The Ins & Outs of Car Ownership in Japan

with information provided by JCE Autos

For many expats, living in Japan comes with many amazing ‘firsts’—the first ride on a shinkansen, or the first stunning view of Mt. Fuji. While these ‘firsts’ make for great experiences, others might not have been so easy, such as the first crowded train commute or the first closet-like apartment rental requiring a hefty deposit and key money payment. These more complicated ‘firsts’ can sometimes come complete with their own brand of confusion that can often take a lot of time to decipher. Furthermore, dealing in a language such as Japanese is, for many, a monster all its own. Thus, certain tasks that would often pose no problem in one’s home country, such as signing a lease agreement, getting a bank account, or visiting the local city hall, can suddenly seem like a logistical nightmare. As such, there is one ‘first’ that is sometimes perceived as just too overwhelming to undertake—the first car.

That’s where JCE Autos comes in. JCE is Tokyo’s leading car sales agency and is run by a team of seven multilingual executives poised to help those embarking on the quest for their first car in Japan escape the proverbial heart attack and lesson in patience. JCE’s deep well of information, vast inventory of used and new cars, and one-stop approach to car ownership in Japan is the perfect bridge for those considering hitting the streets in a four-wheeled friend.

Without further ado, welcome to the ins and outs of car ownership in the land of the rising sun.