Frequently Asked Questions

Reservations can be primarily made through the online booking system on this website. Personal assistance is also available via WhatsApp or LINE.

You need either a Japanese driver's licence, or your home licence together with an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (IDPs in the 1926 or 1968 format are not valid in Japan). Licences from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan are the exception: they are used with an official Japanese translation instead of an IDP. The translation must be issued by the licensing authority or its embassy or consulate in Japan, JAF, ZipPlus or ALADDIN (Taiwanese licences also the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association, German licences also ADAC). With an overseas licence you can drive for 1 year from your arrival in Japan, or until the licence or IDP expires if that is sooner. Licences from mainland China cannot be used to drive in Japan. Some car models require a minimum number of years of driving experience. Please check the specific requirements for each model on this website.

Log in to your account and visit "My Bookings" to cancel a reservation yourself. To change dates or vehicle, please contact DREAMAX via WhatsApp or LINE.

Once payment is completed, you will immediately receive a confirmation email. You can view the rental contract and booking status anytime from "My Bookings".

The rental fee is paid in full when you book. When the security deposit is paid depends on how far ahead you book: 14 days or fewer before pickup, it is paid together with the rental fee; 15 or more days ahead on the DREAMAX website by credit card, it is charged automatically to the same card 10 days before pickup. DREAMAX emails you the amount, the date and the last four digits of the card on each day from 3 days before that date, and you can pay earlier or with a different card. If the automatic charge fails, please pay by 3 days before pickup; if you cannot, for any reason, contact us before then and we will work it out with you. If the deposit is still unpaid by then and we have not heard from you, the booking may be treated as cancelled by you 10 days before pickup, with 70% of the rental fee refunded under the cancellation policy. Additional post-return charges, such as actual ETC tolls, are deducted from your security deposit by default. If you prefer to settle them separately (e.g. for corporate accounting), cash or bank transfer at return is also available on request.

Payment is primarily made by credit card via Stripe at the time of booking. If bank transfer is required, please contact DREAMAX (GMO Aozora Net Bank).

The deposit is not refunded at the moment of return — it is refunded within one month after the car is returned. This window lets DREAMAX wait for charges that are not known immediately, such as actual ETC toll bills, refueling service, or traffic fines. These are deducted from the deposit first, and the remainder is refunded to the credit card you paid the deposit with. The card-processing fee is absorbed by us. If you prefer to pay post-return charges separately instead of having them deducted, just let us know.

With an overseas licence: (1) Home country's driving licence, (2) International Driving Permit under the 1949 Geneva Convention, or, for licences from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan, an official Japanese translation instead, (3) Passport. For residents of Japan: (1) Valid driving license, (2) Identity document (e.g. resident card, My Number Card, etc.)

Extensions can be requested via WhatsApp or LINE. Whether the extension is granted depends on whether the vehicle is still available at that time.

DREAMAX hands the vehicle over at Kansai International Airport (KIX), at your hotel or another address in Osaka city, or at our office in Higashisumiyoshi, Osaka. Handover at KIX and in Osaka city is free; you pay only the tolls and fuel for that leg. Handovers run from 08:00 to 20:00.

Yes. You can choose any pickup or return time from 00:00 to 23:30. Outside business hours (08:00–20:00) a handover costs ¥2,000 + tax per started hour, counted separately for the pickup and the return. For example, a 07:00 pickup is 1 hour (¥2,200 incl. tax) and a 22:10 return is 3 hours (¥6,600 incl. tax). If you choose the time when booking, the fee is shown in the price breakdown before you pay; otherwise it is charged when the rental is settled.

When booking online, you may select alternative pickup/return locations. However, such arrangements depend on staff and vehicle availability on the day; DREAMAX will reconfirm with you when processing the booking. An additional fee may apply for special arrangements.

Message DREAMAX. Support continues during the trip: on WhatsApp, LINE or phone, staff answer while you are on the road, in Japanese, English, Cantonese or Mandarin, 08:00–20:00 JST, year-round. Typical questions: how to use the heater, the bed or the power system; where you can sleep tonight; ferry check-in times and which route to take. Staff can also look things up for you in Dreamax Connect, our own trip-planning database (7,900+ places across Japan as of September 2026, 3,990+ of them overnight-capable, each with its official source). After an accident, follow the steps under Insurance / Accident and contact us straight away.

Extensions can be requested via WhatsApp or LINE. Whether the extension is granted depends on whether the vehicle is still available at that time.

Before returning the car, please ensure that you have: (1) Refilled the fuel to a full tank at the designated gas station near the DREAMAX office. (2) Cleaned the car to restore it to its original condition. (3) Paid all fines for traffic violations (if any). Extra charges will be imposed if you fail to complete these tasks.

When an accident occurs: Provide aid to the injured, move the vehicle out of the way, set up warning lights. If anyone is injured call 119. Call the police at 110 to report the accident. Do not settle claims yourself. Notify DREAMAX staff immediately.

Every vehicle carries bodily injury, property damage, vehicle damage and personal accident insurance. What you owe DREAMAX in an accident depends on Deductible Compensation: without it you are liable for the full loss, and with it your liability is capped at the deductible — provided the accident was reported to the police, we were notified, and there was no traffic offence or breach of the Terms. Deductibles and coverage limits vary by vehicle — please refer to each vehicle's detail page for specifics.

Go to the police station shown on the sticker and pay the fines. If you fail to complete the above procedures before returning the car, a penalty fee of ¥30,000 will be charged in addition to any fines.

All cars are equipped with a built-in ETC onboard device. You can either use your own ETC card or borrow one from DREAMAX at no extra charge.

All rental cars, except for trikes, are equipped with car navigation systems.

Every vehicle is non-smoking, e-cigarettes included. If the car has been smoked in, DREAMAX charges the actual cost of professional cleaning and deodorising plus the rental income lost while that work is done, and never less than ¥100,000.

No vehicle in the DREAMAX fleet accepts pets. If a pet has been carried, we charge the actual cost of professional cleaning and deodorising, plus the rental income lost while that work is done.

Yes. You may rest overnight in the vehicle at roadside stations (道の駅) and expressway service / parking areas (SA / PA) — these are for resting, not for setting up camp. For actual camping (tents, open fire, full set-up), use a designated RV Park or campsite.

There is no on-board toilet — Japan has an excellent network of public toilets, onsen and bathhouses, so one is not needed. The Treasure 1 and Happy 1 Turbo do have a water supply and a large-capacity battery for power.

The Treasure 1 has an IH stove with an extractor fan for light cooking. Both the Treasure 1 and the Happy 1 Turbo have a microwave for reheating food. DREAMAX also rents outdoor cooking gear for a fuller cooking experience.

Yes. Every handover includes a walkthrough of the vehicle and gear (the bed, power, water, heater and any add-ons you ordered), so you drive off knowing how it all works. For the trip itself DREAMAX publishes 53 campervan routes of 1–7 days (31 of them from Osaka) and dated trip guides, built on Dreamax Connect (7,900+ places across Japan and 3,990+ overnight-capable stops as of September 2026). Tell us your dates and group when you book, and staff will recommend a car-camping itinerary.

Hong Kong: an International Driving Permit (IDP) under the 1949 Geneva Convention is required — the same as other Geneva Convention countries. Taiwan: your licence together with an official Japanese translation (from JAF or the Taiwan motor-vehicle office) — an IDP is not required. Mainland China: licences are not accepted for driving in Japan.

There is no driving-range limit — you may drive anywhere in Japan, including snow regions, Mt. Fuji and Tokyo. From November to April every year, DREAMAX campervans (Treasure 1 and Happy 1 Turbo) come fitted with studless winter tyres as standard, while the Delica D:5 and Petit-Cam Villa run all-terrain tyres bearing the snowflake (3PMSF) mark. The GR Yaris and Can-Am Ryker are not available for driving in snow areas during winter. Tyre chains are lent out to match your itinerary — just let us know when you book.

Yes — a minimum of 3 years holding a licence is required for the GR Yaris. See the vehicle detail page for full requirements.

An ordinary car licence is sufficient for the Can-Am Ryker. A motorcycle-only licence is NOT valid for it.

Please book at least one day in advance — same-day reservations cannot be made through the system. For same-day requests, contact DREAMAX directly via WhatsApp or LINE; availability is not guaranteed.

Both are free. Child seats are available on every vehicle that can take one; the Can-Am Ryker cannot, so all of its occupants must be adults.