If your trip to Takayama is all booked but your itinerary is a bit on the empty side, let us give you a helping hand.Stop by Takayama Jinya. It’s one attraction you’ll usually find on most visitors’ to-do lists. Miyagawa Morning Market and Sanmachi-suji are also not far away and worth checking out.

The beauty of renting a car is that you can travel anywhere, anytime. Make full use of your freedom by checking out all there is on offer in Gero. It’s just 20 miles away. Onsenji Temple ought to be at the top of your to-do list here. Gero Country Club and Onsen Museum are awesome attractions too. Locals will also probably point you in the direction of Ono-gun, 20 miles away. If you only have time for one attraction here, make sure it’s Shirakawago Hirase Onsen. (But we’d also recommend Shirakawago Historic Village and Kanda-ke.)

Situated 8 miles from Takayama, Hida Furukawa Festival Exhibition Hall is a fantastic place to go for a business conference. After a big day of mingling and getting to know new people, you’ll be able to hop into your rental car and drive out to a nearby restaurant or go for a relaxing spin around the area.

Having your own set of wheels in Takayama will give you the freedom to squeeze in as many activities as possible. Maybe you can’t wait to leave town, hit the country roads, and go where the wind blows. If that’s the case, grab the keys to one of our SUVs and take a look at the bays in the area. If you’d rather experience the bright lights of the city, something small will be a better fit. Zooming around heavy traffic and busy streets will be a lot less stressful with a mini or compact car.

You’ll be glad to know that there’s an impressive variety of both luxury and economy rentals in Takayama. What you end up opting for will depend on your budget and what you plan to do. Specialty and prestige vehicles are all about mod cons and comfort. If you feel like splashing out, why not book a fully kitted-out SUV, or perhaps a slick mid-sized vehicle? Otherwise, if you just need a set of wheels to get from A to B as economically as possible, stick with a versatile compact vehicle (or something else that won’t blow your budget).

Drivers stick to the left side of the road in Takayama. If you plan to explore this destination on wheels, take note that the steering wheel will be on the right. It could take a little getting used to!

It can be. Driving around the block looking for a parking spot isn’t unusual in Takayama. Getting near top attractions is easier if you research your options ahead of time.

Since the population of Takayama is approximately 66,600, you shouldn’t encounter too much difficulty with traffic. That being said, main roads generally get busy in the rush hours before and after work, so you may want to avoid driving during these times.

The residential zones in the city of Takayama have a 40km/h speed limit. Outside these built-up areas, the speed limits usually range between 30km/h and 100km/h.

One of two things will happen. Your rental company may charge the amount stated on the fine to your credit card. This is the more common practice. Alternatively, it may supply your contact details to the relevant local agency so the fine is issued to you directly.

If you have Bluetooth or similar functions enabled, it’s fine to use your cell phone while cruising in your car around Takayama. But make sure you remain focused on the road.

In Takayama, it is a punishable offence to operate a vehicle with a BAC (blood alcohol content) in excess of 0.03%. If you’re in the mood for a few drinks over dinner, it’d be wise to leave your rental car at your hotel.

No, it’s not. In Takayama, red means stop, with no exceptions. When nearing a set of traffic lights, always maintain a safe speed so you can easily stop when you need to.

Subject to a small number of exceptions, seat belts must be fastened in Gifu Prefecture.