Discount Available! 6 Car Rental Options at Fukuoka's Hakata Station

Exploring Fukuoka by Rental Car Is Convenient

Photo by Pixta
Fukuoka is the largest city in Kyushu, a region with many exciting tourist destinations. Popular locations such as Dazaifu and Itoshima near the city offer breathtaking views; just a little farther away are famous hot spring resorts like Yufuin and Beppu. To fully enjoy the charm of these areas around Fukuoka, it is convenient to rent a car.

In this article, we will introduce six major companies that offer car rentals at Fukuoka's JR Hakata Station, where the Shinkansen also stops. We will also provide information on great discounts and coupons, so be sure to check it out!

Car Rentals at Hakata Station in Fukuoka

Rental Car Shops at Hakata Station
1. Nippon Rent-A-Car
2. Nissan Rent-A-Car
3. Times Car Rental
4. Toyota Rent-A-Car
5. Orix Rent-A-Car
6. Budget Rent-A-Car
FAQ about Car Rentals in Fukuoka
Places to Visit and Hotels in Fukuoka

10% OFF! Book a rental car with Nippon Rent-a-Car

For access to Hakata Station from Tokyo and rental car information at Fukuoka Airport, please refer to the following articles.

Car Rentals at Hakata Station in Fukuoka

Car rental shops near Hakata Station. Shops (Nissan Rent-a-Car and Nippon Rent-a-Car) where MATCHA discounts apply are indicated in red.

Hakata Station is a transportation hub and a base for business and travel in the whole Kyushu region, so there are many branches of major companies such as Nissan Rent-a-Car and Toyota Rent-a-Car in the vicinity. Specifically, the above map introduces the branches near the station, so please refer to it.

Below, we will introduce the features of each car rental company. We also provide links to Klook, where you can easily compare and book car rentals and find great coupons.

Please refer to the following MATCHA article for important information to consider when renting a car in Japan.

1. Nippon Rent-a-Car (Discount Available)

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Nippon Rent-a-Car is a leading and well-established car rental company with 560 branches across Japan.

In the vicinity of Hakata Station, there are two branches: the Hakata Gate Branch at the Hakata Gate, and the Hakata Station Shinkansen Chikushi Gate Branch at the Chikushi Gate. Both branches are conveniently located, approximately a 3-minute walk away, and operate from 8:00 to 20:00.

Please note that the Hakata Station Shinkansen Chikushi Gate Branch is a departure-only location, and returns should be made at the Hakata Station Shinkansen Toko Bridge Branch, which is a 5-minute walk from Hakata Station. For more details, please check their official website.

Nippon Rent-a-Car offers various vehicle types, from compact cars to large-capacity vehicles and luxurious cars. They also provide multilingual car navigation systems and one-way rental services, among other attractive features.

Furthermore, MATCHA issues coupons exclusively for foreign tourists visiting Japan, allowing them to rent Nippon Rent-a-Car vehicles at a 10% discount. We highly recommend taking advantage of this offer.

10% OFF! Book a rental car with Nippon Rent-a-Car

2. Nissan Rent-a-Car (Discount Available)

This image is for illustration purposes only

Nissan Motor Company, one of the world's leading automobile manufacturers, operates Nissan Rent-a-Car as its affiliated car rental service. At Hakata Station, there are two Nissan Rent-a-Car branches: the Hakata Station Marui Store, a 2-minute walk from the Hakata Gate, and the Hakata Shinkansen Station Front Store, a 2-minute walk from the Chikushi Gate.

Furthermore, both of these branches offer ETC card rentals and self-check-in services. The Hakata Station Marui Store is conveniently connected to the station, ensuring comfort even in the cold winter. As operating hours may vary for each branch, please check their official website for details.

Most of the vehicles provided by Nissan Rent-a-Car are Nissan cars. Nissan is well-known for its comfortable cars utilizing the latest technologies and attractive car body designs. Even in rental cars, it is possible to rent electric vehicles or sports cars.

By applying through the link provided by MATCHA below, both Japanese and visitors to Japan can enjoy a 10% discount. Be sure to check it out!

3. Times Car Rental

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Times Car Rental, which also provides parking lots and car-sharing services, is popular among a wide range of age groups. Originally a subsidiary of Mazda, they offer vehicle models from various manufacturers, not just Mazda.

In the vicinity of Hakata Station, there are two Times Car Rental branches: the Times Car Rental Hakata Station Front Store, located approximately a 1-minute walk from the Chikushi Gate (Shinkansen Gate), and the Times Car Rental Hakata Station Hakata Gate Store, located approximately a 4-minute walk from the Hakata Gate.

Both branches are open from 8:00 to 19:00. Please note that car pick-up and drop-off are done at the Times Car Rental Hakata Station Front Store Pick-up/Drop-off Location, which is about a 3-minute walk from the branch.

By joining the Times Club or Times Car, you can enjoy various discounts and services such as "Pitto Go," which allows you to shorten the procedures required when picking up or returning rental cars (*information is available in Japanese only).

If you have multiple opportunities to rent cars in Japan, you may want to consider joining Times Car Rental.

Book a Times Car Rental car at Hakata Station on Klook

4. Toyota Rent-a-Car

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Toyota Rent-a-Lease, operated by the Toyota Motor Corporation, is the company behind Toyota Rent-a-Car.

As of September 2023, there is only one branch, the Hakata Station Hakata Gate Store, located right near Hakata Station. The operating hours are from 8:00 to 20:00. Please note that due to the closure of the Hakata Station Front Store, returning the car during the evening rush hour may be congested. In such cases, it is recommended to return the car to the Toko Store, an 8-minute walk from Hakata Station, or the Fukuoka Airport Store, reachable in 10 minutes by subway for a smoother process.

Toyota Rent-a-Car is the largest car rental company in the Japanese car rental industry. They have 1,200 branches nationwide and hold the highest number of rental cars. As a subsidiary of Toyota, one of the world's largest automobile manufacturers, the rental lineup includes a wide range of Toyota cars, including luxury vehicles.

Book a Toyota rental car at Hakata Station on Klook

5. Orix Rent-a-Car

Orix Rent-a-Car boasts the second-largest scale in the industry.

In the vicinity of Hakata Station, there are two Orix Rent-a-Car branches. The Hakata Station Hakata Gate Store is a 5-minute walk from the Hakata Gate, and the Hakata Station Chikushi Gate Store is a 3-minute walk from the Chikushi Gate. The Hakata Station Hakata Gate Store operates from 8:00 to 19:00, while the Hakata Station Chikushi Gate Store operates from 8:00 to 20:00.

One of the appealing aspects of Orix Rent-a-Car is the availability of rental vehicles from various manufacturers. They also handle commercial vehicles such as trucks, making them popular among users who need to use them for moving purposes.

Furthermore, when renting a car and presenting eligible cards at the store, you can earn JAL/ANA mileage and various points. They also run region-specific campaigns, campaigns targeting early reservations, and campaigns including shopping vouchers for Michi-no-Eki (roadside rest areas) (*some campaigns are only available on the Japanese website).

Book an Orix Rent-a-Car at Hakata Station on Klook

6. Budget Rent-A-Car

Budget Rent-A-Car is a leading and well-established car rental company from the United States, with operations in approximately 120 countries. They have also expanded their presence throughout Japan, with many branches located near major stations and airports, ensuring a smooth process for both pick-up and drop-off.

In the vicinity of Hakata Station, there are four Budget Rent-A-Car branches. Among them, the Hakata Station Chikushi Gate Store is approximately a 5-minute walk from the Chikushi Gate, and the Hakata Station Front Store is approximately a 7-minute walk from the Hakata Gate. Both of these branches have operating hours from 8:00 to 20:00.

Budget Rent-A-Car is highly regarded by users for services such as the plan where the full tank return is not required or the ETC card rental. They also provide various benefits, including complimentary optional services.

It is worth checking with the specific branch you plan to use as they may offer early bird discounts depending on the location.

Book a Budget Rent-A-Car at Hakata Station on Klook

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FAQ about Renting a Car and Driving in the Hakata Area

Q1: Is it better to make a reservation for a rental car in advance?

A: Yes. In recent years, rental car travel has become popular in Japan, including Fukuoka. Without a prior reservation, it may not be possible to rent a car. Especially during the peak season of summer (July to August), please be aware that it coincides with the summer holidays for Japanese people.

Q2: Can you provide some precautions when driving in Kyushu and Fukuoka?

A: For general precautions when using a rental car in Japan, please refer to this MATCHA article.

Unfortunately, Fukuoka Prefecture is sometimes said to have "many drivers with poor driving manners." There are drivers who fail to use their turn signals when making right or left turns, and some may cut in forcefully.

Especially in the city center where there are many cars, please be cautious.

Additionally, we would like to share an experience when driving a rental car in Kitakyushu City, which is also located in Fukuoka Prefecture. Due to the multiple lanes, I once made a mistake in turning and almost ended up being late for returning the rental car.

Fukuoka has a complex road system due to its large population. Ensure to allocate extra time for your commute.

Furthermore, in Kyushu, there can be heavy snowfall, especially in mountainous areas, and roads may become icy during winter. If you plan to drive a rental car to mountainous areas during winter, consider renting a car equipped with snow tires.

Q3: Are there any other car rental shops besides Hakata Station?

A: Yes. The car rental companies we introduced this time have shops located in Fukuoka Prefecture and various parts of Kyushu. For more details, please check each company's website.

Furthermore, the 10% discount offered by Nissan Rent-a-Car and Nippon Rent-a-Car, which we introduced earlier, can also be used at shops located near Hakata Station.

Travel Destinations near Fukuoka

Autumn foliage at Raizan Sennyoji Daihioin. Photo by Pixta

If you take a car from Hakata Station, it will take about 30 minutes to reach Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, about 40 minutes to reach Marine World Umi no Nakamichi, one of the largest aquariums in Kyushu, and Raizan Sennyoji Daihioin, a famous autumn foliage spot. You can also reach the Moji Port Retro in Kitakyushu, which gives off a retro atmosphere, in about one hour.

Itoshima's Futamigaura Bay. Photo by Pixta

The scenic Futamigaura Bay with its white torii shrine gate and Wedded Rocks in Itoshima is also easily reachable by rental car from Fukuoka.

If you are willing to go a little further, you can reach the popular hot spring resort town of Yufuin in about one hour and 30 minutes, and Kurokawa Onsen in about two hours.

There are also many breathtaking spots within Kyushu. To fully enjoy Kyushu, it is convenient to rent a car from a car rental office near Hakata Station for smooth transportation.

For more information on attractions and accommodation in Hakata, please refer to the following MATCHA articles.

Book a hotel room in Fukuoka on Booking.com

Book a cheap highway bus ride to Fukuoka

Main image by Pixta