Do I have to pay for charging a rental EV in Japan?

At Nippon Rent-A-Car, charging is included in the basic rate and the charging card in the car is free to use. Cars from the Sado and Miyako Airport-mae offices have no card, and some chargers do not accept the card, so you pay for charging in those cases.

Do I have to return a rental EV fully charged?

Nippon Rent-A-Car says you do not have to return the car fully charged. Other companies may have different rules, so check when you book.

What plug do Japanese quick chargers use?

CHAdeMO. A document from the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry lists CHAdeMO as Japan's quick-charging standard. Normal (AC) chargers use the Type 1 connector.

How long can I use a quick charger?

On the e-Mobility Power network, one session on a quick charger is limited to 30 minutes.

Renting an electric car (EV) in Japan: charging cards and chargers

Q: What happens if the battery runs out?

At Nippon Rent-A-Car, customers on the Anshin (Safety) Course get one free tow to the nearest charging spot per rental. On the Standard Course, you pay for towing from the first time.

You can rent an electric car (EV) in Japan, but only at some offices, and the charging rules depend on the company. At Nippon Rent-A-Car, a charging card is in the car, you can use it free of charge, and you do not have to return the car fully charged. Japan uses the CHAdeMO plug for quick charging, and quick chargers at expressway service areas, Michi-no-Eki and dealerships are the main places to top up on a trip. On the e-Mobility Power network, one quick-charging session is limited to 30 minutes.

Which rental companies rent EVs in Japan?

We checked the official sites of the major companies. Nippon Rent-A-Car has an EV page with clear rules. We could not find EV charging rules on the official pages of Toyota Rent a Car, Times Car Rental or ORIX Rent-A-Car, so ask them directly if you want to rent an EV there.

Nippon Rent-A-Car lists these EVs:

Car	Class	Where (examples)	Range listed
Nissan Sakura	Kei (light) car	10 offices in Tokyo, including Ikebukuro East Exit and Akabane	180 km
Nissan Leaf	Mid-size	4 offices in Okinawa, including Naha Airport Naminoue and Miyako Airport-mae	450 km or 322 km (WLTC), depending on the office
Subaru Solterra	Mid-size plus (4WD as standard)	7 offices, including Memanbetsu Airport-mae (Hokkaido), Shin-Aomori Station, Sado, Karuizawa Station North Exit and Yakushima Airport	542 km

Source: Nippon Rent-A-Car, EV rental (checked on 26 October 2026)

Nippon Rent-A-Car does not allow one-way rentals (returning the car at a different office) for EVs.

Do I pay for charging, and how full must I return the car?

At Nippon Rent-A-Car:

Rule	Details
Charging card	A charging card is in the car. You can use it free of charge.
Charging fee	Included in the basic rental rate
Charge level at return	You do not have to return the car fully charged.
Charge level at pick-up	Normally full. If other bookings make that impossible, at least 80%.
Exceptions	Cars from the Sado and Miyako Airport-mae offices have no charging card, so you pay for charging. Some chargers do not accept the card, and you pay there too.
Lost or damaged card	¥3,000 card compensation fee if the card is lost, stolen or damaged through misuse
Card does not work	Pay for charging yourself, keep the receipt and settle it at the return office.

Source: Nippon Rent-A-Car, EV rental; Notes on using the charging card (checked on 26 October 2026)

Use the card only for the rental car. Nippon Rent-A-Car says it may charge you if the card is used for another car. It links to e-Mobility Power’s list of charging spots where the card works.

What happens if the battery runs out?

Running out of charge is called denketsu (電欠) in Japanese. Nippon Rent-A-Car’s rules:

Plan	Towing to the nearest charging spot
Anshin (Safety) Course	Free, once per rental. You pay for any further tows.
Standard Course	You pay from the first tow.

Source: Nippon Rent-A-Car, EV rental (checked on 26 October 2026)

The nearest charging spot may not accept the card in the car. For other trouble on the road, see car trouble on the expressway.

What plugs do chargers in Japan use?

There are two kinds of chargers. Quick chargers use direct current (DC) and charge in a short time, roughly 30 minutes. Normal chargers use alternating current (AC) at 100 V or 200 V and take longer.

Charger	Standard in Japan	Notes
Quick (DC)	CHAdeMO	The US uses CCS (Type 1) and the EU uses CCS (Type 2), which are different.
Normal (AC)	Type 1 connector	The same type as in the US and South Korea. Mainly 3–6 kW.

Source: Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Study group on charging infrastructure, secretariat material (June 2023; checked on 26 October 2026)

When you pick up the car, ask at the counter how to open the charging port and how to use the card.

Where can I charge an EV in Japan?

e-Mobility Power runs a nationwide charging network. Its card and app work at about 9,800 quick-charging and 17,300 normal-charging points across Japan (March 2026). Look for the e-Mobility Power logo on the charger.

Place	What you find
Expressway service areas and parking areas (SA/PA), Highway Oasis	Quick chargers, open 24 hours on NEXCO West expressways
Michi-no-Eki, gas stations, car dealerships, convenience stores	Quick chargers
Shopping centres, hotels and other places where cars stay longer	Mainly normal chargers

Source: e-Mobility Power, For drivers; NEXCO West, FAQ on EV quick chargers; Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, secretariat material (June 2023) (checked on 26 October 2026)

e-Mobility Power has a charging map and a list of spots on its site (in Japanese). See also Michi-no-Eki and expressways and ETC.

How do I use a quick charger?

Each NEXCO West charger has instructions attached, and some show the steps on the screen. In general:

Find a charger with the e-Mobility Power logo, which is where the card in a Nippon Rent-A-Car EV can be used.
Use the charging card from the car to start. Without a card, e-Mobility Power chargers can be used as a “visitor” with a credit card or a payment app, at visitor rates.
Follow the instructions on the charger to connect the car and charge.
Finish within the time limit. On e-Mobility Power quick chargers, one session is limited to 30 minutes.

Source: e-Mobility Power, For drivers; NEXCO West, FAQ on EV quick chargers; Nippon Rent-A-Car, EV rental (checked on 26 October 2026)

NEXCO West lists Visa, Mastercard, JCB, Diners Club and American Express as credit cards for its expressway chargers. If a charger does not work, the e-Mobility Power support line is 0570-200-588 (24 hours, in Japanese).

How should I plan a long trip or a winter trip?

Because one quick-charging session is limited to 30 minutes, plan your stops around SA/PA or Michi-no-Eki with chargers. Check the range listed for your car and the location of the next charger before you leave.

In winter, heating uses battery power. In a JAF test (published in JAF Mate, December 2021), four EVs started at 70% and waited for 5 hours at −6 °C to −8.6 °C:

Heating used	Battery left after 5 hours
Air conditioner on auto at 25 °C	38%
Electric blanket, air conditioner off	66%
Seat heater and electric foot heater, air conditioner off	60%
Blanket, air conditioner only when needed	60%

Source: JAF Mate, How long does an EV battery last when stuck in snow? (JAF user test; checked on 26 October 2026)

JAF recommends carrying blankets and warm clothing in case you get stuck in snow. Before driving on snowy roads, read winter driving in Hokkaido and winter tires and chains.

If you rent a gasoline car instead, see how to refuel at a Japanese gas station.