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Advices for Car Trips through Japan
39. Local drivers, who often use toll roads, prefer to install special mobile payment gadgets. When cars with such gadgets cross the barrier at the entrance to the toll road, the cars are registered automatically, and at the end of the month the driver receives a separate bill for using the “road” services.
40. It is quite simple to define the social status of drivers by the cars they drive. For example, students use economy cars only, and if you see an expensive car on the road, there is no doubt that the status of the car is in full compliance with the high status of the owner. Local people drive massive SUV cars rarely; as a rule, these vehicles are the choice of tourists and people who make frequent rides to the mountains.
41. There are many motorcyclists on the roads of Japan. Local policemen also enjoy using motorbikes to patrol the streets. Unlike many countries, motorcycle and moped riders are also distinguished by following all the traffic rules, so they are not dangerous to other drivers.
42. The majority of street parking areas are equipped with special small curbs. They are used to control drivers and do not give them the opportunity to leave the parking lot. Many local residents set such curbs in their garages, so they do not accidentally bump into a wall when parking a car.
43. In some car parking areas, there are special places for the disabled. It is very simple to distinguish them from other stalls as they have a special marking directly on the asphalt. Other drivers (who are not disabled) are strictly forbidden to occupy these stalls. This is considered a serious violation.
Renting a Car in Japan - Recommendations
If you need a car with an automatic transmission, it is recommended to book it in advance. Cars with automatic transmissions are often sparse in Japan, so the rental confirmation may take a longer period.
When selecting a specific model for traveling throughout Japan, we recommend to take into consideration some practical apects. If you are going to drive mostly in the cities, then a car of a small size is preferable, while for long distance trips (and trips in the mountains) we recommend to choose a larger and more powerful car.
Prior your car retrun, please clean the salon from a garbage, and do not forget to take away all your belongings from the passenger compartment.
At the car return time, please ask the officer to make a visual inspection of the vehicle for defects and to sign the acceptance report. Keep the invoice and the acceptance report for next few months.
For a car rental options in Japan, we advise you to check OrangeSmile.com actual offers in the orange search form at the top. We guarantee that you would not be able to find better rates anywhere else!
45. The procedure of technical inspection in Japan is considered one of the most lengthy and complex in the world. The cost of the inspection depends on the age of the car. For example, for 7 year old cars the cost of the inspection will be approximately US$1000. Besides the standard checkup, local drivers are also required to take the environmental performance test.
46. Despite the fact that finding a free parking space is difficult, all large parking lots have a big staff of qualified employees. These experienced workers are very helpful as quite often it is rather difficult for drivers to find the way out or a free stall on a huge lot.
47. Many drivers are very surprised to see the flawless look of local cars. It seems that their owners visit car wash literally every day. In fact, local car owners do not make any extra efforts to keep their cars clean. The roads in Japan are very clean, even in the rain, so cars simply do not get dirty.
48. There are beautiful electronic scoreboards installed along busy roads. They provide drivers with useful information. For example, these scoreboards are used to alert drivers about the place of repair works on the road.
49. There are often kanjis painted directly on the asphalt close to pedestrian crossings. The meaning of the characters remains unclear for the majority of foreign visitors. In fact, there is nothing special about these road signs. They simply remind drivers to slow down before the “zebra” crossing.
50. Even sidewalks here have a specific markup. Most of them are divided into two lanes. One of them is dedicated to pedestrians and the other one - for cyclists. In order to eliminate all misunderstandings between the groups, each “lane” on the sidewalk has a corresponding graphic sign.
51. Pedestrians are prohibited to occupy the part of road for cyclists, as well as cyclists cannot ride on the lane for pedestrians. Sometimes collisions happen even on sidewalks, and there are also fines for them.
53. Some roads are very narrow in small cities and suburban areas. Local people have become accustomed to such a peculiarity of roads, and so they drive on them at a normal speed.
54. If you are not sure that you can overcome a narrow part of the road with little effort, there is no need to hurry. It is recommended to slow down and wait until drivers, moving in the opposite lane, pass you by. In Japan, such behavior is appropriate and will be accepted with understanding.
55. The gutters, which are made along the roads, sometimes resemble works of art. Often they are hidden under attractive curbs, and sometimes they are made as open and fairly large streams. The water in these streams never stands still, so some of them are home to crabs and even small fish.
56. The process of repairing roads in Japan is distinguished by longevity and thoroughness. Thus, the section of a road that is just 150m long can be repaired for more than a month. However, you can be sure in the quality of the asphalt afterwards - it will be superior. Road equipment in Japan is also quite unusual. It is not uncommon to see original excavators, decorated with a giraffe pattern.
57. “Music roads” are very popular in Japan. The mechanism of their action is similar to a music box. These roads have small bumps, which cannot be seen at first view. When a car rides on such roads, its wheels literally read all the bumps, and a real melody is born.
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