You can rent and experience all four Toyota GR cars (if you live in Japan)

Getting around Japan is best done through its extensive rail network, while renting a car is another way to get around, especially for enthusiasts who also use it as another way to experience vehicles that they may never be able to get in their own countries.

While there are several companies, such as Omoshiro Rent-a-Car, that specialize in specialty rentals like these, they aren’t that many, meaning that people will often have to compete with each other for their desired slots.

Hence, automakers in Japan like Toyota are stepping in with their own solutions, such as the GR Rental Experience. It’s a temporary program made in partnership with Kinto, its leasing service, and GR Garage, which are dealerships in Japan made specifically to sell GR cars. 

Customers can rent the four current GR cars available in the country, which are the 2024 GR Yaris RZ MT, the 2022 GR Corolla RZ MT, the 2021 GR 86 RZ MT, and the 2022 GR Supra RZ MT, and you can visit its website to schedule your booking.

For the GR Yaris, GR Corolla, and GR 86, rates start at 20,000 yen (Php 7,900) for eight hours, 25,000 yen (Php 9,800) for one day, and 45,000 yen (Php 17,620) for two days, with every other day after that costing an extra 20,000 yen (Php 7,900).

The GR Supra is slightly more expensive, starting at 25,000 yen (Php 9,800) for eight hours, 30,000 yen (Php 11,800) for one day, 45,000 yen (Php 17,620) for two days, and an extra 25,000 yen (Php 9,800) for every day after that.

If you want to try more than one car out, they also offer comparison plans for only eight hours. Comparing all four cars will run you 70,000 yen (Php 27,400), a GR-Four (Corolla and Yaris) driving comparison will run you 35,000 yen (Php 13,700), and a GR-FR (86 and Supra) costs a bit more at 40,000 yen (Php 15,700).

The cars come with an ETC (electronic toll collection) card included, and you can borrow the car for up to five days maximum, and you can only return it during business hours (10:00am to 6:00pm). Of course, to drive in Japan, you will need an International Driving Permit from the AAP if you’re from the Philippines, and prerequisite knowledge of the road rules there.

Now, here’s the catch. It’s currently on its third round, and is available at GR Garage Kannon (4-10-134, Kannon Shinmachi, Nishi-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture 733-0036) located in Hiroshima until July 31, 2025. Other parts of Japan, such as Sapporo and Tarakazuka in Hyōgo had their turns, so chances are you might see them come closer to the likes of Tokyo as the year goes on.

^{Photos from Sam Surla and Toyota GR Rental Experience}