Okayama Airport Car Rentals: Best Rates & Zero Hidden Fees

You need an International Driving Permit (IDP). US licenses alone are not valid in Japan—you'll need an IDP issued by your local AAA office (about $20), along with your original US license. The IDP is valid for one year from entry date. Without it, rental companies will refuse to hand over the vehicle, and police can fine you on the spot.

Yes, this is the biggest adjustment. Japan is left-hand traffic (right-hand drive vehicles), so you sit on the right side and drive on the left. Roundabouts require giving way to traffic from the right. Most Okayama highways and city streets are well-marked, but rural mountain roads (especially toward Takahashi or Kurashiki) can be narrow with sharp blind corners. Take it slow for the first day.

Tolls are paid via ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) card or cash at gates. A full-day expressway run from Okayama to Takamatsu or Hiroshima can cost ¥6,000–¥10,000 (~$40–$70). If you're doing any highway driving, rent the ETC card from your rental company (usually ¥330/day)—it saves queuing at toll booths and lets you use the express lanes. Some rental companies offer flat-rate expressway passes; ask before you leave the counter.

From December through February, yes—if you're heading into the mountainous interior of Okayama Prefecture (around Okutsu, Mt. Kisara, or the rural roads of Maniwa), rental companies will likely insist on winter tires at no extra charge. Coastal Okayama City and the Seto Inland Sea area rarely see snow accumulation, but mountain passes can ice over overnight. Check your rental agreement: many include studless winter tires by default in winter.

Yes, drivers under 25 typically pay a young driver surcharge of roughly ¥1,100–¥2,200 per day (~$8–$15) at major agencies like Times, Nissan, or Toyota Rent-a-Car in Okayama. The minimum age to rent is usually 18 with an IDP, but surcharges kick in at age 21–24. Book online in advance—walk-in rates at Okayama Station or Okayama Airport tend to be higher and inventory is limited during sakura season (late March) and Obon (mid-August).

Almost all rental cars in Okayama run on regular gasoline (普通自動車用ガソリソ). Diesel is rare. Most rentals operate on a full-to-full policy: you receive the car with a full tank and must return it full or be charged a refueling service fee (usually higher than pump price). There are plenty of gas stations along major routes, but in rural Okayama (toward the caves of Kōkūgen or Kibi Plateau), fill up before leaving the city—some mountain roads have long stretches with no stations.