Getting around Japan can be one of the great adventures of visiting this incredible country, and there are a number of ways of getting around. I love the train system in Japan, but the ferries are also fabulous too, as are the buses and then there’s renting a car and driving too. However sometimes it really makes a lot of sense to get yourself a car and driver. Especially if you’re not comfortable driving on the left hand side of the road, or if you want to focus on sightseeing rather than watching the road! There’s a great option available that allows you to pre-book your route, and stop off for predefined sightseeing stops along the way. It really is one of the best options for maximising your time in Japan, so I’m going to take you through the concept of hiring a private driver in Japan – how it works, what to expect, and why this particular service is a super way to get around Japan.
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EASIEST WAY TO VISIT
Get a price for your journey between cities in Japan and select sightseeing options along the way.
While the usual concept of using a taxi or a private driver is to go from A to B, you won’t find many taxi drivers who want to stop for you to take photos along the way, or stop in at say Himeji Castle for a few hours. The company that we use – it’s called Daytrip – are about much more than that. They’ve been in existence since 2015 and they contract with local Japanese drivers on your behalf. You’ll know before you book what language skills your driver has. So let’s say you want to go from Sapporo to Hakodate, and then you want to stop off to hike Jigokudani (Hell Valley) or you want to see the Horomitoge Lavender Garden on the way (there are a heap of other stops along the way that you can pick from too). So you simply pick your sightseeing stops and each of your stops is priced in. Both in terms of cost and time. So you can say, that you want 3 hours instead of 2 at Jigokudani for instance. And so on. It’s a brilliant way of seeing Japan.
Get a price for your route and stops here.
PRACTICAL TRAVEL TIPS
- 🛡️ Get Travel Insurance: Civitatis includes medical expenses, repatriation, theft, luggage delays. No deductibles or upfront payments. Get a quote here.
- 💰 Read about the Currency in Japan and ATM fees.
- 🔌 Check out Japan’s plug, socket & power situation.
- 📶 Internet, maps, and data on the go. eSims for Japan
Go from A to B (and Visit C, D and E en route)
I love traveling by train in Japan, it’s so convenient. (My guide to using the Japanese trains is here) And the highway buses are pretty good too. Ferries are magnificent. But not all of them go to the places that you want to go to – in the time frame that you want.
You can even find yourself zipping past at 200 kilometers per hour if you’re on a train and then having to get a taxi back to what you wanted to see.
Take for instance the popular journey from Tokyo to Hakone. You’ll see from my guide to day trips from Tokyo that visiting Yokohama for the day is a great option. But you don’t need a day to knock this off your bucket list. This option from DayTrip means that you can visit en route – on your way to Yokohama. And get several hours there, without having to backtrack to Tokyo. Perfect.
How to book a private driver in Japan
Booking a private driver in Japan is easy, there are plenty of sites that will allow you book. From Viator, to GetYourGuide and the luxury Blacklane too. However they tend to be point to point. With DayTrip you can see the options for stops along the way and tailor your trip perfectly.
Now you can also use Daytrip, book your travel plans, and pay online in advance. So there’s less requirement to take cash or withdraw money from ATMs (my guide to ATMs and cash in Japan is here). Easy. Plus you can make changes to your plans, or cancel up to 24 hours before your trip with NO CHARGE.
See so much more of Japan and get off the beaten track
When you’re visiting Japan so much of the journey is the adventure, and using Daytrip makes it even more so. You will fit SO much more in. I’m not suggesting that you take a private driver all the time, just for the trips that make sense.
Like the idea of using a car in Japan, but want to drive yourself? Here’s my guide to car rental in Japan.
Take for instance when we visited Jigokudani (Hell Valley) up in Hokkaido. We had to take a train from Hakodate, leave our bags at the train station (and just hope that there were lockers available), then we had to race around the site (which is spectacular) and make it back in time for the train we’d booked to head onto Sapporro. Here’s how you can do that trip with Daytrip.
I just love how Daytrip liaises with local drivers, and how they’ve sketched out all the major attractions you might want to visit along the way. Then they’ve allocated the right amount of time for each (although you can select more, or less time) and then applied a price to it all. It makes it all so, so easy.
How Daytrip works in Japan
Using Daytrip is easy. They’ve been around since 2015, so they have a GREAT history of doing this. They work with local drivers and you’ll find them in the USA, Europe, and Asia too – as well as even Cuba and they do some great shared shuttles in Costa Rica too! Using them is easy
1. Search for your preferred route in Japan
Select the route you want, from their list. Or just type in where you want to go.
Let’s say Hakodate to Sapporo.
Select the date and time that you want to leave. (and decide if this is a one way trip or you want to come back too).
Daytrip not only shows an estimated time of arrival which is super handy in Japan, where it’s often important to keep your hosts informed of arrival time. This is especially important if you’re staying in ryokans (which I seriously recommend) and my full guide to staying in a ryokan is here.
Daytrip’s site will also ask you how many people are traveling with you and how much luggage you have.
Want a bit more room? You can upgrade to a bigger vehicle too.
They offer assistance with luggage too, so if you’re overpacked or perhaps over purchased souvenirs while you’re in Japan, they’ll help you carry it too!
Next. Click “find a ride!”
2. Select what type of vehicle you want to ride in
For different routes you have different options of vehicles. Want an SUV? A bigger vehicle? Just click on the option and you’ll see what it adds to the cost.
3. Find the sightseeing options on your route
Time is definitely of the essence when you’re in Japan and you’ll want to try and cram a lot into your days. And frankly that gets EXHAUSTING. So being able to rest, close your eyes en route (if that’s what’s needed) and hand over the reins to a professional driver is perfect for keeping your energy levels high.
But it also means that you won’t miss out on attractions along the way. And this is where Daytrip is spectacular. Because sometimes planning a trip to Japan is just as exhausting as taking the trip!
So your next step is to decide where you want to stop off along the way!
And while the first option will be, say for instance 70 minutes at the Horomitoge Lavender Garden, if you want longer there, then just click on through and add in extra time. Daytrip is VERY clear as to how much each stop costs and what your total is.
It’s a BRILLIANT concept.
There are very clear instructions as to what happens after you make your booking. And what your cancellation terms are too. (I’ll make it easy. You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead of your departure time with NO COST). Get yourself a price here.
What your Day Trip private driver in Japan gives you
- Door to Door service
- Help with Luggage
- Optional sight-seeing
- Clean, comfortable car
- Professional driver
- Bottled water
- Child seats if needed
- Smoke-free
Top Routes for Private Drivers in Japan
I love mixing up the transport methods when I travel (my guide to Japan’s transport is here), and using Daytrip is no exception. It is a great way to get to see some of Japan’s highlights. And while this is by no means an exhaustive list of their routes, it’s the key ones that I think you’ll be interested in, with included details of what you can visit along the way.
- Tokyo to Osaka
- Kyoto to Osaka
- Haneda Airport to Tokyo
- Tokyo to Hakone
- Tokyo to Narita International Airport
- Tokyo to Lake Kawaguchiko (for Fuji)
- Osaka to Nara
Click on the links above to see sightseeing stop offs along the way, and for other routes, click here.
If you don’t see a route that you’re interested in or a sightseeing stop that you’d like to make, then you can also message Daytrip and ask them to add in a route, or make a stop. If it’s possible, then they will make it happen.
JAPAN TRAVEL RESOURCES
TRAIN TICKETS
Easiest way to buy train tickets, use Klook for Shinkansen Train Tickets, check timetables & reserve seats.
Book Train Tickets
HOTELS AND APARTMENTS
See choices here
Sea view rooms? Budget rooms? Need a washing machine? The best choice of hotels & apartments.
TOURS & ATTRACTIONS
Most excursion choices, small group tours, skip-line tickets, free cancellation and top local guides.
Top options here.
CAR RENTAL GUIDE
Read my Guide
Best choice of vehicles, automatics, large or small cars, child seats. Book early for more options.
Final Words on Using a Private Driver in Japan
Taxis and private cars as transport in Japan is nothing new. Taxis are usually spectacularly clean and drivers amazingly polite, that is never in question in Japan. But this idea of stopping off along the way, is a huge new adventure that will make maximising your time in Japan a WHOLE lot more comfortable and enjoyable. Let me know how you get on and what you manage to see as a result!
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