Narita International Airport: 5 Car Rental Services and How to Rent a Car

Car Rental Shops Near Narita International Airport

Photo by Pixta

Narita International Airport (Narita Airport) is a major gateway to the greater Tokyo area. This airport is located in Narita, Chiba Prefecture, and is the country's largest international airport.

This article introduces how to rent a car and five major companies offering car rentals at Narita Airport.

Table of Contents:

The Advantages of Exploring Tokyo and Eastern Japan by Car
1. How to Rent a Car at Narita Airport
2. Nippon Rent-A-Car
3. Times Car Rental
4. TOYOTA Rent a Car
5. ORIX Rent-A-Car
6. Nissan Rent a Car
7. Narita Airport Rental Car FAQ
8. Kanto Transportation, Highlights, and Hotels

Reserve a Hotel Near Narita Airport on Booking.com
Reserve a Hotel Near Narita Airport on Agoda

The Advantages of Exploring Tokyo and Eastern Japan by Car

Tokyo is accessible within an hour of Narita Airport. Accessing Tokyo from Narita Airport is convenient via trains and buses thanks to the robust public transportation system.

On the other hand, it’s very convenient to have a rental car when venturing outside the city. It is great for traveling to areas like the south of Chiba, an area that is known for its amazing seafood, gourmet dishes, and sightseeing spots.

Alternatively, you can travel to Ibaraki and its many scenic spots, such as Hitachi Seaside Park. A rental car can even allow you to plan a trip to Tochigi, which is famous for Nikko and its World Heritage sites.

Why not consider options such as a rental car plan offering one-way services? A one-way service allows customers to rent a vehicle from one location, then return it to a different site.

How to Rent a Car at Narita Airport

Photo by Pixta

Narita Airport has three terminals where domestic and international flights operate: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, and Terminal 3.

Do note that car rental counters are only available on the first floors of Terminal 1 and Terminal 2. Car rental services are not available in Terminal 3.

Please refer to the directions below when renting a car.

1. Refer to this article and make an advance reservation online for a rental car.

2. Upon arriving at the airport, head to the first floor of Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 where the respective rental counters are located. For Terminal 3 arrivals, we recommend using the rental counters in Terminal 2.

3. After completing the paperwork, you will head to their business office by shuttle (*).
*Information regarding paperwork and shuttles may vary with each car rental shop. Please confirm the details at the time of your reservation.

Please check out the MATCHA article below for important things to consider when renting a car in Japan.

Next, we'll introduce major car rental shops inside Narita Airport. Individual sections will include information on coupons and a link to Klook, a website to easily compare rental car prices among companies and make reservations.

1. Nippon Rent-A-Car

This photo is for illustrative purposes only.

Nippon Rent-A-Car is a major car rental company with 560 locations across Japan. At Narita Airport, you can visit one of their counters on the first floor's arrival lobby in Terminal 1 Central Building and the first floor's arrival lobby in Terminal 2 Main Building.

Business hours are 7:00 to 21:00 at the Terminal 1 rental counter and 5:00 to 23:00 at the Terminal 2 rental counter. The long business hours give travelers a reassuring option, especially if they have flights arriving early in the morning or late at night.

Nippon Rent-A-Car provides various car models, from compact cars to those seating multiple adults and luxury vehicles. Additionally, the service is appealing for the multilingual car navigation system installed in each vehicle. Plus, their return (one-way) service allows you to rent a vehicle from one location and return it at a different location.

MATCHA offers an exclusive 10% discount coupon for international visitors when renting from Nippon Rent-A-Car. This coupon can also be used at locations in Narita Airport, so please feel free to use it!

Nippon Rent-A-Car 10% Off Coupon (English)

2. Times Car Rental

This photo is for illustrative purposes only.

Times Car Rental is a company that also provides parking lots and car share services. The rental counters at Narita Airport are located on the first-floor Terminal 1 North Wing arrival lobby and first-floor Terminal 2 Main Building arrival lobby. Assistance is available at counters in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 from 8:00 to 22:00.

Times Car Rental was originally a subsidiary of Mazda but currently provides car models from various manufacturers. They also offer many useful services for an additional fee, such as their one-way return service.

Additionally, you can receive various discounts and services by becoming a member of Times Club or Times Car (information only available in Japanese). One such service is “Tap & Go,” allowing you to skip required paperwork when departing or returning your rental car.

Will you be using rental cars often in Japan? Then why not become a member?

Reserve with Times Car Rental at Narita International Airport on Klook

3. TOYOTA Rent a Car

This photo is for illustrative purposes only.

TOYOTA Rent a Car is operated by Toyota Rent-a-Lease, an affiliate company of Toyota Motor Corporation. At Narita Airport, you can rent from one of their counters on the first floor's arrival lobby in Terminal 1 Central Building and the first floor's arrival lobby in Terminal 2 Main Building. Counters in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 operate from 7:00 to 22:00.

TOYOTA Rent a Car is the largest corporation in the Japanese rental car industry, with 1,200 offices across Japan. It also ranks top in the number of rental vehicles owned. You can rent from their extensive line-up of Toyota vehicles, including luxury lines, thanks to being an affiliate of Toyota. And, of course, Toyota is one of the largest automotive manufacturers in the world.

Reserve with TOYOTA Rent a Car at Narita International Airport on Klook

4. ORIX Rent-A-Car

ORIX Rent-A-Car is the second largest corporation in the industry. The rental counters at Narita Airport are located on the first floor's arrival lobby in Terminal 1 North Wing and the first floor's arrival lobby in Terminal 2 Main Building. Assistance is available at counters in Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 from 8:00 to 20:00.

ORIX Rent-A-Car is appealing because customers can rent car models from various manufacturers. They also carry specialty vehicles, such as trucks, so many customers book this service during a move.

You can also earn JAL/ANA miles and various points when renting a car from any shop location with an applicable card. They also hold area-exclusive campaigns, including Chiba Prefecture. Additionally, there are campaigns intended for customers who make early reservations (campaign information only available on the Japanese website).

Reserve with ORIX Rent-A-Car at Narita International Airport on Klook

5. Nissan Rent a Car

Nissan Rent a Car is operated by Nissan Motor Corporation, one of the leading automotive manufacturers in the world. At Narita Airport, you can visit their counters on the first floor's arrival lobby in Terminal 1 Central Building and the first floor's arrival lobby in Terminal 2 Main Building. Both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 counters operate from 7:00 to 21:00.

Many vehicles at Nissan Rent a Car Narita Airport locations come equipped with a navigation system and ETC (Electronic Toll Collection). With an ETC card, you can drive through any toll road and pay cashless without issue. While the car rental primarily carries Nissan models, you can also rent electric and sports cars.

There are a plethora of benefits, including member discounts and warranty coverage. Car seats can be rented for free after becoming a member of the 23 Bonus Club: a membership with no enrollment or annual fees. We recommend becoming a member if you plan on using this rental car service while traveling with children (information only available in Japanese).

Reserve with Nissan Rent a Car at Narita International Airport on Klook

Narita Airport Rental Car FAQ

Q1: Should I make my rental car reservations in advance?

A: Yes. In recent years, the popularity of traveling by rental car has increased in Japan. You may be unable to rent a car if you do not make a reservation in advance.

Q2: Please tell me what I should know when driving in Tokyo and the Kanto region.

A: Please read this MATCHA article for a general list of things to note when utilizing a rental car in Japan.

Moreover, please be careful when driving in Tokyo to avoid accidents. The roads are complicated, and the streets are busy with pedestrians. It would be safer for drivers not used to these conditions to drive on routes that do not pass through Tokyo.

The Kanto region, which encompasses the Tokyo area, sees very little snow when compared to other areas in Japan. However, the roads will sometimes freeze over during the winter. Please refer to this MATCHA article (Japanese) on precautions for driving on icy roads when requesting snow tires on your rental car.

Q3: Are there car rental shops available outside of Narita Airport?

A: Yes. The car rental companies introduced in this article are located across the Kanto region, including Chiba Prefecture. Please check the respective company’s website for details.

Furthermore, the Nippon Rent-A-Car 10% discount coupon code, introduced above, can be used at any location—not just the counters in Narita Airport.

Transportation, Highlights, and Hotels in Eastern Japan

There are many wonderful places to visit in Tokyo and the Kanto region, both accessible from Narita Airport. Compare fees and options from numerous plans available and rent a car that fits your travel needs.

Please check out the MATCHA articles below for information on transportation, highlights, and hotels near Narita Airport.

Reserve a Hotel Near Narita Airport on Booking.com
Reserve a Hotel Near Narita Airport on Agoda

Main image by Pixta