Kei cars
Our New Kei Truck Has Arrived
Life with a Kei Truck My husband and I spend from May through October living between two homes, maintaining his family house in Hokkaido during that stretch. It's out in the Niseko area — genuinely deep in the mountains. In a place like that, there's one thing you absolutely cannot live without: a vehicle. And […]
Annual Vehicle Tax (自動車税) in Japan
This is a tax you pay every year, and it's one of the biggest financial advantages of kei cars. While regular cars are taxed based on engine displacement — ranging from ¥25,000 to ¥110,000 per year — kei cars have a flat rate. Here are the rates as of 2026: Kei cars Type Standard rate […]
Kei Cars — Japan's Beloved Mini Vehicles
Have you heard of kei cars (軽自動車 / keijidōsha)? They've been getting some attention overseas lately, and I think they deserve it. Let me give you a proper introduction to what they are, who drives them, and why they make so much sense in Japan. What Exactly Is a Kei Car? To officially qualify as […]