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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.
Availability varies by region and season. Other than standard equipment, snow tires are a paid extra. For items not listed on the website, please contact each store directly by phone.
Are snow tires necessary?
It depends on the weather and region. The final decision is up to you. If there is even slight snow accumulation at departure, snow tires are required.
What happens if vehicles equipped with snow tires are fully booked?
It may be difficult to provide one during your requested period.
For safety, please refrain from driving during snowfall.
Can tire chains be attached to snow tires?
Chains can be attached. However, as we do not handle chains, we cannot advise on tire-chain compatibility. Please purchase chains at a tire specialty store or car shop.
Is it safe to drive on highways in the rain with snow tires equipped?
Snow tires are prone to hydroplaning in rainy conditions and can be dangerous. If driving is unavoidable, reduce speed, double your following distance, and brake early. Use safer routes such as local roads whenever possible.
Why aren't all vehicles equipped with snow tires even when it is snowing?
In regions where snow tires are standard equipment, all vehicles are equipped with snow tires. In other regions, fewer than 10% of vehicles are equipped. During winter, we do not perform tire changes, and we do not accept customer requests to purchase or replace snow tires except in emergencies such as punctures.
Can I register additional drivers?
Yes, you can. There are no age restrictions.
What insurance is included in the rental fee?
Rental vehicles include basic coverage.
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?
Additional coverage can be subscribed at the counter. For details, please check here.
Are multilingual car navigation systems available?
Multilingual car navigation or Audio Device comes as standard equipment.
*If an Audio Device is installed, it may not include multilingual navigation.
Can I rent child seats or ETC cards?
Car navigation or Audio Device comes as standard equipment.
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?
Luggage capacity varies by vehicle type.
Please contact each store for details.
What documents do I need to rent a car?
Please bring and present your original International Driving Permit based on the Geneva Convention and your passport.
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.

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