Everything,
before you ask.

A valid driving licence from home, a 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit (IDP), and your passport. Minimum age 18. Carry all three originals whenever you drive — photocopies aren't accepted.

Get the 1949 Geneva Convention version in your home country before you arrive — Japan only accepts this one. Note for Hungary: you can be issued either the 1949 Geneva or the 1968 Vienna IDP; ask specifically for the Geneva 1949, as the Vienna one isn't valid in Japan. Netherlands, France and most EU countries: a standard Geneva IDP is fine.

Yes. Every car can be rented from age 18, with no minimum years-licensed requirement and no young-driver surcharge (stricter insurer conditions override this if they apply). Renting under 25 →

Yes. ARTCARS is operated by FIRSTDRIVE Co., Ltd. under rental licence No. 2506. You rent the car and drive it yourself; on guided drives, our guide leads from a separate car. How self-drive works →

At least 3 days ahead. In peak seasons (spring, autumn, holidays) the earlier the better.

The Toyota 86 and Fairlady Z are 6-speed manual, so you should already be comfortable with a manual. The R35 GT-R is automatic — a good choice if you're not. We give a full briefing, but the drive is entirely yours.

The Toyota 86 seats 4; the Fairlady Z seats 2. On the Daikoku Night Drive your host takes the passenger seat, so in the Z it's you and your host, while the GT-R R35 fits up to two friends in the back. For bigger groups we can bring more than one car out on the same night — just ask.

Self-drive rentals are yours to drive alone — no one rides along. On the Daikoku Night Drive, an English-speaking host rides in your passenger seat — navigating, sharing local tips and picking the best photo spots — while you do all the driving.

Toyota 86 and Fairlady Z: manual, rear-wheel drive. R35 GT-R: automatic (AWD). An automatic-only licence can't be used for the 86 or Z.

Every car has a phone mount — use Google Maps in your own language. Simple and reliable. Many major roads also have English signage.

The left, with the wheel on the right. Take the first few minutes easy — you'll adjust quickly. See our Driving in Japan section for the essentials.

Anywhere you like. We'll happily suggest routes — Tokyo Bay, the Wangan, Hakone, Mt Fuji and beyond.

The car, zero-deductible vehicle insurance, Zero Liability Protection (NOC ¥0) and native-English support. Fuel (return full, premium petrol), tolls and parking are charged separately. The Daikoku Night Drive is the exception: it includes tolls & fuel. See Rental Terms.

No. Every cost is shown up front, before you confirm.

24-hour rentals include 300 km per 24 hours (multi-day rentals add up, e.g. 600 km for 2 days). Extra distance is ¥100/km for the Fairlady Z and ¥150/km for the GT-R R35, settled at return. Planning a long drive such as Hakone or Mt. Fuji? Tell us when you book and add extra distance in 100 km blocks at a discount: ¥7,000 (Z) or ¥10,000 (GT-R). See mileage details. The Daikoku Night Drive Pack has no distance charge.

Late returns are charged for every started 30 minutes after your agreed return time: ¥5,000 (Fairlady Z) or ¥7,000 (GT-R R35) if you message or call us before your return time, and double that without notice. Insurance cover may not apply while a car is kept past the agreed time without our approval, so please always contact us first. See return-time details.

Yes. Every rental includes insurance with a ¥0 deductible. The one extra cost is the NOC, which you can cap or remove with a Protection Plan. Full details in the Rental Terms.

Choose your car and date with Book your drive and pay the 1-day rental by card online. Your booking is confirmed once payment is complete. A ¥150,000 deposit is placed as a temporary hold on a credit card in your own name — not a charge — and released after return, less anything owed. Expressway tolls on 24-hour rentals are deducted from it. Drifting, racing, R-mode launch control on the GT-R or any illegal driving means the full deposit is kept and all repair costs are charged on top. Place your deposit hold online →

Stop safely, call police (110) and, if anyone's hurt, ambulance (119), then call us on +81-50-3644-2460 right away. Don't settle with the other party; repairs go through us. Full steps in the Rental Terms.

Our headline experience: you drive a Fairlady Z or GT-R R35 with an English-speaking host in your passenger seat onto the neon Wangan to Japan's famous after-dark meet, with photo stops. Car, tolls & fuel included — ¥59,000 (Fairlady Z) or ¥79,000 (GT-R), about 5 hours. Night Drive Pack →

It happens — police periodically close Daikoku on busy weekend nights. Closures are outside our control, so we can’t take responsibility for them — but your night drive always runs: your host simply guides you to another legendary bay-side spot (such as Tatsumi PA or Umihotaru) with the same route, photo stops and atmosphere.

None at all. A pro coach guides you on a safe, closed circuit — first-timers are welcome.

Never — drifting on public roads is illegal in Japan. Our drift experience is circuit-only, at South Chiba Circuit, in a purpose-built Mazda Roadster.

Yes — rent an Insta360, cameras and in-car mounts, and take the footage home.

Yes. Tell us the car (e.g. a Skyline GT-R) and your destination country, and we source, inspect and export it by sea — to your port or door.

As a licensed dealer we buy from Japan's dealer-only auctions; a nationally-certified mechanic inspects and services the car; then we handle export paperwork and sea freight to your country.

Almost any JDM legend — GT-R (R32–R34), Supra, RX-7, NSX, Lancer Evo, WRX STI, Silvia, AE86 and more.

It varies with the car, auction timing and destination. We'll give you an honest estimate with your quote.