September 3, 2001
When you are hitting the road and experience a problem with your car causing
stall,
you are lucky if there is a garage nearby or at
least passersby willing to offer assistance.
Otherwise there is a car mounted ranger going on
standby to rush to rescue.
The Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) offers a
wide range of services.
But the essential service to the
drivers is road service. When you are in trouble on the
road or highway, dial 028-659-3311 for Tochigi,
048-651-0111 for Saitama, or #8139
(シャープ
ハイサンキュー）for
the nearest service base nationwide, but only good for
push phone.
Although such service is available to
nonmembership, JAF offers discounts to members;
rescue fee (normally around 5,000 yen on the
public road and 7,000 yen plus 4,000 yen
for nighttime service on the highway, charged to
nonmembership) is free of charge to
membership.
The annual membership price is 4,000 yen, for a
family member 2,000 yen additionally,
plus initial membership registration charges of
2,000 yen. They send monthly news letter,
JAF MATE, to the members.
In addition, JAF offers discounts on rent a car,
hotels, ferries, amusement parks
(advanced ticket is required for Nikko Edo Mura
and Tobu World Square). Those
discount rates are 10% on average. For
those entering a motor sport events, JAF issues
an essential license.
- Ken Matsuoka