Areas Offering Snow Tires

Region Vehicle Management (Pickup Location) Areas Availability
Standard (Included)
 Tire Chains 4WD Availability
Hokkaido Asahikawa ○ ○ × All vehicles
Hakodate ○ ○ × All vehicles
Sapporo ○ ○ × All vehicles
Chitose ○ ○ × All vehicles
Tohoku Aomori ○ ○ × Partial
Iwate ○ ○ × ×
Akita ○ ○ × ×
Miyagi ○ ○ × ×
Fukushima ○ ○ × ×
Kanto Chiba ○ × ¥3,850/day Partial
Tokyo ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Hokuriku Toyama ○ ○ × ×
Ishikawa ○ ○ × ×
Fukui ○ ○ × ×
Koshinetsu Nagano ○ ○ × Partial
Karuizawa ○ ○ × Partial
Kawaguchiko ○ ○ × Partial
Tokai Shizuoka ○ × × Not available at any location ×
Gifu ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Aichi ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Mie ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Kansai Shiga ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Osaka ○ × ¥3,850/day Partial
Hyogo ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Chugoku Shimane ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Okayama ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Hiroshima ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Yamaguchi ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Shikoku Tokushima ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Kagawa ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Ehime ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Kochi ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Kyusyu Fukuoka ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Saga ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Nagasaki ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Kumamoto ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Oita ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Miyazaki ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Kagoshima ○ × ¥3,850/day ×
Amami Amami × × × ×

The price may differ when extending your rental period or when adding the Snow tire option by phone or in person. Please contact us directly for pricing.

Areas Offering Snow Tires

地域ごとの冬季期間一覧
Hokkaido November – April Tokai December – March (excluding Aichi)
Tohoku November – April Kansai December – March
Kanto November 15 – March 31 Chugoku December – March
Hokuriku December – April Shikoku Late November – Mid March
Koshinetsu Late November – Around May 10 Kyushu Late November – Mid March

Note: Some areas may have different schedules.

For more details, please contact the rental location directly.

What Is a Chain-Regulated Road?

A chain-regulated road is a designated section where tire chains are required during heavy snow or icy conditions. Even with Snow tires, chains must be installed when this regulation is in effect.

Important Notes for Chain-Regulated Roads

Even if your vehicle is equipped with Snow tires, tire chains are required when driving on chain-regulated roads. Please follow all posted signs and install chains before entering these sections.

Chain-regulated zones are enforced by authorities during severe weather to ensure safety on roads that become highly hazardous due to heavy snow or icy conditions.
On officially designated chain-regulated roads, Snow tires alone are not sufficient, and vehicles without chains are not permitted to enter.

Please note that our company does NOT provide tire chain rentals. If you expect to travel in areas with chain regulations, please prepare your own chains and install them when necessary.

Guide to Heavy Snowfall Areas

Across Japan, many regions experience snowfall and icy road conditions during the winter season.
For a safe and comfortable journey, please check the weather and road conditions around your destination before travelling.

Japan Map

Hokkaido Area

Hokkaido
Sapporo, Asahikawa, Hakodate, Kushiro, Obihiro, Otaru, Kitami, Muroran, Tomakomai, Wakkanai
Note: Long snowy season from November to April. Winter tires are required throughout the region.

Tohoku Area

Aomori Prefecture
Aomori, Hachinohe, Hirosaki, Towada
Iwate Prefecture
Morioka, Hanamaki, Kitakami, Ōshū
Akita Prefecture
Akita, Yokote, Ōdate
Yamagata Prefecture
Yamagata, Yonezawa, Tsuruoka, Sakata
Miyagi Prefecture
Sendai (mountainous areas), Kesennuma
Fukushima Prefecture
Aizuwakamatsu, Koriyama (mountainous areas), Fukushima
Note: Aizuwakamatsu receives particularly heavy snowfall during peak seasons from December to March

Hokuriku・
Koshinetsu Area

Niigata Prefecture
Niigata, Nagaoka, Joetsu, Itoigawa
Toyama Prefecture
Toyama, Takaoka, Kurobe, Uozu
Ishikawa Prefecture
Kanazawa, Hakusan, Komatsu
Nagano Prefecture
Nagano, Matsumoto, Karuizawa, Hakuba, Chino
Note: Most regions here experience heavy-snowfall. Be sure to use extra caution especially in ski resort areas

Kanto・
Chubu Area

Gifu Prefecture
Gifu, Shirakawa-go, Hida
Yamanashi Prefecture
Kofu Basin area, Lake Yamanaka, Oshino
Gunma Prefecture (Map-based addition)
Minakami, Katashina, Kusatsu, Tsumagoi (Manza)
Tochigi Prefecture (Map-based addition)
Nikko (Oku-Nikko, Yumoto, Konsei Pass)
Shizuoka Prefecture (Map-based addition)
Shizuoka (northern area), Hamamatsu (Tenryu-ku, northern area)
Note: Mountainous areas may experience increased snowfall. Check road conditions when traveling to tourist areas.

Kinki Area (additional regions)

Shiga Prefecture
Nagahama, Maibara, Kinomoto, Mt. Ibuki area
Kyoto Prefecture
Kyoto (Sakyō Ward: Hanase, Kuta), Nantan (Miyama)
Hyogo Prefecture
Toyooka, Kami, Yabu, Mt. Hyono area
Nara Prefecture
Kamikitayama, Kawakami (Mt. Odaigahara area)
Wakayama Prefecture
No heavy-snowfall areas (uncolored on official map).

Chugoku Area (additional regions)

Tottori Prefecture
Daisen, Hoki, Kofu (Mt. Daisen area)
Shimane Prefecture
Iinan, Misato (Northern Chugoku Mountains)
Okayama Prefecture
Tsuyama, Mimasaka
Hiroshima Prefecture
Geihoku area, Kitahiroshima Town

Shikoku Area

Ehime Prefecture
Kumakogen, Mt. Ishizuchi area
Kochi Prefecture
Shikoku Karst (Ehime borders), Otoyo, Motoyama (mountainous areas)
Tokushima Prefecture
Mt. Tsurugi area, Miyoshi, Iya Valley
Kagawa Prefecture
Low snowfall in the plains; use caution in mountainous areas.

Kyushu Area

Fukuoka Prefecture
Reisui Pass, Yagiyama Pass, Mt. Hikosan area, Mitsuse Pass, and the rest of Fukuoka Prefecture.
Oita Prefecture
Yufuin, Kusu, Kokonoe, Shonai, Yufu
Nagasaki Prefecture
Unzen, Mt. Inasa, Hayasaka
Kumamoto Prefecture
Aso area, Kurokawa Onsen, Minami-Aso
Miyazaki Prefecture
Takachiho–Gokase, Kirishima Range (Icy roads from night to early morning)
Kagoshima Prefecture
Kirishima–Ebino Highland area, Yakushima (mountainous areas)
Note: Icy roads are common near Kagoshima Airport from late night to 9 AM.

Confirm Conditions Before Departure

Snowfall and icy road conditions may occur unexpectedly, especially in mountainous regions and high-altitude areas.
Please check the weather and road conditions around your destination before travelling.

Safe Driving Tips for Winter Conditions

Key Tips for Driving on Snowy Roads

Avoid sudden starts
and stops

Drive at a reduced speed

Keep a safe
following distance

Adjust plans
during heavy snow

Knowing When to Stop Driving Is Also Important

Even with Snow tires or tire chains, road and weather conditions may make it unsafe to continue driving.
Driving in snowy or icy conditions with normal tires is extremely dangerous—please avoid doing so.
If weather or road conditions worsen, consider delaying or canceling your trip for your safety.
Driving in unsafe conditions can lead to serious accidents.

FAQ

Q1

I would like to know more about adding Snow tires as an option to my rental.

A

Options not listed as standard equipment are paid options. For items not listed on our website. For items not listed on our website, please contact the rental location directly.

Q2

Do I need Snow tires?

A

It depends on the weather and region, please use your own discretion. However, areas with even light snowfall require Snow tires.

Q3

What should I do if there are no vehicles with Snow tires available?

A

We may not be able to provide a vehicle with Snow tires for your requested dates. In snowy conditions, please refrain from driving for your own safety.

Q4

Can tire chains be used with Snow tires?

A

Chains can be installed, but we cannot advise on specific tire–chain combinations as we do not provide the chains. Please purchase chains from a tire specialist or auto shop.

Q5

Is it safe to drive on highways and expressways in rainy weather with Snow tires?

A

Snow tires may lose traction on wet roads. If you must drive, lower your speed, increase following distance, and brake early. Choose safer routes such as local roads if possible.

Q6

Why aren’t all vehicles equipped with Snow tires even when it snows?

A

In designated areas, all vehicles have Snow tires. In other areas, less than 10% of vehicles are equipped. We do not change tires during the winter, and customers cannot purchase or switch to Snow tires except in emergencies such as a tire puncture.

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