Rentaca, as you might guess from how it is pronounced is the Japanese word for “rental car” (non-surprisingly derived from English).

While major metropolitan areas such as Tokyo or Osaka have excellent public transportation systems, many areas in Japan are not as convenient. For example, renting a car would make travelling places like Hokkaido and Kyushu much easier. Relying on trains and buses is not only extremely time consuming in these areas, it also limits the places you can visit.

In order to rent a car in Japan, you must have either a Japanese driver’s license, or an International Driving Permit (IDP). To obtain a permit, you must apply for them in your home country before visiting Japan. Depending on the type of car you rent, they can cost anywhere from around 2500 yen a day to as much as 10,000 yen a day. If you are visiting areas like Hokkaido or Kyushu, definitely consider renting a car! There are many incredible places to visit that are otherwise difficult to access!

Let’s remember the following useful sentences before going to Japan!

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●Hokkaido nara rentaca de ryokou shita hou ga ii desuyo.
(北海道ならレンタカーで旅行したほうがいいですよ。)
> If you are visiting Hokkaido, it is better to rent a car.

●Tokyo wa benri nanode rentaca iranai to omoimasuyo.
(東京は便利なので、レンタカーはいらないと思いますよ。)
> Since Tokyo is convenient, I don’t think you need to rent a car.

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Now all that’s left is to go out there and try using them in Japan!

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Ichigo-ichie (一期一会) Fun! Japan Words vol.142