How Far Ahead to Book a Car for Each Season in Japan

After prices, the question we are asked most often is how far ahead to book. The answer varies greatly by season, because the number of vehicles, and of drivers who speak your language, is genuinely limited. This is not a way of pressing you to decide quickly.

Why Vehicles Fill Up Quickly at Certain Times

Vehicles serving visitors in Japan carry green licence plates, meaning they are properly registered to carry paying passengers. Their number is limited by official permits, so they cannot simply be added at peak times, and drivers who can communicate in a visitor’s language are fewer still.

When the travel season arrives, visitors from many countries book the same pool of vehicles at the same time, so they fill up before many people have even started planning.

How Far Ahead to Book

Period	Recommended booking lead time	Reason
Cherry blossom, late March to early April	2 to 3 months	The fastest-filling period of the year, and bloom dates change every year
Golden Week, late April to early May	2 to 3 months	People across Japan travel at the same time
Autumn leaves, October to early December	1 to 2 months	A longer season than cherry blossom, but popular spots are very busy
New Year, late December to early January	2 to 3 months	Visitors and Japanese travellers are on the move at the same time
Snow, January to February	1 month	Routes in Hokkaido and snow areas need vehicles prepared for slippery roads
Other regular periods	2 to 4 weeks	There is usually still a choice of vehicles, but booking early gets you the one that suits you best

What Booking Early Gives You Beyond Simply Having a Car

• You can choose a vehicle type that matches your group size and luggage, rather than settling for one that is too large or too small
• You get a driver who communicates in the language you need
• You can reserve car seats, which are limited in number each day
• There is time to refine the route together before you travel

Can You Still Book at Short Notice?

Yes, but there will be fewer options. On some days only vehicles of a size that does not quite fit your group may remain, or only drivers who communicate in a different language from the one you prefer. We will tell you honestly when we send the quotation so that you can decide whether it works for you. We never make changes without telling you.

Check vehicle availability for your travel dates