Traveling by Car in Japan with Kids

Last Updated on September 21, 2024 by Kay

Whether you’re living in Japan or just visiting, you might be wondering about driving in Japan with kids.

We’ve had a car in Japan since my daughter was born and rented a car as well for some trips, so I thought I would share what all parents should know when driving with their children, helpful tips, and our experience.

Car Seats for Kids in Japan

Children in Japan from newborns up until the age of five are required by Japanese law to have a car seat or booster seat. Car seats are called “child seat” (チャイルドシート) in Japanese.

If you’re looking to purchase a car seat, you can find them for sale at any of the four major children’s retailers in Japan. Just like in most countries, the type of car seat you get depends on your child’s age and weight.

My daughter used an older version of the following car seat by Combi when she was a baby until she turned three.

Combi’s car seats were also voted as the best for newborn babies by parents in Japan in 2024.

From age three, she graduated to a “junior seat”. This one changes from a car seat to a booster seat and can be used for children from ages one to 11.

If you’re renting a car, the car rental company will provide your child with a car seat for an additional fee but make sure you inform them in advance.

Interestingly, children are not required by law to use a car seat while taking a taxi in Japan. Parents tend to hold their babies or toddlers, which I don’t completely agree with because it’s clearly unsafe but… anyway, I guess it’s their decision. If you want to take a taxi with a small child, I recommend having a portable car seat on hand, such as WAYB Pico Travel Car Seat or bubblebum Inflatable Backless Booster Car Seat.

You may also notice that people in Japan can sometimes be rather lax about their children being in car seats, whether in their own car or others. For instance, some parents might hold their baby, some might even wear them in a baby carrier while driving, and sometimes you won’t see kids buckled up at all!

It was rather shocking to me when I first witnessed this and this is certainly a case of “don’t do what the locals do”. Ensure that your child’s safety is your priority.

For more information about car seats for children in Japan and how to affix them to the car, this is a helpful resource.

What to Prepare for a Road Trip in Japan with Kids

Even if you’re not traveling a long distance, it’s essential to be prepared. When I went on a road trip with my daughter when she was a toddler, she threw up twice. It was… not great.

Here’s what I recommend parents pack when traveling by car in Japan with kids (especially with babies and toddlers):

• Disposable vomit bag (if you’re coming into Japan from abroad, snag a couple of bags from the airplane!)
• A change of clothes
• Sanitizing wipes (called 除菌シーツ・jokin sheets in Japanese)
• Something to keep kids entertained (toys, books, etc)
• Snacks (if your kids are old enough to feed themselves without the risk of choking)

We always stop by a convenience store before we head out on a trip to grab drinks and snacks for everyone!

Why I Love Driving in Japan with My Family

Just like in many countries, I love driving in Japan with my family because it’s so convenient.

You don’t have to worry about getting seats like when you take the train or bus. Your kid can take a nap without being interrupted when you have to change trains. There’s no rushing to catch a train or make a connection.

Not to mention you can bring a lot more stuff than you could when you take public transportation, such as entire packages of diapers. It’s also easy to pop a stroller in the trunk as well and use it when needed.

You don’t have to worry about where to put your luggage if you want to make a stop on your way to a destination, either, and of course, you can make all the stops you want! One of my favorite things to do when driving somewhere is to open Google Maps and see what’s around that might be interesting to visit. I’m really not the type of person to follow recommendations on social media (I don’t like social media, actually) and find that this way you can have a great trip discovering fun, off-the-beaten-path gems.

For instance, when we were driving to Tambatitanis Fossil Studio in Hyogo Prefecture, I came across a little shrine on Google Maps and decided to visit it. They don’t get many visitors so the mother of the priest was very excited and gave us a personal tour! She even let my daughter, who was three at the time, pound on some drums and gifted us with some souvenirs. It made a great memory.

Where to Drive in Japan with Kids

If you’re looking to drive in Japan, I will say right away that I don’t recommend driving in Tokyo. The roads are congested and the parking fees are high. It’s much faster taking a train.

We drove from Tokyo to Kobe back when we were looking for land to buy a house, but I wouldn’t recommend doing that. The trip is long and kids will get bored.

However, there are plenty of other places to drive with kids in Japan! Pretty much every place I recommend in this article is very drivable, especially Wakayama, so make sure to give it a read.

Where to Take Breaks While Driving

One reason why Japan is a great country to drive in is that they have plenty of service or rest areas along expressways. These rest areas are called Michi-no-Eki (道の駅) and you’ll see plenty of signs for them as you drive.

Michi-no-Eki has it all — clean restrooms, diaper changing stations, food, drinks, and souvenirs. If you’re driving from one prefecture in Japan to another, definitely check out a Michi-no-Eki in each prefecture because you’ll find lots of regional goodies.

These are also great places to stretch your legs and let your kids run around. Some have playgrounds and even small amusement parks. We stopped at one called Kariya Highway Oasis in Nagoya and it had a Ferris wheel, so we took our then-one-year-old on it for her first ride ever!

To help make your trip easier, you can use this site to find out exactly where Michi-no-Eki are located along your route.

Where to Rent a Car in Japan

If you’re looking to rent a car in Japan, there are plenty of companies to choose from, including internationally recognized ones such as DiscoverCars, GetRentacar.com, and Rentalcars.com. If you can’t speak Japanese, I recommend going with one of those companies.

If you’re not sure about whether you want to rent a car and drive, you can also hire a driver for the day through travel sites like GetYourGuide and Klook.

Helpful Tips for Driving in Japan

I’ve written an article sharing my personal 20 helpful tips about driving in Japan so if you’ve never driven in Japan before, make sure to check it out so you’re prepared!