"I am fine. I can swim. You just take her to safety first," he said.
Several pedestrians, including a few children in school uniform, were crossing the road at the time.
He had consumed 10 glasses of beer before the crash.
The shop claimed they have pest control measures in place.
Some netizens praised the men for choosing to rest rather than drink and drive.
Only the body of the 17-year-old daughter was found while the other victims are still missing.
The rats had allegedly chewed through the wires of one woman's car, preventing it from starting.
A coffeeshop stallholder said that the group has been playing cards at the spot for at least four years.
She said she initially thought it was a sour plum.
This year marks the hottest July in Japan since records began.