Snow Tire Equipment
AVIS Rent a Car Guide to Installing Snow Tires
What Are Snow Tires?
Snow Tires are designed to improve driving performance on snowy and icy roads.
Snow Tires
Compared to normal tires, grooves are deeper and less slippery; essential on snowy roads.
You can drive normally with snow tires even when there is no snow on the road, so there is no need to change tires during your trip.
Normal Tires
Designed for driving on dry or rainy roads.
Performance may decrease in low temperatures.
Not suitable for use on snowy or icy roads.
Areas where snow tires are available
| Region | Vehicle Management (Pick-up Location) Area |
Availability | Standard equipment for all vehicles ※Whether all reservations during the period will be provided with snow tires or not |
Paid Extras (Online Booking Price) |
Tire Chains | 4WD Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hokkaido | Sapporo | ○ | ○ | ✕ | Not available at all locations | All Vehicles |
| Chitose | ○ | ○ | ✕ | All Vehicles | ||
| Tohoku | Sendai | ○ | ○ | ✕ | Partial | |
| Kanto | Chiba | ○ | ✕ | ¥3,850/day | Partial | |
| Tokyo | ○ | ✕ | ¥3,850/day | ✕ | ||
| Chubu | Aichi | ○ | ✕ | ¥3,850/day | ✕ | |
| Kansai | Osaka | ○ | ✕ | ¥3,850/day | ✕ | |
| Kyushu | Fukuoka | ○ | ✕ | ¥3,850/day | ✕ | |
| Saga | ○ | ✕ | ¥3,850/day | ✕ | ||
| Nagasaki | ○ | ✕ | ¥3,850/day | ✕ | ||
| Kumamoto | ○ | ✕ | ¥3,850/day | ✕ | ||
| Oita | ○ | ✕ | ¥3,850/day | ✕ | ||
| Miyazaki | ○ | ✕ | ¥3,850/day | ✕ | ||
| Kagoshima | ○ | ✕ | ¥3,850/day | ✕ | ||
| Amami | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ||
| Okinawa | Naha | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | |
| Ishigaki Island | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
Different fees apply for rental extensions, phone calls, or in-person additions.
Please inquire about pricing directly by phone.
Snow Tire Applicable Period
| Hokkaido | Nov. 〜 Apr. |
Chubu | Dec. 〜 Mar. (excluding Aichi) |
| Tohoku | Nov. 〜 Apr. |
Kansai | Dec. 〜 Mar. |
| Kanto | Nov. 15 〜 Mar. 31 |
Kyushu | Late Nov. 〜 Mid Mar. |
As of November 2025
Schedules may differ in some areas. Please contact each store for details.
The availability of snow tires varies depending on the store, usage period, and vehicle class inventory.
*Snow tires are not equipped in all regions or vehicle classes.
What are Roads with Chain Regulations?
"Chain-regulated roads" are road sections where
tire chains must be installed when roads become
slippery due to snow accumulation or freezing.
Important Notes During Chain Regulations
On roads where chain regulations are in effect, tire chains are mandatory even if you are equipped with snow tires. Please ensure chains are installed before entering the regulated section.
Chain regulation is enforced particularly on dangerous mountain passes during heavy snow or icy road conditions.
In "chain-regulated sections" designated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, snow tires alone are not sufficient for passage.
We do not provide chain rental services. Please bring your own chains and install them on the tires.
Information on Heavy Snowfall Areas
Across Japan, many regions experience snow accumulation and road icing during winter.
For a safe and secure trip, please check the weather and road conditions around your destination before traveling.
| Hokkaido Area | Hokkaido | Sapporo, Asahikawa, Hakodate, Kushiro, Obihiro, Otaru, Kitami, Muroran, Tomakomai, Wakkanai |
| Features: Long-term snowfall from November to April. Snow tires are mandatory throughout the region. | ||
| Tohoku Area | Aomori | Aomori, Hachinohe, Hirosaki, Towada |
| Iwate | Morioka, Hanamaki, Kitakami, Oshu | |
| Akita | Akita, Yokote, Odate | |
| Yamagata | Yamagata, Yonezawa, Tsuruoka, Sakata | |
| Miyagi | Sendai (mountain areas), Kesennuma | |
| Fukushima | Aizuwakamatsu, Koriyama (mountain areas), Fukushima | |
| Features: Heavy snowfall on the Sea of Japan side. Snow season from December to March. | ||
| Kanto Area | Gunma | Kusatsu Onsen, Minakami Onsen, Oze area |
| Tochigi | Nikko, Nasu Highlands | |
| Features: Snowfall in mountainous and high-altitude areas. Advance checks required. | ||
| Chubu Area | Niigata | Niigata, Nagaoka, Joetsu, Myoko, Uonuma |
| Toyama | Toyama, Takaoka, Himi | |
| Ishikawa | Kanazawa, Hakusan, Komatsu | |
| Nagano | Nagano, Matsumoto, Karuizawa, Hakuba, Shiga Highlands | |
| Yamanashi | Fuji Five Lakes, Yatsugatake area | |
| Gifu | Takayama, Shirakawa-go, Hida region | |
| Features: Many heavy snowfall areas. Extra caution in ski resort areas. | ||
| Kansai Area | Shiga | Nagahama, Maibara, Kinomoto, Mt. Ibuki area |
| Kyoto | Sakyo Ward (Hanase, Kuta), Miyama, Nantan | |
| Hyogo | Toyooka, Kami, Yabu, Mt. Hyonosen area | |
| Nara | Kamikitayama, Kawakami (Odaigahara range) |
| Chugoku Area | Tottori | Daisen, Hoki, Kofu |
| Shimane | Iinan, Misato | |
| Okayama | Tsuyama, Mimasaka | |
| Hiroshima | Geihoku area, Kitahiroshima |
| Shikoku Area | Ehime | Kuma Kogen, Mt. Ishizuchi area |
| Kochi | Shikoku Karst, Otoyo, Motoyama | |
| Tokushima | Mt. Tsurugi, Miyoshi, Iya area | |
| Kagawa | *Little snowfall on plains; caution in mountains |
| Kyushu Area | Fukuoka | Hiyamizu Pass, Yagiyama Pass, Mt. Hikosan, Mitsuse Pass |
| Oita | Yufuin, Kusu, Kuju, Shonai, Yufu | |
| Nagasaki | Unzen, Mt. Inasa, Hayama | |
| Kumamoto | Aso area, Kurokawa Onsen, Minamiaso | |
| Miyazaki | Takachiho–Gokase, Kirishima range (night/early freezing) | |
| Kagoshima | Kirishima–Ebino Plateau Yakushima (mountain areas) |
|
| Features: Frequent icing near Kagoshima Airport from midnight to 9 AM | ||
Check Your Destination in Advance
Not limited to the areas above, unexpected snow or icing may occur in high-altitude or mountainous areas.
Be sure to check weather and road conditions before departure.
Winter Driving Safety Tips
Precautions When Driving on Snowy Roads
Avoid sudden acceleration and sudden braking
Keep your speed moderate
Maintain sufficient distance between vehicles
During snowfall or blizzards, do not overexert yourself and adjust your plans
It is also important to have the courage to refrain from driving
Even with snow tires or chains equipped, it may not be safe to drive depending on road conditions.
Absolutely do not drive on snowy roads with normal tires.
If weather and road conditions are extremely poor, postponing or canceling your trip is a necessary safety decision. Reckless driving can lead to serious accidents.
FAQ
Please tell me about adding snow tires.
Are snow tires necessary?
What happens if vehicles equipped with snow tires are fully booked?
For safety, please refrain from driving during snowfall.
Can tire chains be attached to snow tires?
Is it safe to drive on highways in the rain with snow tires equipped?
Why aren't all vehicles equipped with snow tires even when it is snowing?
Can I register additional drivers?
What insurance is included in the rental fee?
For details, please check Insurance Coverage.
*A separate coverage plan is required to waive the deductible. A police accident report is required to receive coverage. Please contact our help desk immediately in the event of an accident.
What additional coverage is available? Can I subscribe at the counter?
Are multilingual car navigation systems available?
*If an Audio Device is installed, it may not include multilingual navigation.
Can I rent child seats or ETC cards?
ETC cards are available for rental; please select when making your reservation.
*Availability varies by location. Please check the store details page.
How much luggage can the car hold?
Please contact each store for details.
What documents do I need to rent a car?
However, drivers from Belgium, France, Germany, Monaco, Slovenia, and Taiwan should present an official Japanese translation certified by the Japanese government along with their national driving license.
Pick-up Location
Return Location
Pick-up Date
Return Date