I rented a car on this Shizuoka trip because I wanted to see Mount Fuji and visit several attractions outside the city without being tied to public-transport routes.
If you are only staying around central Shizuoka, public transport can work well. But if your plans include Mount Fuji and several places farther out, the travel time between stops can add up quickly. For my trip, especially when using Shizuoka Airport, having a rental car made the whole route much easier.
I booked through Klook, while the actual rental company was ORIX Rent a Car. My pick-up point was the ORIX Shizuoka Ekimae Rental Site, and the rental period ran from 3:00 PM on January 1 to 3:00 PM on January 4, 2026.
The car shown on my booking was a Honda N-WGN.
The car I actually received was a Suzuki Spacia.
That sounds like a mismatch until you notice the most important words on the booking: “or equivalent.”
What I booked
My reservation showed the following:
- Booking platform: Klook
- Rental company: ORIX Rent a Car
- Pick-up: Shizuoka Ekimae Rental Site
- Period: Jan 1, 2026 15:00 → Jan 4, 2026 15:00
- Displayed vehicle: Honda N-WGN or equivalent
- Transmission: Automatic
- Capacity: 4 people
- Total price at the time: KRW 183,700
- Displayed daily equivalent: KRW 61,233
- Shown as included: one additional driver, GPS and unlimited mileage
- Fuel policy: Full to Full
These were the conditions of my specific booking. Prices and inclusions can change with dates, promotions, exchange rates and availability.
Why did I get a Suzuki Spacia instead?
ORIX explains that, outside of specific campaigns that allow a model to be selected, customers generally cannot specify an exact model or color for a normal web reservation.
Its compact-car listings also present models such as the N-WGN as examples within a class rather than a guarantee of one exact vehicle.
So when a booking says “Honda N-WGN or equivalent,” it is better to think of it as a reservation for a vehicle class, not for that exact Honda.
My actual car was a light mint Suzuki Spacia.
If driving a specific model matters to you, look carefully for the words “or equivalent.” If the exact model does not matter, passenger capacity, luggage space and transmission are usually more useful things to compare.
This is especially important with Japanese kei cars. They can be surprisingly roomy for their exterior size, but luggage capacity may matter more than the number of seats if you are travelling with several suitcases.
Korean drivers: check your International Driving Permit first
The most important preparation is paperwork, not the car.
ORIX specifically states that a Korean domestic driving licence by itself is not accepted for driving in Japan. Korean visitors need an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention, and ORIX requires the permit and passport to be presented at pick-up.
Japan’s National Police Agency also sets out the categories of foreign licences and international permits that can be used in Japan, so it is worth checking the current rules shortly before departure.
For a trip like this, I would keep the following together:
- Passport
- Valid International Driving Permit
- Domestic driving licence
- Rental booking voucher
- Payment card
- Driving documents for any additional driver
A missing document is much harder to solve at the rental counter than a missing travel accessory.
Do not look at CDW alone — check NOC too
My Klook protection screen showed items including CDW, theft protection, NOC, personal accident coverage, and glass/tire/mirror protection.
One of the easiest things to misunderstand when renting in Japan is that CDW and NOC are not the same thing.
ORIX explains that CDW waives certain deductibles related to property or vehicle damage. NOC, or Non-Operation Charge, is a separate charge for the period when a vehicle cannot be used commercially because it needs repairs, cleaning or other work. ORIX currently lists an NOC of JPY 20,000 when the vehicle can be driven back to the scheduled branch and JPY 50,000 when it cannot; it also states that NOC can still apply even when CDW has been selected.
When comparing rental prices, I would therefore check:
- Whether CDW is included
- The deductible amount
- Whether NOC is waived or reimbursed
- Whether tires, glass and mirrors are covered
- What accident procedures must be followed for coverage to apply
Those details vary by booking and protection product, so the conditions shown in my reservation should not be assumed to apply to every Klook or ORIX rental.
Photograph the car before leaving
Before driving away, it is worth walking around the car once.
ORIX also tells customers to inspect the exterior at pick-up and point out any scratches or concerns to staff before departure.
I like to photograph the front, rear and sides of the car, and take a quick shot of the dashboard as well.
If it is your first time driving a Japanese car, this is also a good moment to check the indicators and wipers, fuel-door release, navigation language, and ETC card slot.
Full to Full was easy when returning via Shizuoka Airport
My booking used a Full to Full fuel policy.
Under ORIX’s rental terms, if the vehicle is returned without the fuel replenished, the renter may be charged a refuelling amount calculated under the rental company’s rules.
On this trip, there was a fuel station inside Shizuoka Airport, which made it convenient to fill the tank immediately before returning the car. If your rental return is part of an airport departure, this can save the hassle of searching for a separate fuel station in town just before the return deadline.
I also mention this in my Shizuoka Airport tips, but it is worth repeating here because it directly affects the rental-car return routine.
Opening hours and availability can change, so check current airport and rental-company information for your actual travel date. If you are unsure which fuel the car takes, ask the branch staff when collecting the vehicle.
Shizuoka Ekimae Rental Site
I used ORIX Rent a Car Shizuoka Ekimae Rental Site.
Current ORIX information lists:
- Address: 11-10 Miyuki-cho, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka
- Access: About 3 minutes on foot from the north exit of JR Shizuoka Station
- Landmark: Opposite Hotel Associa Shizuoka, along National Route 1
- Current regular hours: 08:00–20:00
- ETC card rental: Available
My own pick-up was on January 1. ORIX notes that business hours may differ during the year-end/New Year period and on holidays, so anyone travelling around New Year should confirm the calendar for the exact date rather than relying only on regular opening hours.
What I would check before booking again
The biggest lesson from this rental was simple: look at the class and conditions before looking at the model name.
A Honda N-WGN shown on the screen does not mean that exact car is guaranteed when the reservation says “or equivalent.” What mattered more was the passenger and luggage capacity, automatic transmission, insurance and NOC conditions, fuel policy, additional-driver terms and ETC needs.
In a region like Shizuoka, where many interesting places are spread beyond the city centre, a rental car can dramatically widen the range of possible day trips.
But the most useful preparation happens before you start the engine: get the driving documents and coverage details right first.
Continue Exploring My First Unexpected View of Mt. Fuji at Nihondaira Yume TerracePRACTICAL INFO
- Rental period: Jan 1, 2026 15:00 – Jan 4, 2026 15:00
- Booking platform: Klook
- Rental company: ORIX Rent a Car
- Pick-up: Shizuoka Ekimae Rental Site
- Displayed vehicle: Honda N-WGN or equivalent
- Actual vehicle: Suzuki Spacia
- Total price at booking: KRW 183,700
- Fuel policy: Full to Full
- Mileage: Shown as unlimited in my booking
- Additional driver: One shown as included in my booking
- GPS: Shown as included in my booking
- For Korean drivers: A Korean domestic licence alone is not sufficient. Bring a valid 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit and passport.
- Insurance: Check CDW and NOC separately.
- Vehicle model: “Or equivalent” means the exact model may change.
- Return: Refuel before return when booked on a Full to Full basis. On this trip, the fuel station inside Shizuoka Airport made the final fill-up convenient.
- Holiday hours: Verify the exact branch calendar for year-end/New Year and public holidays.
- Info checked: 2026-09-19
