Review of Thai Airways

Hi there,

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Hi, You mean Thai Airways, a good airline with great service, but the trip will be long—you’ll have to stop over in Bangkok, an 11-hour flight from Paris, then another 6.5 hours to Japan, plus a more or less lengthy layover in Bangkok. There are shorter routes! lol.

Hi Patrick, Thanks so much for your reply. Since you know Japan well, I’ll take the opportunity to ask you a question: I’m planning to rent a minivan for 10 days with my 15-year-old daughter. Have you ever driven in Japan? And most importantly, what do you think of this way of traveling? Thanks in advance for your feedback and tips.

Hi there,

I’ve never rented a vehicle in Japan, but I know you need to request a mandatory translation of your driver’s license, then head to a JAF office upon arrival—there are plenty, especially in big cities. The processing time varies from same-day to 2 weeks. Public transport in Japan is really well-developed, so for a 10-day trip, especially if it’s your first time, you’ll probably hit the must-sees like Tokyo/Kyoto/Osaka/Hiroshima. No need to rent anything at all.

Hello,

After several trips to Japan, I’ve always used trains and buses so far. I’ll be renting a car next year for the Okinawa archipelago. As Patrick mentioned, you absolutely need a translation of your driver’s license. The international permit isn’t recognized or valid in Japan. You have to get it done on-site at the JAF, though I’m not sure how long it takes. You can also arrange it before leaving France through agencies for a fee. This way, you can pick up the vehicle right away, which is what I’ll do.

Here are a few agencies as examples:

Certified JAF driver’s license translation for Japan | Keikaku

Driver’s license translation for Japan | Japan Experience