Every prefecture except Okinawa requires winter tires or chains on snowy or icy roads (¥6,000 penalty for a car). Chain controls, studless tires and road tips.
Every prefecture in Japan except Okinawa requires drivers to use winter tires or chains on roads covered in snow or ice. Driving a car on summer tires in those conditions breaks the Road Traffic Act and the prefecture's own rules, with a ¥6,000 penalty for a standard car (Hiroshima Prefectural Police). Rental cars in ski areas normally come with studless winter tires in season, but you should still confirm it when you book.
Yes. Article 71(6) of the Road Traffic Act lets each prefecture's public safety commission set extra rules for drivers, and every prefecture except Okinawa uses it to require "anti-skid measures" on snowy or frozen roads. In practice that means studless tires on all four wheels, or chains on the drive wheels (Motor-Fan).
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Road Traffic Act Art. 71(6) and prefectural regulations |
| Where it applies | All prefectures except Okinawa, on snow- or ice-covered roads |
| Penalty (on-the-spot) | ¥6,000 standard car, ¥7,000 large vehicle |
| Criminal fine if prosecuted | Up to ¥50,000 |
| Demerit points | None for a standard car |
Sources: Hiroshima Prefectural Police leaflet, Motor-Fan.
The bigger cost is delay: cars on summer tires that get stuck on a hill can block a road for hours, and police and road authorities in Gifu and Tottori have dealt with large jams caused this way (Kuruma News).
Since December 2018, road authorities can close designated mountain and expressway sections to any vehicle without chains during very heavy snow, for example when a heavy snow emergency warning is issued. The rule applies even if you have studless tires and a 4WD. Staff at the entry point turn back cars without chains (Motor-Fan).
Most rental companies can add chains on request. If your route crosses a mountain pass, ask for a set and practise fitting them once in the car park before you need them.
Japanese winter tires are called studless tires (スタッドレスタイヤ). They have no metal studs; grip comes from a soft rubber compound and many fine grooves (sipes) that bite into snow and ice. Studded tires are effectively not used in Japan.
Studless tires lose winter grip as they wear. The Japan Automobile Tyre Manufacturers Association treats 50% tread wear as the limit for winter use, and each tire has small "platform" markers in the grooves that show when it is reached (Kuruma News). A tire past that point can still be legal for summer driving but should not be used on snow. On a rental car, you can check the platforms in a minute before you leave the lot.
It is not required, but it helps. A 2WD car on good studless tires brakes about as well as a 4WD, because all cars brake on all four wheels. The difference is starting and climbing: a 2WD car is much more likely to spin its wheels on an icy slope, such as a hotel drive or the last climb to a resort car park. Rental companies in Hokkaido and Nagano commonly offer 4WD at a higher rate. Our car rental guide covers booking and the licence you need.
Police advice is to drive slower than usual, leave a much longer gap to the car ahead, and avoid sudden acceleration, braking and steering (Hiroshima Prefectural Police). A few points matter most on mountain roads:
Speed limits and other road rules are in our car rental and road rules guide. Japan also has a near-zero alcohol limit; see drink-driving laws in Japan.
Before setting off, check the snow forecast and the resort's own cameras. Our live cameras page shows current conditions at many resorts, and the Hakuba access guide covers the main routes into the Hakuba Valley. If a closure cuts off your route, the Plan B guide covers backup transport and what to check in your insurance.
Only with a valid International Driving Permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention, or an official translation for some countries. The IDP rules are in our car rental guide.
Usually not, but you do on any section under a chain control, regardless of tires or drive type.
Rental cars in snowy regions are normally fitted with them in winter. Confirm when booking, especially if you pick up in a city without snow.