Driving in Japan can be scary 
especially if you aren't used to driving in other countries 
or the left-hand side.
But it really isn't as nerve-racking as it seems.
You get used to it in minutes and pretty soon
you're thinking less about your anxiety
and more about how fun road trips are!
Since coming to Japan we've grown to miss driving on the open roads,
so we find ourselves renting cars and going on drives pretty often. 
We know there are many out there that either do or are interested 
in doing the same.
Thus we wanted to put together a short list of 
ideas of places to road trip in Japan to drive to. 
But before we get into the unknown treasures of Japan,
here are a few things to know when renting a car.

Drivers Guide for Traveling All over Japan 
​What to Expect and Places to Go! 
(Printable English PDF!)

 

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 JAPAN ROAD TRIP ITINERARY IDEA 1 

Yamagata Prefecture (山形県)

On top of the Reiryuuzan (鈴立山)

Yamagata Prefecture is a part of Tohoku, the northeastern region of Japan. Probably the most popular place to visit in Yamagata Prefecture is Tendo, which is famous for its natural hot springs (onsens) and shogi (traditional Japanese chess). What about its local food and fruits?
What are some of the most famous things from Yamagata Prefecture though….?

CHERRIES!!!!

 CHERRY PICKING 

If you were to ask a Japanese person what Yamagata was famous for, we're sure their first answer would be cherries.
Although there are cherries being produced all over Japan, Yamagata is the most popular in producing around 70%
of the country's production of cherries
In Japan, you can go cherry (or other fruit) picking!! Being that there are so many places to pick cherries in Tendo,
you won't have any problem finding a place. We went to Oshokaju (Ohsyo) Orchards and had a really great time!

Japanese cherries taste a bit different than say American dark cherries. Of course, they would, but it never really occurred to us! Due to Yamagata's difference in temperature, the fruits that are grown here are especially sweet and juicy compared to fruit from other prefectures.

Normally the best time to go cherry picking is from the middle-end of May to the end of July! It's around that time you should be able to pick the most famous type of Japanese cherry, the satonishiki! You get 30 minutes to pick cherries, but the nice thing here is that you can also extend it to 60 minutes if desired! Anything big plus is there are many ways to enjoy cherries at the orchard

Information about fruit picking
Cherry picking – Mid of May to Early July
Grape picking – Early August to Mid of October
Peach picking – Early August to Early September
Apple picking – Mid of October to End of November
Reminder
1) Make a reservation for fruit picking
Hours: 0900-1700
Calendar info page (JP)

*Oshokaju Orchards (王将果樹園)
1303 Kawarago, Tendo, Yamagata 
Google Maps
023-657-3211
9:00am~5:00pm
Official website (JP)

Tendo Shogi Museum (天童将棋資料館)
Since Tendo has the largest shogi piece production in Japan, we thought we'd go to the shogi museum where you can learn everything about this traditional Japanese chess-like game. Shogi was originally developed and started in India back around B.C. 300. At this museum, we learned about things like how it was introduced to Japan and the world and the manufacture of shogi pieces. You can even decorate your own shogi pieces!! This was, of course, the most fun!

★Tendo Shogi Museum (天童将棋資料館)
1-1-1 Honcho, Tendo City, Yamagata
Google Maps
MAP CODE：62374772*76
023-653-1690
9:00am~6:00pm (Closed on 3rd Monday every month, 31 Dec, 01 Jan)
300yen (adults), 200yen (students (High school and up)), 100yen (Elementary and Jr. High)
Website (JP)

After visiting the Shogi Museum, we went to Tendo Kogen Family Land (天童高原ファミリーランド), where you can make your own buckwheat (soba) noodles and eat them! The buckwheat noodles are actually made with dewakaori buckwheat which is grown at Tendo Kogen. It does smell way better than other buckwheat.

★Tendo Kogen Family Land (天童高原ファミリーランド)
1321 Tamugino, Tendo City, Yamagata
Google Maps
023-657-3628
MAP CODE：62 358 339 * 57
May to October
Prices:
1 to 4 persons – 2,500 yen each (1 teacher)
5 to 8 persons – 2,000 yen each (1 teacher)
9 to 12 persons – 1,500 yen each (1 teacher)
13 – 16 persons – 2,000 yen each (2 teachers)
Plus 500 yen if you want to eat the noodles there after class
Homepage (JP)

*NISSAN Rent A Car – Yamagata Airport Outlet
Address: 3008 Kashiwabara-Shinrin, Hanyu, Higashine, Yamagata
Google Maps
0237-47-2311
8:30am~6:30pm
Nissan Yamagata Airport Info (ENG)
NISSAN Rent A Car – Reservation Page (ENG)
 

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 JAPAN ROAD TRIP ITINERARY IDEA 2 

Kanazawa (in Ishikawa Prefecture) 
(石川県の金沢)

Kanazawa Station

Kanazawa is located in the central part of Japan in Ishikawa Prefecture. Kanazawa is selected by UNESCO as a City of Craft and Folk Art, so there are plenty of unique landscapes and sightseeing spots for to visit. Moreover, Kanazawa hasn't been involved in any wars or struck by natural disasters in the last 400 years, so it's said that Kanazawa is a city of luck! It's also called "a second Kyoto" since Edo style streets and buildings can still be seen there today.

Chirihama Beach Driveway is the only beach in Japan where you can drive your car. The beach stretches out to almost 5 miles (8km) and is along the Sea of Japan. Access and dring along the beach is totally free, making this a prime spot for parking your car and having a beach BBQs while enjoying the water.

★Chirihama Beach Driveway (千里浜なぎさドライブウェイ Chiri Hama Nagisa Driveway)
Chiri-Hama Machi, Hakui District, Ishikawa Prefecture, 925 0054
Google Maps
0767-22-1118
Map Code: 135182759*02

Known as one of the 3 most beautiful gardens in Japan, Kenrokuen has a wide variety of trees, flowers, and plants (cherry blossom, autumn trees, plum blossoms, etc) giving this park many looks every season regardless spring, summer, fall, or winter. Which is something rare at many gardens.

Kinrokuen was first opened to the public on May 7, 1874. It was in 1922, it was named as one of the National Site of Scenic Beauty, and in 1985 it was selected as the most honorable rank equivalent to a National Treasure.

The garden is also the outer garden of Kanazawa Castle, which means you can also go to Kanazawa Castle within minutes! There is a pass which allows you to visit both Kanazawa Castle and Kenrokuen for 500 yen, so we recommend you getting that if you'd like to check out both! 

Free admission for an early visit is available. 
Please check out the date and time here.

★Kenroku Garden (兼六園)
1 Kenrokumachi, Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture
Google Maps
076-234-3800
Map Code: 41 529 085 * 12
:
07:00 – 18:00 (March 1 to October 15)
08:00 – 17:00 (October 16 to 28 February)
Admission: 310 yen for adults, 100 yen for children
Official homepage (ENG)

1. Gold Leaf Ice Cream
Gold leaf wrapped around a vanilla ice cream cone.

2. Gold Leaf Pound Cake
Both green tea and red beans pound cake and chocolate pound cake are topped with gold foil.

3. Gold Leaf Japanese Wine
Specks of gold leaf added to wine.

Gold leaf is essential for Japanese traditional crafts. Crafts that use this technique are mostly made in the cultural city of Kanazawa in the Hokuriku region. Which is why it's known by the name of "Kanazawa leaf". You can buy Kanazawa leaf products in Tokyo but if you're actually in Kanazawa, why not take a gold leaf bath!?! 

This special rice bowl has appeared on TV and in many magazines in Japan. It's a big rice bow that contains sweet shrimp, salmon roe, minced tuna with leaks, Japanese yellowtail (amberjack), salmon, squid, octopus, crab, sea urchin, and mackerel!
Woh!!
All of the seafood is caught from a nearby peninsula, enforcing its "freshness" appeal. If you wanna try the limited menu, it's best to make a reservation in advance!

★Sawanoya (澤ノ屋)
Address: 3-2-21 Higashiyama, Kanazawa, Ishikawa
Google Maps
076-255-0009
Map Code: 41560334*82
9:00am~5:00pm

*NISSAN Rent A Car
Komatsu Airport Outlet
164-1 Ha, Ukiyanagimachi, Komatsu, Ishikawa 923-0993 Japan
Google Maps
0761-24-4123
8:30am~7:00pm
NISSAN Rent A Car – Reservation Page (ENG)
 

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 JAPAN ROAD TRIP ITINERARY IDEA 3 

Yamanashi Prefecture

Yamanashi Prefecture (山梨県, Yamanashi-ken) is located immediately west of Tokyo surrounded by natural beauty such as mountains and mountain ranges that designated as national parks. The beautiful symbol of Japan, Mount Fuji is separated between Yamanashi Prefecture and Shizuoka Prefecture. The northern part and the Mt. Fuji Five Lakes are located in Yamanashi.

Camping at Lake Shoji! Lake Shoji is the smallest one among the Five Lakes, but it also has the most beautiful scenery!! If luck is on your side, the weather will be nice and you'll be able to see Mount Fuji from the front! So this is where we decided to camp There's a camping site, Shojiko Camping Cottage, that allows you to camp in the area for between 800yen~1000yen/person (which is roughly $7~$9). You can even rent a tent here if you don't have one of your own!
ALSO! Glamping has started making its way to Japan, so for you glamping lovers you can also do that here at Lake Shoji

★Shojiko Camping Cottage (精進湖キャンピングコテージ)
495 Shoji, Fujikawaguchiko, Minamitsuru, Yamanashi Prefecture 401-0336
Google Maps
Email: mail@shojiko.jp
0555-87-2005
Information desk hours: Weekdays 9:00am〜9:00pm
Shojiko Camping Cottage homepage (JP)
Glamping info (JP)

For camping, we got that NISSAN X-TRAIL, which has been recommended for driving through nature.

If you need some camping or outdoor gear,
there are 2 really good stores in Tokyo:
Victoria in Akihabara   and   Odakyu HALC in Shinjuku

Then from there it just becomes a great camping night!