Choosing a rental car in Miyagi
Miyagi Prefecture is on the Pacific side of the Tohoku region, with Sendai as its largest city. There are two main places to rent: Sendai Station with 17 branches and Sendai Airport with eight, 25 branches from nine companies in all.
This guide shows which place suits your trip, how exits and airport counters work, which branches take cars rented elsewhere, winter tyres, and how rates differ on Japanese and foreign licences.
- Arriving at Sendai Station by Shinkansen: the 17 branches are split between the East Exit side (nine) and the West Exit side (eight), all a walk from the station. Eki Rent-a-Car is on the first floor of S-PAL Sendai East Building, and Toyota Sendai Station East Exit is 1 minute from the East Exit.
- Arriving at Sendai Airport by air: six companies have counters in the domestic arrivals lobby, where you check in or call the branch, then take a shuttle. Nippon, Toyota, Orix, Nissan and Nico Nico close latest, at 20:00.
- Renting early or returning late: at Sendai Station, Nissan Sendai Station East Exit opens 07:00–21:00 and Eki Rent-a-Car 07:30–21:00.
- Renting at the airport and returning at the station: Nippon, Toyota and Orix have branches at both and handle returns at other branches. Nippon Sendai Station West Exit does not accept cars rented elsewhere.
- Keeping the cost down: on standard compact rates before discounts for a Japanese licence, the lowest for 24 hours are Eco Car at Sendai Airport (¥4,200) and Nico Nico at the airport and station (¥5,610). Eco Car's non-operation charge (NOC) is ¥30,000 or ¥70,000 for compact cars on its guide page, while its rental terms give ¥30,000 if you drive the car back to the branch and ¥50,000 otherwise. Among the major companies, Eki Rent-a-Car at Sendai Station is ¥8,470, and Toyota and Budget are ¥8,580.
The Sendai Station comparison and the Sendai Airport comparison give hours, routes and prices for every branch.
Sendai Station and Sendai Airport compared
The two places differ in how you reach the branch and in hours.
- Sendai Station: you can walk with no shuttle. Close to the East Exit are Eki Rent-a-Car, Toyota Sendai Station East Exit, Nissan, Nippon Sendai Ekimae Terminal and Toyota Sendai Shinkansen Exit. Five minutes from the West Exit are Nippon Sendai Station West Exit and Toyota Sendai Station West Exit. An "Ekimae" name does not fix the side: Nippon Sendai Ekimae Terminal is south of the East Exit, and Orix Sendai Ekimae is 8 minutes from the West Exit.
- Sendai Airport: Nippon, Toyota, Orix, Nissan, Times and Budget have counters in the domestic arrivals lobby. The Times and Budget counters have no permanent staff, and at Toyota and Times you call the branch on the counter telephone. Eco Car collects you from the rotary outside the exit (about 15–20 minutes by car to the branch). Nico Nico has no shuttle and is 10–15 minutes on foot. On the way back, return the car to the branch and take the shuttle to the airport.
At Sendai Station, the earliest branch opens at 07:00 and the latest closes at 21:00. At Sendai Airport, branches open from 08:00 and the latest close at 20:00. The first table below compares the two places. The tables after it list every branch, with each name linking to its branch page.
| Pickup place | Branches | Earliest opening and latest closing | Branches offering one-way rentals | Lowest compact reference rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sendai Station | 17 (7 companies) | 07:00–21:00 | 10 | Nico Nico: ¥5,610 |
| Sendai Airport | 8 (8 companies) | 08:00–20:00 | 4 | Eco: ¥4,200 |
Sendai Station branches
| Branch | Regular hours | One-way rental |
|---|---|---|
| Nippon Sendai Ekimae Terminal | 07:30–20:00 | Offered, with conditions |
| Nippon Sendai Station West Exit | 08:00–19:00 | Not offered |
| Toyota Sendai Station East Exit | 07:30–20:00 | Offered, with conditions |
| Toyota Sendai Station West Exit | 08:00–20:00 | Offered, with conditions |
| Nippon Sendai Honcho No. 1 | 07:30–19:00 | Offered, with conditions |
| Toyota Sendai Shinkansen Exit | 07:30–20:00 | Offered, with conditions |
| Toyota Honcho | 08:30–19:00 | Offered, with conditions |
| Orix Sendai Ekimae | 08:00–20:00 | Offered, with conditions |
| Orix Sendai Station East Exit | 08:00–20:00 | Offered, with conditions |
| Nissan Sendai Station East Exit | 07:00–21:00 | Check when you book |
| Times Sendai Station West Exit | 09:00–18:00 | Offered, with conditions |
| Eki Rent-a-Car Sendai Station | 07:30–21:00 | Offered, with conditions |
| Nico Nico Sendai Station East Exit | 08:00–20:00 | Check when you book |
| Nico Nico Sendai Shinteramachi 2-chome | 08:00–20:00 | Check when you book |
| Nico Nico Sendai Kakyoin | 08:00–20:00 | Check when you book |
| Nico Nico Miyagi Teppomachi-Naka | 09:00–20:00 | Check when you book |
| Nico Nico Sendai Honcho | 08:00–20:00 | Check when you book |
Sendai Airport branches
| Branch | Regular hours | One-way rental |
|---|---|---|
| Nippon Sendai Airport | 08:00–20:00 | Offered, with conditions |
| Toyota Sendai Airport | 08:00–20:00 | Offered, with conditions |
| Orix Sendai Airport | 08:00–20:00 | Offered, with conditions |
| Nissan Sendai Airport | 08:00–20:00 | Check when you book |
| Times Sendai Airport | 08:30–19:00 | Offered, with conditions |
| Budget Sendai Airport | 08:00–19:30 | Check when you book |
| Eco Sendai Airport | 09:00–19:00 | Check when you book |
| Nico Nico Sendai Airport Mae | 08:00–20:00 | Check when you book |
Rental companies in Miyagi compared
The table groups the 25 branches by company. Toyota, Nippon, Orix, Nissan, Times and Nico Nico have branches at both places. Eki Rent-a-Car is at Sendai Station only, and Budget and Eco Car at Sendai Airport only.
| Company | Sendai Station | Sendai Airport | Return to another branch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Rent a Car | 4 (Sendai Station East Exit and Sendai Shinkansen Exit 07:30–20:00; Sendai Station West Exit 08:00–20:00; Honcho 08:30–19:00) | Sendai Airport 08:00–20:00 | Available inside and outside the prefecture (no No. 1 or 2 registration at the four station branches) |
| Nippon Rent-A-Car | Sendai Ekimae Terminal 07:30–20:00; Sendai Station West Exit weekdays 08:00–19:00, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays 08:00–18:00; Sendai Honcho No. 1 07:30–19:00 | Sendai Airport 08:00–20:00 | Available (Sendai Station West Exit does not accept cars rented elsewhere) |
| Orix Rent a Car | Sendai Ekimae and Sendai Station East Exit 08:00–20:00 | Sendai Airport 08:00–20:00 | Available, except Hokkaido, Okinawa and outlying islands |
| Nissan Rent a Car | Sendai Station East Exit 07:00–21:00 | Sendai Airport 08:00–20:00 | Check when you book |
| Times Car Rental | Sendai Station West Exit 09:00–18:00 | Sendai Airport 08:30–19:00 | Check when you book |
| Nico Nico Rent a Car | 5 (hours vary by branch and day) | Sendai Airport Mae 08:00–20:00 | Generally not available (company rule) |
| Eki Rent-a-Car | Sendai Station 07:30–21:00 | — | Available |
| Budget Rent a Car | — | Sendai Airport 08:00–19:30 | Check when you book |
| Eco Car Rent-a-Car | — | Sendai Airport 09:00–19:00 | Check when you book |
Some branches shorten hours or close over New Year, so check the date with your branch.
Rental service
Toyota Rent a Car
Sendai Airport and four at Sendai Station
Compare plans by branch, vehicle class and the conditions of your trip.
- Location in this guide
- Toyota Sendai Airport
- Vehicles and service
- Passenger cars, minivans and SUVs; check the model and equipment in your booking.
- Coverage
- The Anshin W plan combines the deductible waiver with an NOC waiver.
For Toyota Sendai Airport, use the telephone at the check-in counter on the airport's first floor and a free shuttle comes in about 5–10 minutes. The stop is to the left outside entrance 1. On return, park at the branch, pay, and staff take you to the airport.
Sendai Station has four branches. Sendai Station East Exit, 1 minute from the East Exit, and Sendai Shinkansen Exit, 3 minutes from the East Exit deck, open at 07:30. On the West side are Sendai Station West Exit (5 minutes on foot) and Honcho (10 minutes), which closes from 1 to 3 January. All five handle returns inside and outside the prefecture, but the four station branches exclude No. 1 and 2 registration vehicles. As a company rule, Tohoku branches fit studless winter tyres as standard from 1 December to 31 March, at a seasonal charge.
The standard compact rate (C1) is ¥8,580 for 24 hours on a Japanese licence. Basic collision damage waiver (CDW) still leaves the NOC of ¥20,000 or ¥50,000. The Anshin W Plan waives the NOC and also covers tyre repair or replacement after a puncture.
Company sources and verification dates
Rental service
Nippon Rent-A-Car
Sendai Airport and three at Sendai Station
Choose a vehicle class around your passengers, luggage and pickup location.
- Location in this guide
- Nippon Sendai Airport
- Vehicles and service
- Passenger cars, SUVs and minivans; availability varies by location and date.
- Coverage
- CDW and ECO are separate options for the accident excess and non-operation charge.
Sendai Airport checks you in at the counter to the right of the arrivals gate and takes you about 2 minutes by car to the branch. It opens daily 08:00–20:00, and until 22:00 from 21 to 23 November 2026. Sendai Station has three branches: Sendai Ekimae Terminal, 3 minutes south of the East Exit, opens 07:30–20:00; Sendai Station West Exit, 5 minutes from the West Exit, opens 08:00–19:00 on weekdays and 08:00–18:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays; and Sendai Honcho No. 1, 10 minutes from the West Exit, opens 07:30–19:00.
For cars from other branches, the airport accepts all classes, Sendai Ekimae Terminal accepts kei and passenger cars, wagons, vans and kei trucks (no full-size wagons), and Sendai Honcho No. 1 accepts up to 2 t trucks. Sendai Station West Exit does not accept them. As a company rule, Miyagi branches fit studless tyres as standard from 16 December to 15 March, with a winter seasonal charge of ¥330 a day.
The standard compact rate (N-B) is ¥8,910 for 24 hours. CDW does not remove the NOC; a separate scheme called ECO waives it.
Company sources and verification dates
Rental service
Orix Rent a Car
Sendai Airport and two at Sendai Station
Compare vehicle classes, locations and coverage for your itinerary.
- Location in this guide
- Orix Sendai Airport
- Vehicles and service
- Compact cars, minivans and other classes; vehicles and equipment depend on the branch and plan.
- Coverage
- Check the deductible waiver and Rental Car Anshin Pack (RAP) for NOC and other benefits.
Orix Sendai Airport checks you in at a counter in the domestic arrivals lobby and takes you by free shuttle to the branch, about 5 minutes away. Near the station are Sendai Station East Exit, 7 minutes from the East Exit, and Sendai Ekimae (Chuo 2-chome), 8 minutes from the West Exit. All three open daily 08:00–20:00.
All three handle departures to and returns from other branches, except Hokkaido, Okinawa and outlying islands. Sendai Ekimae excludes vehicles 484 cm or longer, 188 cm or wider, or 210 cm or taller, and WD class and above, from one-way rentals.
The standard compact rate (SA) is ¥9,900 for 24 hours. The Rent-a-Car Anshin Pack (RAP) waives the NOC and covers puncture tyre costs up to ¥20,000. If you call at least 1 hour before your due time, an extension of up to 1 hour costs nothing extra.
Company sources and verification dates
Rental service
Nico Nico Rent a Car
Sendai Airport Mae and five at Sendai Station
Compare standard, member and app rates for a short rental or day trip.
View official location and service information- Vehicles and service
- Available classes vary by branch. Check the vehicle and collection and return times.
- Coverage
- The deductible waiver, Plus and Perfect plans have different coverage scopes.
Sendai Airport Mae has no airport shuttle. You check in at a coin car park about 800 m south of domestic arrivals exit 1 (10–15 minutes on foot). At the branch, you can pay only by credit card, and pets are not allowed in the cars. It opens daily 08:00–20:00.
Around Sendai Station, the East side has Sendai Shinteramachi 2-chome (5 minutes on foot), Sendai Station East Exit (about 6 minutes) and Miyagi Teppomachi-Naka (about 10 minutes). The West side has Sendai Kakyoin (about 8 minutes) and Sendai Honcho (about 10 minutes). Hours vary by branch and day: Miyagi Teppomachi-Naka opens until 21:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, and Sendai Kakyoin until 18:00 on those days.
The S class is ¥5,610 for 24 hours and ¥5,610 for each further day. Basic CDW (¥1,100 a day) leaves the vehicle excess after a single-car accident; Perfect cover removes it. One-way rentals to other branches are generally not accepted.
Company sources and verification dates
Reference rates and cover
The table shows standard compact rates at the nine companies: regular season, before discounts, tax included, for a Japanese licence. Winter tyre charges are not included. A dash means the company does not publish that rate.
| Company and class | First 24 hours | Each further 24 hours | Basic CDW per day | 48 hours with basic CDW | Minivan (7–8 seats), 24 hours | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eco C-1 (Fit, Note) | ¥4,200 | — | ¥1,000 | — | ¥7,000 | NOC: ¥30,000 or ¥70,000 on its guide page; ¥30,000 or ¥50,000 in its rental terms |
| Nico Nico S (Aqua, Yaris, Roomy) | ¥5,610 | ¥5,610 | ¥1,100 | ¥13,420 | ¥15,180 | Basic CDW leaves the vehicle excess after a single-car accident |
| Eki Rent-a-Car S (Fit, Yaris) | ¥8,470 | ¥7,150 | ¥1,100 | ¥17,820 | ¥22,550 | — |
| Toyota C1 (Yaris, Passo) | ¥8,580 | ¥7,260 | ¥1,100 | ¥18,040 | ¥20,900 | — |
| Budget JS (Yaris, Fit) | ¥8,580 | ¥7,040 | ¥1,430 | ¥18,480 | ¥21,010 | — |
| Times C-1 (Mazda2, Note e-POWER) | ¥8,855 | ¥7,920 | ¥1,100 | ¥18,975 | ¥22,770 | — |
| Nippon N-B (Fit, Corolla) | ¥8,910 | ¥7,150 | ¥1,100 | ¥18,260 | ¥22,550 | — |
| Nissan P2 (March, Note) | ¥9,790 | ¥7,700 | ¥1,650 | ¥20,790 | ¥24,090 | — |
| Orix SA (Fit, Note 1.2) | ¥9,900 | ¥7,920 | ¥1,100 | ¥20,020 | ¥22,660 | — |
On a foreign licence, Toyota uses a separate rate list: C1 is ¥10,340 for the first 24 hours and ¥8,690 for each further 24 hours, against ¥8,580 and ¥7,260 in the table. To rent on a foreign licence, bring an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention and your passport, or, for licences from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan, the licence with a Japanese translation and your passport.
Nico Nico requires the renter to complete the contract in Japanese, without an interpreter or translation app.
The cover names and prices that remove the NOC are compared in CDW and NOC.
Pickup and return in Miyagi
Returning at Sendai Airport
Return the car to the branch you booked, pay, and take the shuttle to the airport. Set your navigation to the branch, not the airport. Times and Budget ask you to return at least 1 hour before your flight. After 19:00, Times does not handle rentals, returns or enquiries, even with a booking. Nissan does not help outside opening hours if your flight is delayed, and deals with it on the next business day.
Renting at the airport and returning at Sendai Station
Name the return branch when you book. Nippon Sendai Station West Exit does not accept cars rented elsewhere, and Sendai Ekimae Terminal cannot take full-size wagons. Orix Sendai Ekimae excludes large vehicles from one-way rentals. One-way fees differ by company: Nippon and Orix charge nothing when branches are less than 20 km apart, and a distance-based fee beyond that. Company rules are in the company rules comparison.
Returning at Sendai Station
Watch for branches that close early. Times Sendai Station West Exit closes at 18:00, and Nippon Sendai Station West Exit and Nico Nico Sendai Kakyoin close at 18:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. On a day you leave by Shinkansen, decide which exit you will use to reach the ticket gate, and set your return time allowing for refuelling, entering the branch, the return check and the walk to the station.
Renting in winter
As company rules, Toyota, Times and Nissan fit studless tyres as standard at Miyagi or Tohoku branches from 1 December to 31 March, and Nippon at Miyagi branches from 16 December to 15 March (with a seasonal or daily charge). Budget Sendai Airport also fits them as standard from about December to about March. Winter tyres and four-wheel drive are separate, so on days in the mountains, also check the drive type of your booking and any road restrictions.
Days in Sendai and days heading for Matsushima or the mountains
If you spend the first day in central Sendai and head for Matsushima or the mountains the next day, you can compare moving from the airport to the city and renting at Sendai Station the next morning. Parking and overnight rental time are what change, but you walk further from the station to the branch and carry your luggage.
Frequently asked questions
Should I rent at Sendai Station or Sendai Airport?
Sendai Station suits a Shinkansen arrival or the day after a night in Sendai. Sendai Airport suits a flight followed by an immediate start. Station branches are a walk, with the earliest opening at 07:00. At airport branches, you check in or call from a counter, then take a shuttle.
Which company has the lowest rate?
On standard compact rates before discounts for a Japanese licence, the lowest for 24 hours are Eco Car at Sendai Airport (¥4,200) and Nico Nico (¥5,610). Eco Car's NOC is ¥30,000 or ¥70,000 for compact cars on its guide page, while its rental terms give ¥30,000 if you drive the car back to the branch and ¥50,000 otherwise. It publishes no further-day rate. Among the major companies, Eki Rent-a-Car at Sendai Station is ¥8,470, and Toyota and Budget are ¥8,580. Member and online discounts change the booking price, so compare the same dates, class and cover.
Can I rent at Sendai Airport and return at Sendai Station?
Nippon, Toyota and Orix have branches at both and handle returns at other branches. Eki Rent-a-Car and Nippon's Sendai Ekimae Terminal and Sendai Honcho No. 1 also accept them. Nippon Sendai Station West Exit does not. A one-way option is not always free, so name the return branch when you book and check the amount.
Can I rent early in the morning or late at night?
At Sendai Station, Nissan Sendai Station East Exit opens 07:00–21:00 and Eki Rent-a-Car 07:30–21:00. At Sendai Airport, the latest close at 20:00, and Nippon opens until 22:00 only from 21 to 23 November 2026. Times Sendai Airport handles nothing after 19:00.
What if no one is at the Sendai Airport counter?
At Toyota and Times, call the branch on the counter telephone and wait for the shuttle. The Budget and Times counters have no permanent staff. Even at an unstaffed counter, you collect a normal rental car from the branch.
Do cars have studless tyres in winter?
Toyota, Times and Nissan fit them as standard from 1 December to 31 March, and Nippon at Miyagi branches from 16 December to 15 March, with a seasonal or daily charge. Budget Sendai Airport fits them as standard from about December to about March. Four-wheel drive is a separate choice.
Guides to read before booking
- Sendai Station: 17 rental branches compared
- Sendai Airport: eight rental branches compared
- Rental company rules compared: payment, extensions and one-way rentals
- Accidents, damage, punctures, breakdowns and parking tickets
- CDW and NOC explained
- One-way rental fees and choosing a return branch
- Driving in Japan with a foreign licence
- Refuelling and returning the car
Sources & verification
Last verified: 2026-11-02
- Toyota Sendai Airport (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Sendai Airport (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-09-21
- Nippon Sendai Airport (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Orix Sendai Airport (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Nissan Sendai Airport (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-21
- Times Car Sendai Airport (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Budget Sendai Airport (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Eco Car Sendai Airport (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Eco Car Sendai Airport (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Eco Car Sendai Airport (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Nico Nico Sendai Airport Mae (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-21
- Nippon Rent-A-Car (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-21
- Toyota Rent a Car (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Orix Rent a Car (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Nissan Rent a Car (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-21
- Times Car Rental (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Budget Rent a Car (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-21
- Nico Nico Rent a Car (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-21
- Toyota Sendai Station East Exit (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Toyota Sendai Station West Exit (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Nippon Sendai Ekimae Terminal (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Nippon Sendai Station West Exit (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Nippon Sendai Honcho No. 1 (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Toyota Sendai Shinkansen Exit (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Toyota Honcho (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Orix Sendai Ekimae (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Orix Sendai Station East Exit (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Nissan Sendai Station East Exit (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-21
- Times Sendai Station West Exit (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Eki Rent-a-Car Sendai Station (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-21
- Nico Nico Sendai Station East Exit (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-21
- Nico Nico Sendai Shinteramachi 2-chome (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-21
- Nico Nico Sendai Kakyoin (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-21
- Nico Nico Miyagi Teppomachi-Naka (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-21
- Nico Nico Sendai Honcho (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-10-21
- JR Eki Rent-A-Car (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-02
- Toyota Rent a Car: foreign-licence rate schedule (official page, in English) · 2026-11-02
- Nico Nico Rent a Car: international-licence contract requirements (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
- Guts Rent a Car: FAQ on bookings and licences (official page, in Japanese) · 2026-11-01
