Car Hire In Mishima, Japan: Great Value For Exploring Fuji And Izu

Bring The Right Documents: Most renters need a passport plus a valid driving licence and an International Driving Permit (IDP, 1949 Convention) unless your licence is from a country with a recognised Japanese translation arrangement.

Expect Tolls On Expressways: Routes towards Hakone, Gotemba and Fuji often use toll roads. Ask for an ETC card option if available to speed up toll gates and avoid cash-only delays.

Fuel Up Before Remote Scenic Roads: Izu’s coastal and mountain roads have fewer late-night stations. Top up near Mishima/Numazu before heading deep into the peninsula, especially in the evening.

Plan For Weather & Visibility: Fuji views are best early morning; cloud can roll in quickly. Check forecasts and webcams where possible, and keep a flexible loop so you can swap viewpoints.

Avoid Peak Traffic Times: Weekends, public holidays and Sunday evenings can be congested around Hakone and Gotemba. Start early and consider returning before late afternoon if you dislike stop-start traffic.

Parking Can Be The Bottleneck: Popular spots (Owakudani, Lake Kawaguchi, major viewpoints) may have full car parks at midday. Arrive early, use paid lots, and keep coins/cards handy.

Choose Insurance With Mountain Roads In Mind: Narrow lanes, tight bends and busy tourist car parks increase the chance of minor scrapes. Consider adding collision damage waiver and tyre/glass cover if offered.

Use Navigation In Japanese Place Names Too: If your sat-nav struggles, search by phone number (common in Japan) or paste Japanese names. Download offline maps for areas with patchy signal in the hills.