Private vehicles and chartered cars in Japan

Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) arranges private vehicles with English-speaking drivers for guided tours, airport transfers, transfers between cities and ports, and barrier-free transportation. Vehicles are booked alongside JGA guided tours or on the listed routes.

Four ways a private vehicle is used

• Private vehicle for a booked guided tour — the usual choice when the sights are spread out. Day trips from Tokyo to Mt. Fuji, Hakone and Nikko are the clearest cases: public transport connections between the sites are slow, and the Irohazaka road up to Lake Chuzenji is impractical without a car.
• Airport transfers — hotel to a nearby airport with an English-speaking driver.
• Transfers between cities and ports — including cruise port pickups.
• Barrier-free transportation — accessible vehicles for travelers using a wheelchair, booked together with a guide who plans a step-free route. See wheelchair-accessible tours and the barrier-free access information JGA publishes for over 100 sights.

JGA private vehicles are for guided tours, short hotel-to-airport runs and transfers between nearby cities. Routes that are not listed are not arranged.

Guide plus driver, or driver only

Two arrangements are possible. A guided tour with a private vehicle puts a government-licensed English-speaking guide with you all day and a driver on the road — the guide explains the sites, handles tickets and adjusts the plan. A driver-only chartered car suits travelers who already know what they want to see and need transport rather than interpretation. Both are private to your party and priced by time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a private car worth it for Tokyo to Mt. Fuji, Hakone or Nikko?

For those three routes, usually yes. The sights are spread out and the connections between them are slow — the Fuji Five Lakes are scattered around the lakes, Hakone is a loop of separate transport modes, and Nikko's shrine area and Lake Chuzenji are separated by the Irohazaka winding road. Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) arranges a private vehicle with an English-speaking driver together with a government-licensed English-speaking guide, with hotel pickup and drop-off in Tokyo, or a driver-only chartered car if you prefer to explore on your own.

Can you arrange wheelchair-accessible transport in Japan?

Yes. Barrier-free transportation is one of the four private vehicle options Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) arranges. It is normally booked together with a licensed guide who plans a step-free route using the barrier-free access information JGA publishes for more than 100 sightseeing spots. Tell JGA your wheelchair type and party size when enquiring so the right vehicle is reserved.

Do you arrange airport transfers and cruise port pickups?

Yes — hotel to a nearby airport with an English-speaking driver, and transfers between nearby cities and ports including cruise port pickups. Note that JGA private vehicles are intended for booked guided tours, short airport runs and transfers between nearby cities; long-distance routes that are not listed are not arranged.

Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.) — Shizuoka Prefecture Governor Registered Travel Agency No. 2-706 · Winner of Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice Best of the Best. Admission fees, transport and meals for guests are paid by the guest. We are a guide matching agency and do not arrange accommodation.