{"id":13877,"date":"2022-09-29T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-29T01:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/?p=13877"},"modified":"2025-06-16T15:16:37","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T06:16:37","slug":"a-guide-to-parking-fees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/local-area-guides\/a-guide-to-parking-fees\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide To Parking Fees (Updated for 2025!)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Living in the countryside certainly has its benefits and with Village House, you have many options for rental apartments<\/a> in many regions all across Japan. In the rather rural areas of the county, public transportation can be infrequent or even non-existent and you might not get around using a car. On the contrary, if you live in one of the major Japanese cities, you get to benefit from a fantastic public transport system \u2013 it\u2019s spotless, it\u2019s \u2013 generally \u2013 extremely punctual, and it connects you to almost every nook and cranny of the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, does one need a car if living in a major Japanese city? Well, that really depends on you. Local surveys have shown that around two-thirds of Japanese households in central Tokyo don\u2019t have a car. Why? Well aside from the excellent public transport, the costs of owning<\/em> a car in Japan can become extremely expensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buying<\/em> a car in Japan, ironically enough, can be considered relatively affordable, with a small, new car costing around 1.2~1.4 million yen. However, when you own a car, the bi-annual inspections (shaken), compulsory insurance, and automobile tax can really add up \u2013 a 2021 survey revealed that the average monthly maintenance costs for a private passenger car cost around \u00a511,700.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then there are the inevitable parking fees\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parking Space<\/h2>\n\n\n
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It comes as no surprise that there is an absolute lack of space in many major Japanese cities where land comes at a premium. What parking spaces are available are limited and tight, so tight that there is an unwritten rule that when parking in Japan, drivers should also reverse into the parking space so it\u2019s easier for them to see any oncoming traffic, pedestrians, or other obstacles when leaving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are three general types of parking lots and spaces in Japan:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Street parking with meters<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 common everywhere, you buy a ticket from the meter and stick it behind your windshield for the inspectors to check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coin parking lots<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 very common in Japan. When you park your car in one of these lots, a wheel lock will hold your car in place until you pay your parking fee in full.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parking garages<\/strong><\/em> \u2013 an automated parking space that sends your car to a designated lot in a building or underground. Such parking spaces can be standalone facilities or attached to a mall.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Car Parking Fees<\/h2>\n\n\n
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How much you pay for a parking spot is highly dependent on where you are so if you\u2019ve decided to drive into central Tokyo and need a place to stash your car, well, be prepared to spend more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In general, prices for parking can start anywhere from \u00a5100 per 15 minutes up to \u00a5500 per hour. There are also parking spaces where you can leave your car for up to 24 hours for prices starting at around \u00a51000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re looking for long-term parking and you live in Tokyo, you may want to reconsider getting a car. Tokyo ranks as one of the Top 5 cities in the world with exorbitant and eye-watering parking fees; and if this doesn\u2019t put you off, the hunt for finding a parking space within 2km of your registered address might. Before even purchasing a car, one needs to provide \u201cproof\u201d of parking space \u2013 this is due to the lack of parking in cities like Tokyo where space is limited. If the previous two hurdles have not proved enough of a deterrent, then let\u2019s move on to long-term parking fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Illegal parking <\/p>\n\n\n

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Finding parking in cities can be tricky due to the number of cars on the road and lack of space. This is especially true for cities in Japan, which are famously compact and dense. If you happen to be driving into one of Japan\u2019s many cities and are struggling to find somewhere to park on the street, it\u2019s often better to find a paid parking space than to attempt to park in an empty space and accidentally find yourself parking illegally. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some examples of illegal parking in Japan include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n