Discover Japan by Campervan!

Driving a campervan in Japan means unlearning a few habits before hitting the road. Left-hand traffic, permits, road widths and fuel costs—here are the essentials to start your road trip without surprises on day one.

Before you hit the road: what changes in Japan

You drive on the left, steering wheel on the right. For someone used to driving on the right, the adjustment is real: the first kilometres require concentration, especially at major urban intersections where your instincts about priority and road positioning flip. It becomes natural quickly, but best to know this before leaving a rental office in the middle of a city rather than discovering it at your first roundabout.

On permits, the general rule is straightforward: with a licence issued in the EU or by a country recognised by Japanese authorities for international driving permits, an international permit usually suffices to drive in Japan. Two exceptions worth knowing: Japanese licences and those from certain other countries don't qualify for a standard international permit. You then need a certified translation of your licence, issued by the JAF (Japan Automobile Federation). Rules evolve and vary by bilateral agreement—best to check your situation on the JAF's official website or with your embassy before booking.

Vehicle size matters more here than elsewhere. In the Japanese Alps, roads wind along valley slopes, often narrow, with passing sections that sometimes require reversing to let a bus or truck through. Tunnels are numerous and have height restrictions you must check before entering. Same logic near temples and in city centres: car parks are designed for compact vehicles, not several-metre-long profiles. A van remains the most comfortable choice for daily driving here.

Then there's the road network itself. Japanese motorways are fast and well-maintained, but tolls are charged per kilometre and add up quickly over long distances. The alternative: secondary roads, toll-free, slower but often more interesting to drive by campervan since they pass through villages rather than bypass them.

Where to sleep in a campervan in Japan

Japan has no campervan tradition comparable to Europe, and the accommodation system reflects this: you need to learn its codes rather than transpose habits from elsewhere.

The michi-no-eki, roadside rest stations scattered along national routes, are the first instinct for van travellers in Japan. You'll find toilets, sometimes a vending machine, often a decent view for the night. Tolerance exists for a rest stop, but it has clear limits: these aren't campsites, and some michi-no-eki explicitly forbid it by sign. The rule to remember is simple. Park discreetly, away from spaces reserved for passing customers. Never deploy an awning, table or chairs outside—this turns a tolerated stop into a base camp, which isn't permitted. Leave early in the morning. With this in mind, a michi-no-eki remains an occasional option, not a foundation for organising your days.

For real comfort like electricity, greywater disposal or showers, Japan has developed its own network of equipped areas for campervans and vans, sometimes called "RV Parks" locally. Electric hookups let you plug in heating or a fridge without draining your battery, and dump stations mean you don't have to improvise a solution after several days on the road.

Traditional campsites round out the offer, with one advantage you won't find everywhere: many are attached to an onsen, a natural hot spring. This combination is especially common in the Japanese Alps, where you can park the van for the night and finish the day in a steaming outdoor bath facing the mountains. It's often the best part of the stop, well above what "camping" conjures before you leave.

One point not to underestimate: peak season. In spring during cherry blossom season and in summer, pitches with electric hookup book up well in advance. Arriving without a reservation on an April evening in the Japanese Alps risks another hour of driving to find a spot.

Budget for a 12-day circuit

A rough guide to set realistic expectations before booking: van rental varies strongly by season, with a clear gap between low-season rates and prices during cherry blossom season or summer. Booking early often helps narrow this gap.

Here's a first idea of van rental rates in Japan. These daily rates don't include all options, insurance and other extras. Search our booking form for concrete quotes and check availability.

Fuel weighs more heavily on the budget than in Europe. Petrol prices in Japan are notably higher than the European average, and even with reasonable consumption for a compact van, costs add up fast on a loop crossing Tokyo, the Japanese Alps and Kanazawa. Budget this as one of your heaviest expenses, alongside tolls.

Which brings us to tolls. Japanese motorways are charged per kilometre (roughly 30 yen/km), and on a circuit this size, the total bill can run to tens of thousands of yen. The ETC, the electronic toll system often installed in rental vehicles, doesn't necessarily cut costs but changes everything at barriers: no stops, no change to hunt for, you pass under a gantry and the tag does the rest. Ask for it explicitly when picking up the van if it's not already fitted.

Two costs remain easy to overlook when planning a first Japan trip. First, showers and onsen: if your overnight spots don't include facilities, a dip in a hot spring costs a few hundred yen and quickly becomes a daily necessity rather than an occasional expense. Then food—actually good news in this budget: konbini convenience stores, open round the clock, and local markets let you eat well for reasonable money, well below restaurant prices for every meal. That's where a van with basic kitchen equipment makes the difference: cooking two meals out of three from konbini or market produce makes a real difference over twelve days.

Frequently asked questions

The route, leg by leg