volcanic hot springs, world-class art museums, ancient shrines, and breathtaking views of Mt. Fuji. Located in the mountainous southwestern corner of Kanagawa Prefecture, this resort town has drawn travelers for centuries — from feudal lords traversing the old Tokaido highway to modern-day tourists seeking a rejuvenating escape from the Tokyo metropolis. Whether you are planning a day trip or a multi-night stay, Hakone rewards visitors with experiences that shift dramatically from season to season. In spring, ...
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The Ultimate Hakone Drive Guide: Best Routes, Scenic Roads & Tips for 2026
Short answer: the drive most people are looking for is Tokyo → Tomei Expressway → Odawara → the Anest Iwata Turnpike Hakone → Lake Ashi, returning over the Ashinoko Skyline. It is roughly 80 km each way and 1.5 to 2 hours in normal traffic, with expressway tolls of about ¥2,000–¥3,500 one way. Inside Hakone the toll roads are short and cheap: the Turnpike is ¥900 for a standard car and the Ashinoko Skyline about ¥360. Two things need planning rather than booking. Get an ETC card with the rental — it saves queueing at the expressway gates and works ...
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Important Information
- The tour begins and ends at the same location (Shibuya).
- If the Daikoku Parking Area is closed, we will instead guide you to another car meet further away.
- The consultant is a cultural expert and navigator, not a taxi service.
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