Parking in Japan with a rental car: rules and parking tickets
Key points
- Do not leave a car on the street unless signs clearly allow it. A car is treated as illegally parked as soon as the driver leaves it, however short the time.
- You cannot stop or park within 5 m of an intersection or pedestrian crossing, within 10 m of a bus stop, or in tunnels.
- The fine for an ordinary car is ¥18,000 in no-stopping zones and ¥15,000 in no-parking zones.
- If your rental car gets a yellow parking sticker, go to the police station, pay the fine and show the receipt when you return the car.
In Japan, do not leave your car on the street unless signs clearly allow it. A car counts as illegally parked as soon as the driver leaves it and cannot drive it away at once, even for a few minutes. The fine for an ordinary car is ¥18,000 in no-stopping zones and ¥15,000 in no-parking zones. If your rental car gets a yellow sticker, you must go to the police station and pay the fine before you return the car.
Where can’t I stop or park in Japan?
Some places are no-stopping zones, where you cannot even stop briefly. Others are no-parking zones, where you can stop briefly but cannot leave the car.
| Zone | Where (examples) | Fine (ordinary car) | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| No stopping or parking | Where signs or road markings prohibit it; intersections, pedestrian crossings, railway crossings, tunnels, near the top of a hill and on steep slopes; within 5 m of an intersection, a corner or a pedestrian crossing; within 10 m of a bus stop or a railway crossing | ¥18,000 | 3 |
| No parking | Where signs prohibit it; within 3 m of a car park or garage entrance; within 5 m of road works, fire hydrants or fire equipment; within 1 m of a fire alarm | ¥15,000 | 2 |
Source: Aichi Prefectural Police, Places where you cannot stop or park; Types of parking violations (checked on 23 October 2026). These rules come from national law and apply across Japan.
Can I park for just a few minutes?
No. Shizuoka Prefectural Police say a car counts as illegally parked when the driver has left it and cannot drive it away at once. How long you stop, how far you go, whether the engine is running and whether the hazard lights are on do not matter.
Source: Shizuoka Prefectural Police, Q&A on the parking violation system (checked on 23 October 2026)
Use a car park instead.
What happens if my rental car gets a parking ticket?
The police attach a yellow parking violation sticker (放置車両確認標章) to the car. Then:
- Go to the police station that covers the area where you parked.
- Receive the traffic violation notice and pay the fine.
- When you return the car, show the rental company the notice and the payment receipt.
Source: Shizuoka Prefectural Police, Q&A; Nippon Rent-A-Car, If you get a parking ticket (checked on 23 October 2026)
Shizuoka Prefectural Police say that with a rental car, the driver, not the rental company, should go to the police station. If the driver does not, the police order the car’s registered user (the rental company) to pay a penalty instead.
What if I return the car without paying?
Rental companies will charge you. For example, Nippon Rent-A-Car:
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| You cannot show that you paid | Deposit of ¥25,000 (standard car) or ¥30,000 (mid-size car) |
| You pay later and show the receipt | The full deposit is refunded |
| You do not pay the deposit or the amount charged | You may be registered with the Japan Rent-A-Car Association, and member companies may refuse to rent to you |
Source: Nippon Rent-A-Car, If you get a parking ticket (checked on 23 October 2026)
FAQ
- What happens if my rental car gets a parking ticket in Japan?
- The police attach a yellow sticker to the car. The driver must go to the police station for that area, receive the notice and pay the fine. Show the receipt to the rental company when you return the car.
- How much is a parking fine in Japan?
- Aichi Prefectural Police list ¥18,000 for an ordinary car in a no-stopping zone and ¥15,000 in a no-parking zone.
- Can I park for just a few minutes?
- No. Shizuoka Prefectural Police say a car counts as illegally parked when the driver has left it and cannot drive it away at once. The length of time and whether the hazard lights are on do not matter.
- What if I have not paid the fine when I return the car?
- Nippon Rent-A-Car takes a deposit of ¥25,000 for a standard car or ¥30,000 for a mid-size car, and refunds it when you show that you have paid. If you do not pay, you may be registered with the Japan Rent-A-Car Association and refused rentals in the future.
Sources
Update history
- Published.