Driving and cycling

❃ Driving and cycling

レンタカーを予約しています。 [ Rentakaa o yoyaku shite imasu. ]: I have reserved a rental car.
国際免許証を持っています。 [ Kokusai menkyoshou o motte imasu. ]: I have an international driving permit.
保険に入りたいです。 [ Hoken ni hairitai desu. ]: I'd like to buy insurance.
カーナビの言語を英語にできますか。 [ Kaanabi no gengo o eigo ni dekimasu ka. ]: Can you set the GPS language to English?
満タン返しですか。 [ Mantan gaeshi desu ka. ]: Should I return it with a full tank?
レギュラーガソリンを満タンでお願いします。 [ Regyuraa gasorin o mantan de onegaishimasu. ]: Full tank of regular gas, please.
日本では左側通行です。 [ Nihon de wa hidarigawa tsuukou desu. ]: In Japan, we drive on the left.
制限速度は時速五十キロです。 [ Seigen sokudo wa jisoku gojukkiro desu. ]: The speed limit is 50 km/h.
一時停止してください。 [ Ichiji teishi shite kudasai. ]: Please make a full stop.
駐車場はありますか。 [ Chuushajou wa arimasu ka. ]: Is there a parking lot?
コインパーキングに止めます。 [ Koin paakingu ni tomemasu. ]: I'll park at a coin parking lot.
駐車料金は一時間いくらですか。 [ Chuusha ryoukin wa ichijikan ikura desu ka. ]: How much is parking per hour?
ETCカードは使えますか。 [ Iitiishii kaado wa tsukaemasu ka. ]: Can I use an ETC card?
高速道路の入り口はどこですか。 [ Kousokudouro no iriguchi wa doko desu ka. ]: Where is the expressway entrance?
自転車を借りたいです。 [ Jitensha o karitai desu. ]: I want to rent a bicycle.
電動アシスト自転車はありますか。 [ Dendou ashisuto jitensha wa arimasu ka. ]: Do you have electric assist bicycles?
ここに自転車を止めてもいいですか。 [ Koko ni jitensha o tomete mo ii desu ka. ]: Can I park my bicycle here?
駐輪場はあそこです。 [ Chuurinjou wa asoko desu. ]: The bicycle parking area is over there.
自転車を撤去されました。 [ Jitensha o tekkyo saremashita. ]: My bicycle was removed/towed.
返却時間は何時ですか。 [ Henkyaku jikan wa nanji desu ka. ]: What time is the return deadline?

Cultural notes

Renting a car or a bicycle in Japan offers an incredibly rewarding way to explore stunning rural landscapes and hidden local neighborhoods, but it requires strict adherence to local traffic laws and cultural customs. The most immediate and critical difference for North American and many European visitors is that in Japan, traffic drives on the left side of the road, and the steering wheel is on the right side of the car. To legally rent a car, or "Rentakaa" (レンタカー), you must possess a valid International Driving Permit obtained in your home country before your trip; your regular domestic license alone will not be accepted under any circumstances. Speed limits in Japan are surprisingly low compared to the West, typically 40 or 50 km/h on standard urban roads, and coming to a complete, full stop at all railway crossings is a strict, heavily enforced legal requirement. Navigating the country's extensive toll roads is made significantly easier by renting an ETC Card (イーティーシーカード) along with your car, which allows you to pass through highway toll gates without stopping to pay cash. Cycling, which is a major pillar of Japanese daily life, also comes with its own rigid cultural framework. Bicycles are called "Jitensha" (自転車). Unlike in many Western cities, you cannot simply chain your bike to a random pole, fence, or street sign. You must park only in designated, paid bicycle parking lots known as "Chuurinjou" (駐輪場). If you park illegally on the sidewalk, municipal workers will tag the bike and quickly tow it away to a distant impound lot, leaving you with a hefty retrieval fee. When riding, remember that cyclists often share sidewalks with pedestrians; ringing your bell aggressively to clear a path is considered extremely rude.

✣

← Airport Contents Restaurant →

Other sections

Greetings Politeness and apologies Aizuchi and reactions Understanding and repeating Introducing yourself Basic questions Numbers and classifiers Time and dates Requests and permissions Speech levels Asking directions Location Station and tickets IC cards Train and Shinkansen Subway Bus Taxi Airport Restaurant Ordering food Izakaya Fast food Diets and allergies Bill and takeaway Convenience stores Supermarket and street stalls Clothes shopping Shopping and tax-free Checkout and refunds Hotel and Ryokan Room and facilities Onsen and public baths Check-out and lockers AirBnb and rules Wi-Fi and SIM Bank and money Post and administration Lost and found General health Describing symptoms Pains and body Pharmacy Hospital and clinic Emergencies Natural disasters Police and accidents Travel problems Family Work and colleagues Feelings and emotions Hobbies and pop culture Tourism and impressions Weather and seasons Invitations and outings Opinions and refusals Visiting someone's home Farewells and contact