Heavy traffic congestion tends to make travelling by car in Japan's urban areas a slow and frustrating experience. Fortunately, excellent public transport makes driving in and between cities unnecessary. Hiring a car can, however, be an excellent way for visitors to explore the more remote country areas.

Driving in Japan is not as daunting as might be expected - drivers are generally disciplined and courteous and major signs are in both Japanese and English. Expressways, which are named (for example, The Tokaido Expressway), are toll roads that link the main cities; tolls are expensive at approximately ¥30 per kilometre. Other main roads are numbered (for example, Route 24).

Traffic drives on the left, and the wearing of seat belts is compulsory. The legal driving age in Japan is 18 years for a car and 16 years for a motorbike. An International Driving Licence is required, along with a minimum six months driving experience and basic travel insurance. Parking can be impossible to find and extremely expensive. The speed limit is 80kph (50mph) on expressways, and 40kph (25mph) in built-up areas. Driving after having consumed any amount of alcohol is illegal and penalties are severe.

Emergency breakdown services: The Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) (tel: (03) 6833 9100; www.jaf.or.jp/e/index_e.htm), provides an English-language ‘Rules of the Road' booklet and JAF Road Service offers 24-hour breakdown assistance for both members and non-members. In the case of an accident, the police must be informed (tel: 110).

Routes to the city: Tokyo is linked by the Tomei-Meishin expressway to Kobe (via Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka), by the Tohoku expressway to Sendai and northern Japan, and by the Chuo expressway to Nagano and Nagoya.

Approximate driving times to Tokyo: From Nagano - 3 hours 30 minutes; Sendai - 4 hours; Nagoya - 5 hours; Osaka - 7 hours. Note that actual driving times can vary widely depending on traffic conditions.

Coach services: A number of companies offer a comprehensive network of long-distance bus services. Comfortable overnight coaches with reclining seats serve destinations such as Kyoto, Osaka and the cities of northern Honshu. Coaches leave from terminals outside Shinjuku Station, in Shinjuku, and Tokyo Station, Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku. Reservations for the JR Highway Bus Service can also be made at green ticket windows in major JR railway stations.