Hokkaido without assuming a train to every stop
You picture Hokkaido by train, and you want to know which places that picture really covers.
Trains, roads and flights
Driving in Japan as a left-side driver
You already drive on the left at home, and wonder what will still feel strange.
If you drive in Malaysia, the biggest adjustment is already done: Japanese cars drive on the left side of the road 1. The differences that remain are the permit, tolls, signs and winter conditions. Plan those before you collect the keys.
What permit do you need?
Visitors must obtain an International Driving Permit before departure, issued by their country’s issuing authority. It is valid only if their country participates in the 1949 Geneva Convention. Only the booklet-type paper permit is valid, card and smartphone versions are not, and driving is limited to one year from arrival 2.
Check with the issuing body that your Malaysian permit is accepted for Japan, and confirm with the Japanese embassy. We cannot confirm that for you.
How do tolls work?
Expressways charge tolls. Green-sign gates take cash or credit card, and purple-sign gates take ETC cards. Visitors can rent an ETC card from the rental company and settle the charges when returning the car. The Tokyo to Kyoto route costs about 10,070 yen in tolls, about RM 262 at RM 2.603 per 100 yen on 19 October 2026 3 4.
Read ETC cards, tolls and expressway passes.
What are the rules and signs?
Everyone in the car must wear a seatbelt, drinking and driving is prohibited, using a mobile device while driving is illegal, and drivers should stop at the line before railroad crossings and check both ways 5. Major destinations are usually signposted in English on main roads, but rural areas may lack English signs 6.
Ask the rental company for a foreign-language navigation system when you reserve.
What about winter?
In snowy areas, winter tyres or tyre chains must be installed 6. For a tropical driver, snow and ice are the real difference. Read winter driving in Hokkaido for tropical drivers before you decide.
What does a rental cost in ringgit?
JNTO lists average 24-hour rates with unlimited mileage, excluding fuel, of 5,000 to 11,100 yen for a sub-compact car and 9,000 to 13,500 yen for a compact 7. That is about RM 130 to RM 289, and RM 234 to RM 351 7 4. Tolls, fuel and insurance are extra.
When is a driver or the train better?
- You are tired after the flight, or travel in deep winter.
- Your route is mostly between big cities, where the train is simpler.
- Several people want to enjoy the view without driving.
Compare rail, rental car or tour in Hokkaido, a private car itinerary and renting a car as a Malaysian.
Tell us the region and the months you plan to drive, and we say whether a rental car, a private driver or the train suits your group, with the toll and rental costs in ringgit.
Keep planning
Winter driving in Hokkaido for first-time snow drivers
You can drive well at home, and snow and ice on a strange road is a different test.
ETC cards, tolls and expressway passes
You plan to rent a car in Hokkaido and want to understand tolls before the bill surprises you.
Renting a car in Japan as a Malaysian
You drive at home and want to be sure your licence is enough in Japan.
A private-car Hokkaido itinerary
Hokkaido is large, and you want the days to be about the views, not the timetables.
Rail, rental car or private driver in Hokkaido
Hokkaido is huge, and you are not sure how your family should move around it.
Questions travellers ask
Do Malaysians need an International Driving Permit in Japan?
JNTO says visitors must obtain an International Driving Permit before departure, from their country's issuing authority, and only the paper booklet type is valid. Ask the issuing body that your permit is valid in Japan, and confirm with the Japanese embassy, since it depends on the 1949 Geneva Convention.
Will left-hand traffic make driving easy?
It removes the biggest adjustment, because Japanese cars drive on the left, as in Malaysia. You still need to learn tolls, signs and rural roads. Major destinations are usually signposted in English on main roads, but rural areas may lack English signs.
How much does a rental car cost in ringgit?
JNTO lists average 24-hour rates, excluding fuel, of 5,000 to 11,100 yen for a sub-compact, about RM 130 to RM 289, and 9,000 to 13,500 yen for a compact, about RM 234 to RM 351, at the Bank Negara rate of 19 October 2026. Tolls and fuel are extra.
Sources
Figures are checked against these sources and dated so you can see how current they are.
- JNTO, Renting a Caraccessed 2026-10-20
- JNTO, Renting a Caraccessed 2026-10-20
- JNTO, Renting a Caraccessed 2026-10-20
- Bank Negara Malaysia exchange rates (JPY)accessed 2026-10-20
- JNTO, Renting a Caraccessed 2026-10-20
- JNTO, Renting a Caraccessed 2026-10-20
- JNTO, Renting a Caraccessed 2026-10-20
Ready to shape your Japan trip?
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