Here is an actual S-class vehicle we have to rent. This particular car is a Toyota Passo compact car. Like all our cars, it comes with 4wd, snow tyres, snow wipers, a drive recorder, and a lockable ski rack. The daily (24-hour) rate is just 6,800 yen.
4wd and snow tyres mean enough power and grip to get up any road that has been ploughed. Toyota advertised the Passo with a “petit-petit-petit-petit-petit To-yo-ta!” song, but it’s quite roomy. It seats five, and unlike a Japanese “kei” microcar, has five seatbelts. In winter mode though, we’d recommend groups of five adults hire our SUV.
It’s four door, so everyone can get in and out easily, even in ski car parks where they squeeze the cars in. If you are unsure about driving in a foreign country, a compact car like this can give you confidence. Our first long-term rental of this was a pro skier and his photographer. With the rear seats folded down, they had plenty of space for their gear. According to Wikipedia, seats down gives you 630 liters in the back!
Like all our cars, there is a sat-nav that will take English input. The sat-nav will display where you are and get you where you are going if you don’t have a SIM or data plan in Japan. The easiest way to input a destination is using the phone number.
To make a booking request, click here.