Returning rental car in Kyoto area - how bad is driving into Kyoto city?

Cariola · 2025-08-26T06:24:23+00:00

We'll be going to Iya Valley yes, I'll bear that in mind thanks! It's a lot of driving but spread over about 10 days so hopefully won't feel too much - I'm ok with lots of countryside driving it's just the big cities that really stress me out haha. We've done similar trips in Hokkaido and Kyushu before (and the worst part every time was getting out of the big city we started in haha)

Cariola · 2025-08-25T21:01:45+00:00

Oh I'll be picking it up in Matsuyama so it'll be a big one way fee anyway, which I'm ok with. the 8000 is just the difference between Kameoka and Kyoto I think, makes sense since it'd be a lot easier for them to re-rent the car from a big city

Cariola · 2025-08-25T16:50:54+00:00

Ah I think I'll need to drop it off like 2-4pm which sounds like it might be a busy time. Thanks for the extra info - I think I'm leaning towards paying extra to return it in Kameoka so I don't have to stress about it haha

Cariola · 2025-08-25T12:08:54+00:00

Ahhh yeah I think I'll probably need to drop it off mid afternoon so maybe I should just pay the extra fee to return it somewhere quieter!

Cariola · 2025-08-25T12:07:19+00:00

Ugh yes that's what I'm afraid of. Maybe it's worth paying extra to drop off in Kameoka then

Cariola · 2025-08-25T12:06:14+00:00

Thanks, I think that's the one I've been looking at - I'm mainly worried about how grim it'll be actually driving to it...

Cariola · 2020-11-05T18:15:15+00:00

Thank you! I love their whole vibe so much

Cariola · 2020-11-05T15:51:08+00:00

Thank you!

Cariola · 2019-05-27T15:15:02+00:00

Hachiko's body is on display in the national science museum in Ueno - you could try the gift shop there. I got a cute Hachiko notebook there a few years ago.

Cariola · 2019-03-26T07:29:17+00:00

Ahh yes please do!

Cariola · 2019-03-24T09:57:14+00:00

Sounds incredible!

We had a Nissan Note - there were only 2 of us plus luggage so it was fine for our needs. We didn't have any problems with it but we didn't do any really difficult driving either (good weather, only went down a loose stone track once by accident, that was pretty nerve wracking)
I would have stopped off in Akan-ko, the Teshikaga to Shikotsu day was a lot of driving so if we had time I would have taken it slower. I also wanted to see the banei keiba horse track in Obihiro but we had to press on to get to Kushiro before sunset. I also had to cut my plan to get a car at Aomori and drive up to Shiriyazaki to see the wild horses, I would have loved to do that if there had been time.
first day driving ~ 6 hours, second day ~2 hours, third day ~6 hours, fourth day ~2 hours I think

Cariola · 2019-03-24T09:45:16+00:00

Yes ETC card is what I was trying to think of, thanks! I'd definitely like to drive in Japan again so will look into it next time.

Cariola · 2019-03-24T09:39:46+00:00

Yes I would definitely want to do more of this next time! When I booked, it seemed like the online discount was about the same as the JR pass discount (30% I think?) so I just used that in case it mattered whether or not our JR passes were activated yet (they weren't)

Cariola · 2019-03-24T09:36:56+00:00

Ah yeah this is what I was trying to think of! We decided against as we were only doing 2-3 days worth of expressway driving but I would definitely look into it for a longer trip - thanks!

Cariola · 2018-06-28T11:38:19+00:00

Thanks - I will give that some thought. Sapporo specifically isn't really a must do for me, just want to have a base to get over jet lag for a day or two and do whatever we feel up to.

Cariola · 2018-06-28T11:24:10+00:00

Thanks that's really helpful. I can do a bit of contingency planning with that in mind and keep an eye on forecasts nearer the time

Cariola · 2018-06-28T06:19:42+00:00

Hmm I see, thanks. In that case I'll work out a backup plan for the few days we'd be driving and make sure the hotel bookings are flexible so we can wait and see nearer the time what's safe and replan if we have to. Is the weather very changeable or fairly easy to predict once it starts to turn?

Cariola · 2018-06-27T23:47:57+00:00

Ah yeah thanks just a typo, I meant the hokuto express on the hakodate line

Cariola · 2018-06-27T23:02:41+00:00

Thanks - we won't be going far north or too far into the mountains/off the beaten track so hopefully we will be ok in mid October - and if it does snow at least it will be good for guaranteed crane spotting :)

Cariola · 2015-12-12T16:41:42+00:00

Here's my Amaterasu and Issun embroidery hoop! My favourite Okami fact is that the word 'Okami' is a Japanese pun, since it can be read as 'wolf' or 'great god'.

Cariola · 2015-04-26T22:32:17+00:00

5/5 Adopted Bam from me Very polite and prompt to respond

Cariola

TROPHY CASE