If you’re looking for a Sapporo rental car option you can pick up right in central Susukino, this Nippon Rent-A-Car location is a really convenient choice.
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Sapporo, Japan Nippon Rent-A-Car Susukino
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On a Hokkaido trip, you usually don’t need a rental car for your entire stay in Sapporo—just a few days is often enough.
For example, on a 4-night, 5-day trip, it makes sense to rent a car for just two days to explore outside the city, then spend the rest of your time getting around Sapporo on foot or by public transit.
So if you don’t actually need a car from day one, and you’re staying in the area most travelers choose for their hotel, renting from a spot near downtown Susukino is incredibly convenient.
There’s really no reason to keep a car on days when you’re not heading out of town. You’ll just end up paying extra for parking, and parking in busy central areas can be a hassle anyway.
Sapporo downtown rental car company
The company I chose was Nippon Rent-A-Car in Susukino.
I’d only used major Japan rental car brands like ORIX or Toyota before, so Nippon Rent-A-Car was new to me and I wasn’t sure what to expect. But it turns out they’re a well-established, reliable company with locations all across Japan—I was just the one out of the loop.
The Sapporo downtown Nippon Rent-A-Car location was excellent for both pickup and return. It’s about a 10–15 minute walk from the Nikka Whisky sign, so if you’re staying around Susukino, this is honestly one of the best options.
I just followed Google Maps at an easy pace and arrived without any trouble. I was pushing a stroller too, and the route was smooth enough that it felt more like a walk than a chore.
Even if you have a suitcase, it shouldn’t be difficult to get there.
Why I recommend Nippon Rent-A-Car
Of course, I booked the car in advance, and from the moment I walked into the office to the moment I drove off, the whole process took only about 15 minutes. I loved how efficient everything was.
The middle-aged male staff member in the photo handled everything from confirming my reservation to handing over the car, and his English was genuinely excellent—almost native-level—so communication was easy.
I snapped a photo of the notice while waiting for the car, and after running it through a translator, it was basically reminding drivers to keep a safe distance from bicycles.
Get a discount on Klook rental cars
When I rent a car overseas, I usually book through Klook rental cars. Even after comparing a bunch of sites, Klook often comes out cheaper, and the booking process is simple, which is why I keep using it.
I checked the rates for pickup in Sapporo Susukino based on a same-day one-day rental.
Prices for a mini wagon started at around $36, which felt surprisingly affordable. That said, the cars weren’t in poor condition at all. And the longer your rental period, the lower the daily rate usually gets.
Another thing I like is that when you search for rental cars on Klook, you can filter by price range, vehicle options, and insurance, so it’s easy to find a car that actually fits your trip.
I’ll also share the discount codes you can use when booking a rental car on Klook.
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Coupon code |
Terms of use |
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sethreehoursbefore260001 |
$1 off when you spend $36 or more |
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sethreehoursbefore260002 |
$2 off when you spend $72 or more |
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sethreehoursbefore260003 |
$5 off when you spend $145 or more |
Klook rental car booking linkAfter you go through the link, enter the code above [sethreehoursbefore 26000X] in the coupon code field at checkout to get $2–$5 off. Don’t forget to use it.
Toyota Raize
This is the car we rented. Since we needed to install a baby car seat, we booked a compact SUV, though the exact model can be swapped for another vehicle in the same class.
Our car was a Toyota Raize. I’d never heard of it before, but it turned out to be great. The car was also very clean and in excellent condition.
They also gave us a list of map codes for the built-in navigation system, including major attractions and sightseeing spots. To be honest, though, I never actually used it to set the navigation.
For reference, a USB-A cableis worth bringing. It’s useful for charging your phone in the car, and you can also connect your phone to the vehicle with it.
In the car we drove, Apple CarPlay worked wirelessly, but Android Auto only worked through a wired USB connection. This may vary by vehicle, but just in case, I’d definitely pack a cable.
We also requested a child car seat in advance when booking the vehicle, and the condition was excellent. Not only was it clean, it honestly felt almost brand new, and it was easy to use too.
It even felt like it fit our baby better than the one we use at home, and thanks to that, our little one fell asleep almost every time we got in the car.
We only rented for one day because we were doing a day trip to Otaru. We had the car from morning until evening, and we had to return it by 8 p.m. at the latest.
One thing to note: tolls and parking fees can often be paid by card these days, but some unmanned roadside parking lots still accept cash only, so I recommend carrying some cash with you.
Also, if you don’t speak Japanese or you’re not used to unmanned payment machines, it’s safest to use a translation app before paying. Some cash-only machines have slots that look like card readers, but they’re actually for discount tickets, not credit cards.
If it’s your first Sapporo trip and you’re staying 4 nights or longer, I highly recommend renting a car for about two of those days so you can enjoy Hokkaido’s natural scenery and check out great local restaurants outside the city.
Book the lowest-price overseas rental car on Klook
(And don’t forget to grab the Klook discount code included in the middle of this post!)