If you’re in Japan and are looking to ply the busy streets in Tokyo, Osaka, and any of the other major cities, a dashcam is a worthwhile investment of time and money.
Although Japan is relatively safe, a dashcam can provide that extra layer of safety that you need to get around the busy city roads.
In addition to this, if you’re ever in a difficult situation or have a roadside accident, a dashcam can provide the evidence for insurance claims and save you from the strain and financial turmoil of having to pay higher premiums.
If you’re creative and are interested in documenting city life, or capturing a nice slice of Japan for visual content, a drive recorder can be invaluable to that process.
If you work in a job that requires constant travel by road, a dashcam is a necessary accessory for your car. To that end, the section below is a list of some of the best models in Japan.
Best Dashcam in Japan: A Quick look
Vantrue N2 Pro Dashcam
Weight: 0.0998 kg Dashcam: Front and rear Frames Per sec.: 1,920 x 1,080/30 fps Infrared night vision: Active Parking Surveillance: Active G-Sensor: Active
Apeman Dashcam 1080P
Weight: 0.229 kg Starvis Night Vision: Active Video Resolution: 1080P G-Sensor: Active Aperture: F1.8 Large
Comtec ZDR Dashcam
Weight: 0.458 kg Dashcam: Front and rear Effective Pixels: Max 2.0 MP Lens Material: Glass G-Sensor: Active
Tuayoo 2020 HD Dashcam
Weight: 0.358 kg GPS: Active Dashcam: Front and rear Recording resolution: (1920x1080) Aperture: F2.0 Large G-Sensor: Active
Crosstour CR250 Small Dashcam
Screen size: 1.5 inches Camera Lens: 170 degrees Video Res.: 1,920 x 1080 HD (30 fps) G-Sensor: Active Voice recording: Active
Best Dashcam in Japan: More Details
Vantrue N2 Pro Dashcam
If you are in the market for a sleek, yet high performance drive recorder then this one’s for you.
Offers both interior and exterior coverage
The Vantrue camera multi-purpose dashboard camera is among the few dashboard cameras that offer a full HD view of both interior and exterior of your car.
This means you get a full coverage of the inside as well the view facing the road. With this feature, you can capture footage both behind and in front of you. This is an especially useful feature for rear-end accidents, vandalism or theft as it also comes equipped with a motion sensor.
Clear footage capture
The front camera comes equipped with an OV4689 sensor and records at (2560 x 1440 Pixels) at 30frames p/s or (1920 x 1080 Pixels) at 60fps when it’s used alone.This helps you capture clear footage at all times.
On the inside, the camera is fitted with a Sony Exmor IMX323 sensor and simultaneously captures the road and the inside cabin in (1920×1080 Pixels) at 30 frames p/s. Also, both cameras are built with a wide angle lens to improve the reach and video quality.
Night vision
Another feature that sets the Vantrue N2 Pro dashcam apart is it’s infrared Night Vision installed in the interior cabin camera pointed at passengers. While other dashboard cameras are marketed to pick up images in low light, the Vantrue N2 Pro can record HD footage even in the dark.
Audio on/off button and other features
The Vantrue N2 Pro can also record audio from it’s front and rear and is fitted with a button with which you can turn the audio off and on. Once it ships, you get an auto recording camera with loop recording, a G sensor, and also, a time lapse feature.
The Vantrue can work in extreme temperatures, and film the happenings on the inside and outside of your car in clear, HD quality. Once you click the link to purchase this product, you’ll get a premium camera that comes with at least an 18 months warranty.
Apeman Dashcam 1080P
If you’re looking for a compact yet HD dashcam with sharp video quality, then the Apeman dashcam 1080P Full HD Mini is perfect for you.
1080P HD Camera
This dashboard camera is equipped with 1080P full HD and 170 wide angle camera that provides you with highgrade HD quality footage.This feature helps to remove blind spots as it picks up every driving activity.
Night vision
Another key feature of this camera is the super night vision. It’s fitted with an advanced sensor and F1.8 wide aperture that picks up objects by giving them stone-grade in low and poor lighting.
Clear picture quality
Also, with this drive recorder, the picture quality is clear and sharp with accurate coloring even in minimum light so you wouldn’t need extra lighting inside your car when you drive in the evenings.
In the case of accidents and collision, the camera comes with a G-Sensor and emergency accident lock.This in-built sensor technology will automatically save your video footages even in a collision safeguarding the evidence for later usage.
Loop recording and motion detection
With this dashcam, you never have to worry about losing your footage as you get features that allow you to retrieve them. It also has a loop recording and motion detection function that picks up even the smallest of movement inside and around your car.
Auto record feature
The Apeman drive recorder comes with the auto-record and loop feature that locks the video files safely in the case of a collision.
Not only does this take away the extra worry of having to delete videos, it also keeps safe your evidence in case of insurance claims. It is also small, inconspicuous and convenient to use. The Apeman is fitted with a 2.0 TFT-LCD screen, compact button design that makes it incredibly user friendly.
If you’re on the market for a compelling combination of subtlety and power, click the link to buy the Apeman drive recorder 1080P Full HD Mini while it’s still in stock.
Comtec ZDR Dashcam
If you’re on the market for dynamic power and functionality in a dashcam, you cannot go wrong with the Comtech as it comes with a handful of notification functionalities that automate your experience in a wide variety of ways.
Dynamic range of features
The features include the; leading vehicle start notification function, the preceding vehicle approach notification function, the forward signal notification function, the lane departure notification function, the drive support function, and the vehicle speed alarm function.
2 million pixels of camera power
Both the front and back camera is fitted with full HD 2 million pixels. It also features an LCD screen with which you can monitor parking both from the front and the rear sides. You can connect this device to your computer to give you a better view if you’re so inclined.
With its HD camera, you can take high quality videos with clear images that will help clarify the cause of an accident or pick up on any car vandalism activity. You can also use this camera to record law enforcement agents who step out of line with its wide angle view.
Manual switch on/off
The Comtech comes fitted with a manual button with which you can turn on and off recording if you choose to. With the high aperture and exposure functionalities, it can pick up objects including plates numbers clearly in sharp quality.
If you’re looking for a robust experience of support and automation, the Comtech dashcam is the one for you.
Tuayoo 2020 HD Dashcam
The Tuayoo 2020 latest super night vision drive claimed the prize for being the best dashcam on Amazon because of it’s superb quality.
Large screen for video viewing
With it’s 3.0 inch LCD screen, you can display your footage on the screen to re-watch and pick up details. Since its screen is larger than most in the market, it provides for a better recording and viewing experience.
Front and rear camera
Also, It’s fitted with both a front and rear camera with which you can record events both in front and behind you in clear HD quality footage. The Tuayoo dashcam is equipped with a bright lens that makes it possible to record footage clearly and neatly.
With its pre-installed HDR and WDR functions, you can capture images even in dim light, in fog, rain, backlight or the cover of evening with accurate features and coloring.
Loop recording for ease of use
it’s loop recording feature eliminates the extra hassle of deleting videos from the SD card. When the SD card is full, you can simply overwrite unimportant videos instead of deleting.
Also, you can also lock in important videos so they cannot be deleted or overwritten in the event of a mistake. If you’re on the market for a high quality dashcam that offers cutting edge features, and prioritizes the safety of your footage, you should buy the Tuayoo dashcam while you still can.
Crosstour CR250 Small Dashcam
This small, compact dashcam is pretty easy to install and comes with distinct aesthetics. The drive recorder is small, it can be mistaken for an IC card pass. It does not in any way interfere with your vision while driving.
Easy to install
Measuring just about (1.2 x 1.9 x 3.0) inches (3 x 4.8 x 7.6 cm) it can also be used as a rear camera. To install, use a double sided tape to attach to your windshield, and once you finish, you’re ready to hit the road.
Power G-Sensor and motion detection
With this camera, you can monitor your rear while you park. It’s also installed with a G-sensor, loop recording, and also a motion detection feature. It immediately starts recording as soon as it picks up motion while your car is stationary.
This compact sized camera will also detect shock or impact in your absence, keeping your car protected 24/7. Also, files recorded during impacts will not be overwritten.
Clear images even when it rains
The Crossfit dashcam is fitted with a sensor and (1,920 x 1080) Full HD image quality (30 frames p/s) that records sharp and clear footages in rain, fog and generally in poor lighting. Also, it comes with a 170° wide angle lens which can record videos with no blind spots even on 4-lane roads.
The wide viewing angle and voice recording allow for accident circumstances to be explored to the right extent of detail.This dashcam is also fitted with a noise reduction & LED signal support included with a power cable.
The Crosstour dashcam eliminates the problem of transmission interference and other radio waves. What’s more, when you make the decision to purchase this product, you also get at least 365 days of full use warranty.
FAQS
What is the most important thing to consider when buying a dashcam?
The right dashcam can protect you from thousands of dollars in car-related liabilities. On the other hand, the wrong one can leave you with fuzzy videos and not much else. On that note, there are a few details you need to factor in before you pay for your device.
Which should I buy: Front view or dual view
As is implied by the generic nomenclature, front view dashcams mount in front and record the road ahead while dual-view dashcams are hardwired with lenses that cover both the front and rear sides of your vehicle.
On the face of it, dual-view dashcams cost more and are difficult to set up, while front view dashcams are inexpensive and require a lot less effort to set up. Conversely, dual-view cameras provide a lot more range compared to front-view ones.
In the end, your decision should be based on several factors, which include the cost of your car, your insurance premium, how often you’ll travel, and whether you intend to collect footage for reasons other than insurance and protection.
Typically, once you factor in these variables mentally, you’re likely to arrive at a notion of the potential necessity of having a dual-view dashcam compared to any of the front-view models.
Is price a proxy to quality?
Typically, when it comes to dashcams, take some time to understand why you’re paying more for your dashcam compared to a cheaper one. On a basic level, what’s required from your dashcam is that it collects and stores quality footage.
Although some dashcams come with other features like WiFi and GPS that make your experience more seamless, being feature-rich goes to waste if your device does not record high-quality video.
While most manufacturers have high definition support (1,280 x 720 pixels), the labels do not always reflect the quality of the footage. One way to go is to read reviews online and scour websites such as Amazon and eBay to get a sense of how other buyers feel about the dashcam you’re looking to buy.
What feature(s) are absolutely necessary when I’m picking out a dashcam?
This depends to some degree on what your motives are for making a purchase. For general purpose insurance and security, you should not go without a GPS enabled dashcam as it allows you to track particulars of the incident such as your speed and the direction of travel.
Another feature that’s necessary to look out for is a G-Force sensor that collects collision footage if your car is in a stationary position.
How much does a dashcam cost on average?
While many dashcams cost a lot more, with dashcams, price isn’t necessarily a clear marker of superior quality. You can pick any of the models on this list up cheap with the most inexpensive ones costing about ¥4000 ($40), and others costing as much as ¥20,000 ($200).
If you live outside of the main hubs in Japan, shipping costs might vary the pricing significantly, so as you make your purchase make sure to take note of that detail.
Conclusion:
Whether you’re in Japan permanently or are looking to leave soon, a dashcam is a worthwhile investment if you’re looking to use a car while you’re in the country.
Although cars are relatively cheap in Japan, they get more expensive when you add the extra layer of insurance payments that are sometimes mandatory in line with Japanese road-use laws.
To that end, seemingly small collisions in traffic can have significant financial consequences as your claims made against you will most probably drive your premium payments up over time.
While this is perhaps tolerable when you’re in error, it is a lot less so when you’re the victim of a particularly devious pedestrian or circumstances that have little to do with your adherence to road laws.
Dashcams remove the guesswork from the insurance/claims process as they provide vindicative evidence and also serve a psychological reminder to you to drive safely.
Although dashcams can seem pretty unidimensional in their utility, they can also collect road footage for creative pursuits in video creation, marketing, and advertising.
Whatever you decide to do, take some time to read reviews and marketplaces on the internet to see what the reviews are about your product of choice as that can make all the difference.