Do rental cars in Japan come with winter tires?

In snowy areas in winter, yes. Nippon Rent-A-Car, Toyota Rent a Car and Times Car Rental fit studless winter tires as standard in Hokkaido and many prefectures in Tohoku, Chubu and Hokuriku during set periods. Elsewhere, you must request them as a paid option when you book.

Are studless tires enough to drive in a chain regulation area?

No. Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) says that cars without tire chains cannot pass during a chain requirement, even with studless tires. 4WD cars also need chains.

Can I rent snow chains with my rental car?

It depends on the company. Nippon Rent-A-Car says it does not offer tire chains anywhere in Japan, so you would need to bring your own. Toyota Rent a Car says snow chains may not be available at some shops and asks you to contact its reservation center after booking.

Is it illegal to drive on snow with normal tires in Japan?

Prefectures set rules on anti-skid measures on snowy or icy roads. Hiroshima Prefectural Police, for example, say that driving on such roads with normal tires breaks the Road Traffic Act, with a ¥6,000 fine for an ordinary car.

What happens if I have no chains when a chain requirement is in force?

You cannot drive through that section. Central Nippon Expressway (NEXCO Central) checks chains before chain-requirement sections and says drivers without the required equipment must leave the expressway at the nearest interchange.

Winter tires and snow chains for rental cars in Japan: rules and costs

If you rent a car in Japan’s snowy areas in winter, it will usually come with studless winter tires as standard. Elsewhere, you must ask for winter tires when you book; at the major companies they cost ¥2,200 per day for a standard car. On snowy roads, two different rules can apply: a winter tire requirement, which winter tires meet, and a chain requirement, which only tire chains meet. Rental companies do not always rent chains, so check before you go.

Which rental cars in Japan come with winter tires?

Studless tires are winter tires without metal studs. The major companies fit them as standard in the snowiest regions during set periods, based on the date you pick up the car.

Company	Area	Standard period (2026–27)	Outside these areas and periods
Nippon Rent-A-Car	Hokkaido	1 Nov – 20 Apr	¥2,200/day (cars and vans), ¥3,300/day (minivans), up to 10 days
	Aomori, Akita, Iwate, Yamagata; Nagano, Niigata, Yamanashi; Fukui, Toyama, Ishikawa	1 Dec – 31 Mar
	Miyagi, Fukushima	16 Dec – 15 Mar
Toyota Rent a Car	Hokkaido	1 Nov – 5 May (Obihiro from 31 Oct)	¥2,200/24 h (cars and vans), ¥3,300/24 h (wagons and SUVs), tax included
	Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Yamagata, Fukushima, Niigata, Nagano, Takayama (Gifu)	1 Dec – 31 Mar
	Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui	15 Dec – 20 Mar
	Tottori	1 Dec – 15 Mar
Times Car Rental	Hokkaido	1 Nov 2026 – 15 Apr 2027	¥2,200/24 h, up to 10 days, tax included
	Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi, Akita, Niigata, Ishikawa, Nagano, Tottori, Shimane	1 Dec 2026 – 31 Mar 2027

Source: Nippon Rent-A-Car, Studless tires (as of 21 April 2026) and Options; Toyota Rent a Car, Shops and periods with standard studless tires and Options; Times Car Rental, Studless tires and Options (checked on 26 October 2026)

Standard winter tires are not always free:

Nippon Rent-A-Car adds a winter-season rate in the standard areas and periods.
Toyota Rent a Car applies a seasonal rate in the standard areas and periods.
Times Car Rental charges ¥660 per 24 hours in the standard areas, up to ¥6,600 for 10 days.

The companies say the periods may change with snow conditions. Nippon Rent-A-Car also says winter tires are limited, so it may not accept every request. Nippon Rent-A-Car does not say whether its option prices include tax.

Can I rent snow chains with a rental car?

Not always. Nippon Rent-A-Car does not rent tire chains anywhere in Japan, and asks customers who need chains to bring their own. Toyota Rent a Car says snow chains may not be available at some shops, and prices differ by shop. Ask when you book.

Source: Nippon Rent-A-Car, Studless tires; Toyota Rent a Car, Options (checked on 26 October 2026)

What is the difference between a winter tire requirement and a chain requirement?

On snowy roads in Japan, road operators can use two different rules. Learn to recognize the Japanese words.

Rule	Japanese	When	Who can pass
Winter tire requirement	冬用タイヤ規制	Snowy conditions	Cars with winter tires (such as studless tires) or tire chains. A 4WD car without them cannot pass.
Chain requirement	チェーン規制	Exceptional heavy snow, such as when a heavy snow emergency warning is issued	Only cars with tire chains fitted. Studless tires and 4WD are not enough.

Source: MLIT, Q&A on chain regulation; NEXCO Central, Winter snowy road drive guide; NEXCO East, Securing road traffic this winter (checked on 26 October 2026)

NEXCO Central says the devices you need under a winter tire requirement differ by prefecture. Chains should be fitted to the drive wheels. MLIT says chains sold at car accessory shops are fine, but spray-on anti-skid products do not count as chains.

Where are the chain requirement sections?

MLIT lists 13 sections where a chain requirement can be used. None is in Hokkaido or Okinawa.

Prefecture	Road	Section
Yamagata	National Route 112	Gassan Road (Nishikawa – Tsuruoka Tamugimata)
Yamanashi, Shizuoka	National Route 138	Yamanakako – Subashiri
Niigata	National Route 7	Ōsudo – Kami-Ōtori (Murakami)
Fukui	National Route 8	Ishikawa border – Sakai (Awara)
Hiroshima, Shimane	National Route 54	Akana Pass
Ehime	National Route 56	Tosaka Pass
Niigata, Nagano	Joshin-etsu Expressway (E18)	Shinanomachi IC – Arai PA (inbound, 上り, only)
Yamanashi	Chuo Expressway (E20)	Sutama IC – Nagasaka IC
Nagano	Chuo Expressway (E19)	Iida-Yamamoto IC – Sonohara IC
Ishikawa, Fukui	Hokuriku Expressway (E8)	Maruoka IC – Kaga IC
Fukui, Shiga	Hokuriku Expressway (E8)	Kinomoto IC – Imajo IC
Okayama, Tottori	Yonago Expressway (E73)	Yubara IC – Kofu IC
Hiroshima, Shimane	Hamada Expressway (E74)	Ōasa IC – Asahi IC

Source: MLIT, Q&A on chain regulation (checked on 26 October 2026)

What does the chain regulation sign mean?

In December 2018 Japan added a road sign called 「タイヤチェーンを取り付けていない車両通行止め」 (“no entry for vehicles without tire chains”). Where this sign is shown, only cars with tire chains fitted may pass. Police or road administrators can put it up during exceptional snowfall.

Source: MLIT Hokuriku Regional Development Bureau, New chain regulation sign (2018); Nagasaki Prefectural Police, The chain regulation sign (checked on 26 October 2026)

Is it illegal to drive on snow without winter tires?

Each prefecture sets its own rules on anti-skid measures on snowy or icy roads. For example, Hiroshima Prefectural Police say that driving on snowy or icy roads with normal tires, without effective anti-skid measures, breaks the Road Traffic Act.

Item	Hiroshima Prefecture
Legal basis	Road Traffic Act, Article 71(6); Hiroshima Prefecture Road Traffic Act Enforcement Rules, Article 10(2)
Fixed fine (hansokukin)	¥6,000 for an ordinary car, ¥7,000 for a large vehicle
Penalty	A fine of up to ¥50,000

Source: Hiroshima Prefectural Police, Anti-skid measures on snowy and icy roads (checked on 26 October 2026)

Rules can differ in other prefectures. The safe choice is the same everywhere: do not drive on snow or ice with normal tires.

How do I get the right tires for a winter trip?

Book winter tires or 4WD with the car. If you pick up outside a standard area or period, choose the winter tire option when you book (see how to book a rental car in Japan). At Nippon Rent-A-Car, the online option is available only for pick-ups from October to May.
Tell the company if you will drive into snowy areas. Nippon Rent-A-Car asks customers who will drive into, or drop off in, snowy areas without standard winter tires to apply for them. It may refuse a rental to snowy areas without winter tires.
Ask about chains. If chains are not available, decide before you go whether to bring your own.
Check the tires at pick-up. A winter driving leaflet from Hokkaido Police and partners asks drivers to check the condition of the studless tires before driving.
Check road information before you set off. Look for 冬用タイヤ規制 or チェーン規制 on your route.

Source: Nippon Rent-A-Car, Studless tires and Options; Hokkaido Police and partners, winter driving leaflet (checked on 26 October 2026)

What if a chain requirement is in force and I have no chains?

You cannot drive through that section. NEXCO Central checks whether cars carry and have fitted chains before a chain-requirement section. Drivers without the required equipment must leave the expressway at the nearest interchange. Wait until the requirement is lifted or use another route, and check the latest road information.

Source: NEXCO Central, Winter snowy road drive guide; MLIT, Q&A on chain regulation (checked on 26 October 2026)

For how to drive on snow and ice, see driving in Hokkaido in winter.