Renting a Cottage in Nasu Highlands from Kawaguchi, Saitama
Seeking Advice on Car Rental Options
So, picture this: a group of seven of us, all crammed into a tiny planning session in my Kawaguchi apartment, trying to figure out how
to get to this dreamy cottage in the Nasu Highlands. We had the cottage booked, the excitement was palpable, but the logistics? Oh, the logistics. It was like herding cats. One friend was adamant about taking the train, another was Googling bus schedules, and I was just sitting there, surrounded by snack wrappers (because stress-eating is my superpower), wondering if we’d ever make it out of Saitama. Then, the lightbulb moment: Why not rent a car? It seemed simple enough, but of course, nothing ever is. We started debating between Times Car Rental and a regular rental service. Times seemed convenient with their hourly rates, but would it be cost-effective for a three-day trip? And what about parking at the cottage? Cue the collective head-scratching.
The Great Car Rental Debate
Here’s where things got funny. One friend, let’s call him Hiro (because that’s his name), insisted that Times was the way to go. “It’s cheaper if we only use it to get there and back!” he declared, waving his phone like it was the holy grail of car rentals. Meanwhile, my other friend, Yumi, was deep-diving into Google reviews, muttering things like, “But what if the car breaks down in the middle of nowhere?” (Spoiler: it didn’t.) In the end, we went with a regular rental car service. Why? Because we realized that while Times is great for short trips, a three-day journey with seven people and all our luggage (and snacks—so many snacks) required something a bit more robust. Plus, the idea of not having to worry about hourly rates was a relief. We booked a spacious van, and let me tell you, it was a game-changer.
The Road Trip to Nasu Highlands
The day of the trip, we arrived at the rental place way too early. Like, two hours early. Why? Because Hiro misread the booking confirmation. But hey, it gave us time to stock up on more snacks (I told you, it’s a problem) and take awkward group photos in the parking lot. When we finally hit the road, it was smooth sailing—well, except for the one wrong turn that led us to a random onsen town. (Pro tip: double-check your GPS settings.) Driving through the Nasu Highlands was magical. The rolling hills, the crisp air, the occasional cow staring at us like we were the weird ones—it was everything we hoped for. And when we finally pulled up to the cottage, it felt like we’d stepped into a postcard. The wooden beams, the cozy fireplace, the view of the mountains… it was worth every second of the planning chaos.
Reflections and Snack-Induced Revelations
Looking back, I’m so glad we went with the regular rental car. It gave us the freedom to explore a bit on the way (hello, random onsen town) and made the whole trip feel more relaxed. Plus, having a van meant we could spread out and not feel like sardines. And let’s be real, the snacks needed their own seat. If you’re planning a similar trip, my advice is to weigh your options carefully. Times is great for short, local trips, but for something like this, a regular rental car might be the way to go. And don’t forget to pack extra snacks—trust me, you’ll thank me later.
Your Turn!
Have you ever rented a car for a trip in Japan? Or maybe you’ve stayed in a cottage in the Nasu Highlands? I’d love to hear your stories and tips! Drop a comment below and let’s swap travel tales. And if you have any snack recommendations for road trips, I’m all ears (and stomach).
