Set up for a calmer expressway drive

Japan’s expressways make long rental-car journeys practical, but a relaxed plan is more useful than a tight timetable. Before entering, check the navigation destination, estimated toll route, fuel level, weather and any congestion notices. Keep water and essentials within reach, then put the phone away before moving. Japanese rules require every occupant to wear a seat belt, so confirm this before the car joins traffic. If you are travelling with a child under six, use the appropriate child seat arranged with the rental company.

On a two-lane expressway, keep left as your normal position. The right lane is for overtaking; after passing, return safely to the left lane rather than continuing there. Do not use the shoulder or side strip as a driving lane. Signs set the applicable maximum and, where shown, minimum speed. Treat those signs and the current rain, wind, darkness or traffic flow as the conditions that determine a safe speed, not the speed of a vehicle ahead.

Plan rest stops before tiredness decides for you

Look at the route’s service areas (SA) and parking areas (PA) before departure, but do not assume every stop has the same facilities. Official NEXCO route and rest-area tools are the right place to confirm fuel, food, toilets or other current services. JAF also notes that some expressway sections have long gaps without service stations, so refuel early when the gauge is comfortable rather than waiting for a warning light.

A rest stop is not a failure to keep a schedule. It is the safest place to reset attention, use a phone, adjust navigation, change driver or deal with luggage. If your eyes feel heavy, you are repeatedly missing signs, or conversation and scenery are pulling attention away from the road, choose the next safe rest facility. Stretch, drink water, eat if needed and resume only when you feel alert. Never pull onto the shoulder merely to make a call or take a break.

Make lane changes predictable

Expressway traffic moves quickly, so make each change deliberate. Check mirrors, look for a safe gap, signal early and move only when the surrounding traffic allows it. Keep a generous following distance, especially on a wet road, because braking distances can increase. Avoid sudden steering and avoid treating the passing lane as a place to queue. If you see congestion ahead and must slow sharply, use hazard lamps to warn following traffic as recommended by NEXCO.

• Use the left lane as the regular driving lane.
• Use the right lane only to overtake, then return when safe.
• Keep clear of shoulders except in an emergency or under official direction.
• Stop at a designated SA or PA for rest, phone use or navigation changes.

Handle a wrong turn without improvising

Missing an exit is frustrating, especially when a reservation or sunset is ahead. Do not reverse, make a U-turn or stop on the expressway. Continue safely to the next interchange and use the toll-booth interphone or speak with staff if you need guidance. At a toll lane, follow its signs carefully; an ETC lane should be entered slowly and only after the barrier opens. If the barrier does not open, do not back up. Turn on hazard lights and use the interphone.

Good expressway driving is deliberately uneventful. Build in time for breaks, leave lane decisions early, and accept a longer trip if traffic or weather calls for it. With a charged navigation device, enough fuel, seat belts fastened and a willingness to stop at a proper rest area, a rental-car drive becomes a comfortable part of the Japanese journey rather than a race between destinations.

Why tunnels deserve a plan

A tunnel can turn a familiar drive into a visibility challenge in seconds. Bright daylight disappears at the entrance, your eyes need time to adjust, and the road may feel narrower or louder than the approach. For a visitor driving a rental car in Japan, the safest response is not to make a sudden correction inside the tunnel. It is to prepare before the portal, keep the car predictable, and follow the signs already in place.

Japan’s Road Traffic Act requires vehicle lights at night and also at other times prescribed by Cabinet Order. Official expressway guidance tells drivers to use lights in daytime in tunnels, dense fog, and heavy rain when visibility is poor. Treat that as a simple habit: switch on the appropriate lights before entering a tunnel, even if the entrance looks well lit. Your aim is not only to see the road; it is also to help drivers behind and beside you see your car.

Prepare before the entrance

Do the small tasks while you still have daylight and space. Set your navigation destination before moving off, put the phone away, and check that sunglasses will not make the tunnel too dark. If the rental car has automatic lights, learn where the control is at pickup; automatic systems can be helpful, but the driver remains responsible for reading the road and the dashboard.

• Look ahead for the tunnel sign, lane arrows, speed signs, and any electronic message board.
• Turn on low-beam headlights early rather than waiting for your eyes to struggle with the change in light.
• Reduce speed smoothly before the entrance if conditions, traffic, or a posted limit require it; do not brake sharply after crossing the threshold.
• Leave more following distance than you would on an open road, especially on a wet surface.

Keep to the left unless signs or traffic conditions require another lane. On a two-lane expressway, the left lane is the normal driving lane and the right lane is for overtaking. A tunnel is a poor place to make an unplanned lane change, so choose your lane early and use indicators before any necessary move.

Keep every movement calm inside

Once inside, keep a steady line and scan far ahead rather than staring at the tunnel wall or the bumper in front. Tunnel lighting can create reflections on the windscreen, and wet pavement can make them stronger. Keep both hands ready for small steering inputs and avoid sudden acceleration, braking, or lane changes. If traffic slows, increase your gap rather than trying to regain time.

Do not use a handheld phone, change navigation settings, or search for a camera setting while driving. Japan’s road rules prohibit distracted mobile-phone use, and a tunnel gives you fewer safe margins for attention to drift. If you need to check a route or the rental agreement, wait until a lawful, safe stopping place such as a service area or other designated facility.

Exit with the same attention

The bright rectangle at the end of a tunnel can make the exit look closer than it is. Keep your lights on until you have fully returned to open-road conditions, hold your lane, and give your eyes a moment to adjust. Wind, rain, or a sharp curve may begin immediately after the portal. Check the next sign before changing speed or route, then continue at a speed suitable for the posted limit and the actual conditions.

If something goes wrong

Never turn around or reverse inside a tunnel. If a warning light appears, a tire problem is suspected, or the car cannot continue normally, follow the posted tunnel instructions and move only when it is safe to do so. Use hazard lights to warn following traffic. On a Japanese expressway, official guidance says to alert others, evacuate to a safe place such as outside a guardrail when possible, and avoid remaining on the traffic lane. Tunnel emergency signs, phones, and staff instructions take priority because equipment and evacuation layouts vary by location.

A calm tunnel drive starts before the entrance. Lights on, speed managed, space ahead, phone away: those four habits make a rental-car journey in Japan easier for you and more predictable for everyone around you. For the wider rules that apply to visitors, review the Japan Automobile Federation’s driving guidance before departure.

Iya Valley in western Tokushima rewards patient travelers with deep gorges, vine bridges and mountain scenery, but it is not a destination for rushing between pins on a map. A rental car gives you useful flexibility in Shikoku, yet the most important decision is to set a conservative plan before leaving Tokushima Awaodori Airport. Treat the journey as two different drives: first reach the Miyoshi/Awa-Ikeda area, then continue toward Oboke and the particular Iya sight you have chosen. This approach leaves time for navigation, fuel, weather checks and the slower rhythm of mountain roads.

Plan the journey in two stages

Miyoshi City’s official tourism guide lists the drive from Tokushima Airport to Awa-Ikeda at approximately one hour and 20 minutes, and the drive from Awa-Ikeda to Oboke at approximately 35 minutes. Those figures are useful planning references, not a promise for every destination in Iya Valley. Your final time changes with the exact accommodation or attraction, traffic, weather and road conditions. Enter the precise destination in the car navigation system before departure, keep a charged phone and ask the rental company how its navigation handles route changes.

Do not turn the published times into a tightly scheduled arrival. JNTO describes Iya as a remote mountain valley where narrow roads make travel slow. Build a daylight buffer, especially if this is your first experience of left-side driving or rural Japanese roads. If you have a lodging check-in, tell the property your realistic arrival window rather than planning a last-minute mountain ascent.

• Set the first navigation stop to Awa-Ikeda or Oboke, then confirm the second leg.
• Download or save the route while you have reliable signal at the airport.
• Check the day’s road and weather information before committing to side roads.

Choose the right destination for your confidence

Not every part of Iya is the same drive. The local IyaTime guide notes that the main route from Oboke to the Kazurabashi Vine Bridge is two lanes, comparatively wide and paved, although curvy and sometimes steep. Beyond that area, routes into Oku-Iya and hillside villages can include frequent one-lane sections. That distinction matters when choosing a car and an itinerary. A compact vehicle may feel easier to place on narrow roads, but the rental company should advise on vehicle availability and equipment rather than an online article making a promise.

For a first visit, pick one principal destination, allow time to park safely, and avoid adding remote side roads merely because they appear close on a map. At blind curves, use the roadside mirrors where provided, reduce speed and be prepared to wait. If another vehicle appears on a one-lane section, do not try to squeeze past beside a drop or rough edge; use a wider point to pass or reverse only when it is safe. Keep looking for people and cyclists because there may be no sidewalk or shoulder.

Apply Japan’s road rules throughout the drive

Mountain scenery does not change the basic rules. JAF states that drivers keep left, must yield to pedestrians, and must not use a phone or be distracted by navigation while driving. Everyone in the car must wear a seat belt, and a child younger than six must be secured in a child seat. Alcohol and driving do not mix: do not drive under the influence. Observe the posted limit rather than treating another vehicle’s speed as a guide. On any expressway section, JAF advises using the passing lane only to overtake and returning to the driving lane.

• Park only where stopping is permitted and the vehicle is fully clear of traffic.
• Pull over safely before changing a navigation destination or taking photographs.
• Keep fuel above a comfortable margin; do not assume a station will be nearby on mountain roads.

Weather and the return drive deserve equal attention

Check conditions again before leaving your final stop. IyaTime cautions that severe storms or typhoons can close roads and leave limited or no detours. In colder conditions, higher or remote routes can require different preparation; ask the rental company about suitable equipment and do not learn to drive on snow or ice on a steep unfamiliar road. If visibility, fatigue or weather makes the plan feel wrong, simplify it. Returning early is better than arriving after dark on a road you have not driven before.

A careful Iya Valley drive is still a rewarding one. Start with a valid driving document, a realistic two-stage plan, a vehicle you can handle confidently and enough time to respond to conditions. For the latest routing, closures and weather, consult local official information on the day rather than relying on any static itinerary.

Sources

• Miyoshi City official tourism access guide
• Japan National Tourism Organization: Iya Valley
• Japan Automobile Federation: traffic rules

Choose one lake, not an overfilled Hokkaido itinerary

Picking up a rental car at New Chitose Airport can make a first day in Hokkaido feel wonderfully open-ended. Lake Shikotsu is a sensible destination for travelers who want a calm introduction to driving rather than a long list of stops. It sits within Shikotsu-Toya National Park, a landscape shaped by volcanoes and rugged terrain. Japan National Tourism Organization guidance notes that transport between the park’s main areas is limited, and that a car is useful for reaching many places in the park. That is a reason to simplify your plan, not to try to see every area in one afternoon.

Make Lake Shikotsu the main destination. Leave Lake Toya, Noboribetsu, Jozankei, or a hiking trail for another properly planned day. This approach gives a new driver room to collect the car, understand the navigation unit, take breaks, and return before the day feels rushed. It also avoids treating a national-park map as though every attraction were a quick hop from the next.

Start at the airport with a short, deliberate routine

Before leaving the rental location, set a quiet ten minutes aside for the practical details. Confirm the fuel type, check the car for any existing marks, ask how to use the navigation system, and agree on who is driving. Load your Lake Shikotsu destination while you are parked rather than while the car is moving. If the car has driver-assistance functions, learn the essentials before joining traffic; they support attention, but do not replace it.

• Keep your licence, required driving documents, rental agreement, and emergency contact information where the driver can reach them without searching.
• Set the navigation, mirrors, seat position, and climate controls before departure.
• Choose a return time with daylight and a fuel stop in mind, then treat extra sightseeing as optional.

JNTO lists a bus journey of about 55 minutes from New Chitose Airport to the Lake Shikotsu bus terminal. A rental-car journey should not be judged against that timetable: collection time, weather, traffic, rest stops, and your own familiarity with the car all matter. Use your navigation system and current road information on the day, and build a margin rather than promising a fixed arrival time.

Drive by Japanese road rules, not by holiday momentum

The first adjustment for many visitors is simple but important: vehicles drive on the left in Japan. The Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) also says drivers must yield to pedestrians, everyone in the vehicle must use a seat belt, and a child under six must be secured in a child seat. Alcohol and driving do not mix. Keep your phone out of your hand and do not let the navigation screen compete with the road.

• Follow every posted limit and road instruction. JAF states that, where no limit is signed or marked, the default for regular cars is 60 km/h on ordinary roads and 100 km/h on expressways.
• Approach crossings, junctions, and parking areas patiently, expecting people on foot and unfamiliar traffic patterns.
• If visibility, rain, fatigue, or an unfamiliar road makes the drive feel demanding, slow down or pause. A scenic day has no prize for arriving first.

Let the lakeside set the pace

Once you arrive, keep the plan modest: enjoy the lake view, take a short walk where access is permitted, use a rest area when needed, and check the time before adding another stop. Shikotsu-Toya National Park contains varied terrain, so a map pin is not a guarantee that every nearby-looking activity fits today’s schedule. Do not rely on a past blog, a seasonal photograph, or an old map for current access conditions. Check current notices before choosing any side trip or trail.

This slower approach is especially valuable for a first drive after a flight. It makes space for navigation errors without turning them into stress, and it lets the group decide whether the weather and energy level suit more time outdoors. If they do not, the lake itself is still a complete destination.

Return with the same care you used to start

Before leaving the lakeside, set the return route while parked and make a quick group check: driver alertness, fuel level, weather, and rental return time. If another driver is permitted under your rental agreement, change drivers only after stopping safely and completing any required registration. On the way back, keep the driving lane unless overtaking and refuel early if the gauge calls for it; JAF notes that some expressway stretches have long gaps without service stations.

A Lake Shikotsu rental-car day works best when it remains intentionally small. With one clear destination, current information, and respect for Japan’s road rules, your first Hokkaido drive can be both practical and memorable.

Sources: JNTO; JAF.