NISHIWAKI

It is compulsory if you booked the Puzzle Mission. On the 4-, 8- and 24-Hour Plans it is optional — driving the forest on its own is plenty, though most people take the mission on.

The mountains at Nishiwaki are old-growth forest that has mostly been untouched over the years. There are some thorny plants and wasps, so we recommend wearing long sleeves and trousers, especially when getting out of the car. It is safest to keep your skin covered for the adventure in the forest.

If you are going into the river, there is a lot of moss, so the footing is often very slippery. Please be sure to bring water shoes with a grip on the sole to prevent you from slipping. Please be careful when walking in the river — walk slowly, and watch your step.

According to Hyogo Prefecture's records (from 1996 onwards), there are no reports of bears injuring or harming anyone in Nishiwaki. Hyogo Prefecture monitors the bear population through wildlife tracking surveys.

However, it is still an area with a lot of nature, so please help us to avoid attracting wildlife by never leaving any food waste or general rubbish behind in the mountains.

If a bear is sighted in the nearby area, we will cancel the tour for safety reasons and refund the full amount.

Natural forest tracks with some narrow sections and tight U-turns. On the steep sections only one car can pass at a time. In order to prevent cars from rolling over or getting stuck, we make sure to maintain the ruts and check the gradient of the road in advance.

We cannot support you outside our operating hours (overnight, for example). You can leave a message on our answering machine, but we will only be able to respond during operating hours. Please leave a message for anything that is not urgent.

In case of an emergency — an accident, injury etc. — call 110 (police) or 119 (ambulance) immediately. Remember, safety comes first.

Additionally, please do not go into the mountains or the adventure course outside our operating hours. Recovering or towing the car in the mountains is very hard and can become dangerous. Regular use of the car — at campsites, on regular roads etc. — is fine.

If you are returning the car outside operating hours, please put the key in the drop box outside reception.

Book through the official website (laugh-and-rough.manten.world), where you can check availability — or call us on +81 795-24-0001 (9:00–17:00 JST) and we will book it for you.

We only accept credit cards. Payment is required upon booking.

Any add-ons can be paid on site. Payment can be made with credit card, PayPay or cash.

The following cancellation fees apply to cancellations made 14 days or less before your booking date. We will refund the amount you paid at the time of booking, minus the cancellation fee.

Date changes

• Please let us know at least 8 days before your rental date if you would like to change dates. Changing the date once is free of charge.
• We do not accept changes less than 7 days before your rental date (the cancellation fees above will apply).

Yes, you can change on the day.

If the new plan costs more, you pay the difference at the branch by credit card, PayPay or cash. If it comes to less, the difference goes back to the card you booked with.

The Puzzle Mission is a flat fee; the other plans are priced by how long you rent the car (all tax incl.).

90 minutes at the very least, and around two hours for most people. There is no time limit.

Each additional hour is ¥3,300 per hour (tax incl.).

CDW (Collision Damage Waiver) is Laugh & Rough's own compensation scheme, so you can go on an adventure without worrying about any damage to the car. The cost is ¥5,500 per day (tax incl.).

Third-party, property and passenger cover is unlimited, but the vehicle itself is not insured — CDW is what covers damage to the car.

• Any minor damage to the mirrors, bumper, lights etc. where the repair cost is under ¥100,000 will be covered by us → you pay ¥0
• Any severe damage causing the car to stop moving, or if the car rolls over, where the repair cost is ¥100,000 or more → you pay up to ¥300,000 and we will cover the rest of the cost
• If the car is put out of service, the NOC (Non-Operation Charge) → waived (towing is at cost)

Important: CDW applies only if you follow the course rules and drive safely. Damage caused by driving that breaks the terms — deviating from the marked route, dangerous or reckless driving, ignoring staff instructions — will not be covered, and you will be responsible for covering all damage costs. Please remember that safety comes first in order to enjoy the adventure.

Any scratches from branches and grass out on the course, and any mud on the tyres, are part of the Scratches Welcome policy and are exempt from any charges.

However, serious damage caused by driving that ignores the rules is not covered by the CDW compensation, and you will be required to pay the full amount as written above. These rules are in place to keep everyone safe.

Repair and replacement costs are set out in the Vehicle Repair Fee page. We strive to keep these prices below normal repair rates wherever we can.

If you have opted for the CDW compensation and kept to all the car rental rules, you will only pay up to ¥300,000 even if there has been major damage to the car. The amount you pay will depend on whether or not you have opted for the CDW compensation.

• CDW and rules followed → you pay up to ¥300,000
• No CDW, or damage from breaching the terms or driving recklessly → you pay the full cost of the vehicle repair fees (up to ¥700,000, tax incl.)

With CDW, and the rules followed, there is no NOC (Non-Operation Charge) — towing is at cost. Without CDW, there is additionally an NOC of ¥20,000 if the car is driven back, or ¥50,000 if it cannot be driven back and has to be towed, plus the towing cost (actual cost).

Individual repair and replacement prices are displayed on the Vehicle Repair Fee page.

We recommend opting for the CDW scheme at ¥5,500 (tax incl.) per day.

If you are in an accident or the car breaks down, we cannot rent it out while it is being inspected and repaired. The NOC charge covers the lost operation.

• If you are able to return the car to the branch by yourself: ¥20,000
• If a tow truck is necessary to return the car to the branch: ¥50,000 (plus the towing cost, at actual cost)

With CDW, and the course rules followed, the NOC is waived (towing is at cost). Without CDW, or after a breach of the terms or reckless driving, the amounts above apply.

Yes — please return the car with a full tank. If the tank is not full, we will charge fuel based on the distance driven (calculated at ¥200 per litre) plus a ¥550 refuelling fee. This will be more expensive than filling up at the petrol station, so it is best to fill up the tank before returning the car. The nearest petrol station is a fair way off, but please bring it back full.

You will need a standard driving licence. Visitors can drive on an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention, carried together with the licence it was issued against. We do not accept a foreign driving licence on its own, even with a translation — please bring an IDP.

Yes, there is no limit on the number of drivers. Each person who plans to drive will have their licence photographed on the day at the branch. Please make sure everyone who would like to drive brings their physical licence.

There is no practice drive. Instead, when you check in at the branch we walk you through the course and the driving tips — a short film and a member of staff — so you set off with a clear picture of the day.

The honest answer is that the course has narrow sections and places where a tight U-turn is unavoidable. So we do not recommend it if you are not confident behind the wheel. We recommend you come with someone who is comfortable driving on narrower, bumpy roads, or we can also suggest a different route. Please let us know when you book, and feel free to contact us with any questions.

Yes, families are welcome. Driving is limited to holders of a standard licence, but anyone is welcome to ride along. Child seats and booster seats are also available free of charge. There is a limited number, so please ask for them when you book.

However, the Nishiwaki branch mission, the Legend of the Golden Chicken, runs for a long time over long stretches of narrow, rocky mountain track, shaking the whole car — so for safety reasons, children aged 3 and under cannot ride along or take part. For shorter journeys, going to play in the river etc., children aged 3 and under are welcome to join, using a child seat.

Children aged 4 and over are also required to use a child seat or a booster seat, depending on which is the better fit.

Only some of the cars are pet friendly. As there is a limited number, please ask us in advance if you would like to come with your pet(s).

Four people.

We are open from 9:00–17:00, but the latest time to pick up the car is 16:00. For the Puzzle Mission the last start is 14:00 (starts every 30 minutes from 9:00, car back by 17:00).

If you would like to return the car after hours, please put the key in the drop box outside reception (we will provide details on the day).

No, we will lend you a phone on the day that includes the mission, SOS (emergency contact button) and directions, which all work even in areas with no signal.

The Jimny adventure will run as planned on days with light or normal rain.

However, we will cancel your booking if any weather warnings — heavy rain, storm, flood, blizzard or an approaching typhoon — are issued for the branch area. If we cancel your booking due to the weather, you will receive a full refund, or you may change your booking to a later date free of charge.

The same day if we are quick, the next day at the latest. We send you a link by email — everything is there.

You log in with your email address and password to open it.

Yes. A simple step shares it with the people who rode with you, or with friends.

60 days, then it is deleted. Save anything you want to keep to your phone or computer before then.

If you took on the puzzle mission, we record footage at up to 10 points along the way.

An exciting but safe adventure. We have put the following measures in place to ensure a safe adventure:

• An SOS button on the phone we lend you — even in areas with no signal, your SOS will be received
• GPS tracking
• Cameras on the front, back and inside the car
• An emergency kit on board
• Unlimited personal liability, property damage and passenger insurance — included in the car rental price

For safety reasons and to create your adventure highlight film, the in-car cameras record continuously, but nothing goes on social media without your consent. You choose on the consent form at check-in whether your footage may be posted — and you can say no.

Laugh & Rough is not a service for renting a car to get from A to B. It is an adventure car rental — going to places your own car cannot take you, and creating memories with your friends and family. The Suzuki Jimny is the partner that gets you there.

Yes. You can rent a car on an International Driving Permit (IDP) — please bring the physical IDP and the licence it was issued against. A foreign driving licence on its own cannot be accepted. There is a translation device on site at the branch for check-in and any questions you may have. The phone we lend you has all the missions, directions and emergency contacts in English.