At the counter: reservation and documents
Rental cars are called rentakā, and the company or office is the rentakā-ya or simply the counter. Staff will usually greet you, ask for your name or reservation number, and then ask for your licence. Having the reservation confirmation on your phone makes this step quick.
If you hold a foreign licence, the staff will ask for the documents required for your country, which may be an international driving permit, called kokusai unten menkyoshō, or an official translation. Rules depend on where your licence was issued, so check them before you travel. If you live in Japan and are thinking about switching to a Japanese licence, the guide to converting a foreign driving licence covers that process.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 予約した丸山です。 | Yoyaku shita Maruyama desu. | I have a reservation under Maruyama. |
| 予約番号はこちらです。 | Yoyaku bangō wa kochira desu. | Here is my reservation number. |
| 免許証を拝見してもよろしいですか。 | Menkyoshō o haiken shite mo yoroshii desu ka. | May I see your driving licence? |
| 国際運転免許証とパスポートです。 | Kokusai unten menkyoshō to pasupōto desu. | Here are my international driving permit and passport. |
| 運転するのは私だけです。 | Unten suru no wa watashi dake desu. | I'm the only driver. |
| もう一人運転します。 | Mō hitori unten shimasu. | One more person will drive. |
Insurance and coverage words
Every rental includes basic insurance, and the counter will usually explain optional waivers on top. The vocabulary is dense, so it is worth learning before you arrive. Hoken is insurance; hoshō is coverage or compensation; menseki is the deductible, the part you would pay yourself.
Menseki hoshō seido waives that deductible if you sign up. Many companies also have a further option for costs not covered by the waiver, such as the charge for the time the car cannot be rented out while it is repaired, often called NOC, non-operation charge. Names and details differ between companies, so ask the staff to explain what each plan covers rather than assuming.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 保険 | hoken | Insurance |
| 補償 | hoshō | Coverage, compensation |
| 免責 | menseki | Deductible, excess |
| 免責補償制度 | menseki hoshō seido | Deductible waiver (similar to a CDW) |
| ノンオペレーションチャージ | non-operēshon chāji | Non-operation charge (NOC) during repairs |
| このプランは何が補償されますか。 | Kono puran wa nani ga hoshō saremasu ka. | What does this plan cover? |
| 免責補償に入ります。 | Menseki hoshō ni hairimasu. | I'll take the deductible waiver. |
| 事故の時はどこに連絡すればいいですか。 | Jiko no toki wa doko ni renraku sureba ii desu ka. | Who should I contact if there's an accident? |
Checking the car for damage
Before you drive away, a staff member will usually walk round the car with you and mark existing scratches and dents on a diagram. Take your time here and point out anything you notice, because it protects you when you return the car. Many people also take a few photos.
The key words are kizu, a scratch, and hekomi, a dent. You can point and say koko ni kizu ga arimasu, there's a scratch here, and the staff will add it to the sheet.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ここに傷があります。 | Koko ni kizu ga arimasu. | There's a scratch here. |
| このへこみは最初からありますか。 | Kono hekomi wa saisho kara arimasu ka. | Was this dent already here? |
| 写真を撮ってもいいですか。 | Shashin o totte mo ii desu ka. | Is it all right if I take photos? |
| ライトのつけ方を教えてください。 | Raito no tsukekata o oshiete kudasai. | Please show me how to turn on the lights. |
| 給油口はどちら側ですか。 | Kyūyuguchi wa dochira-gawa desu ka. | Which side is the fuel cap on? |
| ガソリンはレギュラーですか。 | Gasorin wa regyurā desu ka. | Does it take regular petrol? |
Extras: ETC card, child seat and one-way drop-off
Japanese expressways use tolls, and an ETC card lets you pay automatically through a reader in the car. Rental companies often offer one at the counter; you insert it into the ETC unit and drive through lanes marked ETC. Without a card you use the lanes marked ippan, general, and pay at the booth.
Other extras you may be asked about are a child seat, chairudo shīto, snow tyres in winter, and norisute, returning the car at a different office. One-way returns often cost extra and are not always available, so it is better to arrange them when you book.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ETCカードを借りられますか。 | Ī-tī-shī kādo o kariraremasu ka. | Can I borrow an ETC card? |
| ETCカードはここに入れてください。 | Ī-tī-shī kādo wa koko ni irete kudasai. | Please insert the ETC card here. |
| チャイルドシートをお願いします。 | Chairudo shīto o onegai shimasu. | I'd like a child seat, please. |
| 乗り捨てはできますか。 | Norisute wa dekimasu ka. | Can I return it at a different office? |
| 一般レーン | ippan rēn | General (cash) toll lane |
| スタッドレスタイヤ | sutaddoresu taiya | Winter tyres |
Using Japanese car navigation
Rental cars usually come with kānabi, car navigation. You can often set a destination by phone number, denwa bangō, which is the easiest method for hotels and restaurants, or by a map code printed on some tourist maps. Some systems switch to English, but voice guidance may remain Japanese.
The voice follows a small set of phrases. Once you recognise shibaraku, for a while, and saki, ahead, most of the directions become easy to follow even at speed.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 目的地を設定します。 | Mokutekichi o settei shimasu. | Setting the destination. |
| 電話番号で検索 | Denwa bangō de kensaku | Search by phone number |
| ルート案内を開始します。 | Rūto annai o kaishi shimasu. | Starting route guidance. |
| およそ300メートル先、右方向です。 | Oyoso sanbyaku mētoru saki, migi hōkō desu. | In about 300 metres, turn right. |
| この先、しばらく道なりです。 | Kono saki, shibaraku michinari desu. | Continue along the road for a while. |
| まもなく目的地周辺です。 | Mamonaku mokutekichi shūhen desu. | You are approaching your destination. |
| ETCカードが挿入されていません。 | Ī-tī-shī kādo ga sōnyū sarete imasen. | No ETC card inserted. |
Refuelling and returning mantan
Most rentals are mantan-gaeshi, returned with a full tank. The staff will usually tell you where the nearest petrol station is and may ask for the receipt, reshīto. Many stations are self-service, serufu; at a full-service station, attendants will come to the window.
At a full-service station, the classic line is regyurā mantan de, regular, full tank. At a self-service station, the pump screen will ask for the fuel type, payment method and amount, where mantan is usually one of the buttons. Regular petrol usually has a red nozzle, but always read the label.
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| レギュラー満タンでお願いします。 | Regyurā mantan de onegai shimasu. | Regular, full tank, please. |
| 現金で払います。 | Genkin de haraimasu. | I'll pay in cash. |
| セルフ | serufu | Self-service station |
| この近くにガソリンスタンドはありますか。 | Kono chikaku ni gasorin sutando wa arimasu ka. | Is there a petrol station near here? |
| 満タンで返しました。これがレシートです。 | Mantan de kaeshimashita. Kore ga reshīto desu. | I filled the tank. Here's the receipt. |
| 少し遅れそうです。 | Sukoshi okuresō desu. | I think I'll be a little late. |
At the return: final check
When you bring the car back, staff check the fuel, walk round the car again and settle any extra charges. If something happened, say so directly; a short, clear explanation is always better than waiting to see whether they notice.
If you are running late, call the office before the return time. A quick call with okuresō desu is expected and appreciated, and it is the same kind of phone call you would make to work about a train delay.
| Word | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 返却 | henkyaku | Return (of the car) |
| 返却時間 | henkyaku jikan | Return time |
| 延長 | enchō | Extension |
| 追加料金 | tsuika ryōkin | Additional charge |
| 事故 | jiko | Accident |
| 忘れ物 | wasuremono | Item left behind |
A last useful line: wasuremono ga nai ka kakunin shimasu, I'll check I haven't left anything. Staff often say it too, and it is a good habit after a long trip with luggage in the boot.