With Winter Tires, Let's Enjoy Safe Winter Driving in Japan!

Are Winter Tires necessary in Japan during Winter?

Winter Tires are Special Tires that are less slippery than Regular Tires when you drive on snowy or icy roads.

Winter Driving in Japan requires Winter Tires in many Areas. Even if your Rental Car pick up area doesn't get a lot of snow, if your destination is a snowy area, you'll definitely need Winter Tires.

As the situation may change depending on the region/period. Please check the table below for reference.

List of Heavy Snow / Snowfall Area

Heavy Snow Area
Snowfall Area 1
Snowfall Area 2
Snowfall Area 3

Prefecture

Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, Akita

Miyagi, Yamagata, Fukushima, Nagano, Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi

Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Shiga, Gifu, Tottori, Shimane

Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Nara, Wakayama, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, Kochi, Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima

Winter Tires Equipped as Standard Option.
Winter Tires Required depending on the destination
Need Winter Tires in High Altitude Areas, but Unnecessary in most Areas

* hardly ever snows in Okinawa.

Snowfall conditions are changed with the year's climate and conditions. So please refer to weather forecasts and prepare for your trip at your own discretion.

How to reserve Winter Tires at ToCoo!?

Make a Reservation with Winter Tires Plan

Winter Tires Plan is a convenient plan that automatically includes the option of Winter Tires when you make a Reservation for a Rental Car with this Plan.

Winter Tires can be required in the [Snowfall Areas] above. It depends on your Destination. So please apply for Winter Tires if necessary. In [Heavy Snow Area] and [Snowfall Area 1] above, Winter Tires are equipped as the Standard Option during the Period indicated, even if there is no Winter Tires Plan. The Number of Winter Tires Plan is limited. So, we recommend to make reservations early. You may not be able to add Winter Tires due to being out of stock. Go to check Winter Tires Plan

Following Rental Car Companies are selling Winter Tires Plan right now.

Nissan Rent a Car (Excluding Some Areas)*
Orix Rent A Car (Sold at some Car Outlets in Shizuoka, Nagano, Yamanashi, Aichi, and Osaka prefectures)
NICONICO RENT A CAR (Sold at some Car Outlets in Chiba and Kanagawa prefectures.)
Miki Car Rental (Sold at some Car Outlets in Chiba Prefecture)

* Excluded Areas: [Heavy Snow Area], [Snowfall Area 1] above and Tochigi, Shizuoka, Wakayama, Tokushima, Yamaguchi, Oita and Okinawa prefecture, etc. In addition to this, it may not be available at some other Car Outlets.

Request Additional Winter Tire Options

You can request the additional Winter Tire Options with a regular rental car reservation that does not include Winter Tires.

The Winter Tires Request Form is included in the 【ToCoo!】 Reservation Confirmation that we sent after your rental car reservation is confirmed. Please request the Winter Tires separately with the form.

Request with Winter Tires Request Form does not guarantee the confirmation of Winter Tires.

FAQ regarding Winter Tires

When do I have to submit the Winter Tires Request Form?: Please request Winter Tire Options 10 days before your car pick up date. The Deadline is 10 days before the pick up date to request Winter Tire Option.

How much the Winter Tire Option is if I request to add The Winter Tire Option with the Request Form?: Please check the Estimated price of Winter Tires through the Link below. Winter Tire Option price list

I requested the Winter Tire Option with the Winter Tires Request Form, but I received an email that the Winter Tires can not be added. What should I do?: If the Winter Tire Option is not added, please change your travel plans or remove the schedule of traveling to Snowy Areas from your travel plan. If you wish to travel to a snowy area, you can try to get Snow Chains at a car accessories store yourself. However, in this case, you are responsible for using the Snow Chains, and purchase costs will be at your own expense. Moreover, if the tires are damaged due to snow chains, you may be required to pay compensation for damages not covered by insurance.

I plan to go to [a plase]. Do I need Winter Tires?: The presence or absence of snow changes rapidly depending on the climate and conditions each year. So, Whether you need Winter Tires or not must be judged by yourself on your responsibility. It is difficult to determine whether there is a need or not until the last minute. Please check the "List of Heavy Snow / Snowfall Areas" above and make your judgment as to whether Winter Tires are necessary or not after looking up the relevant information.

I requested the Winter Tire Option with the Winter Tires Request Form, but I received an email that the Winter Tires can not be added. I want to cancel my Reservation. Will there be a Cancellation Fee?: You can cancel the reservation with free of charge by 7days before the pick up date. So if you need Winter Tires, we recommend you make a reservation for a rental car and request the Winter Tires earlier. Please note that depending on the plan, the reservation cancellation policy may be different and the period that can cancel the reservation free of charge can be changed.

Depending on the weather, can I add or cancel Winter Tires at the Rental Car pick up date when I pick up a rental car?: No it is not possible. If you want to add the Winter Tire Option, you must apply in advance through the Winter Tires Request Form. It is also not possible to cancel the Winter Tire Option at the Rental Car pick up date.

Can I drive a car with Winter Tires even if there is no snow?: Yes, it is possible. You can drive on regular roads with Winter Tires with no problem.