Required License
When driving in Japan with an international driver's license
If you have a foreign driver's license, you will need an "international driver's license" to drive in Japan.
You must possess one of the following licenses:
・Regular Japanese driver's license (for those residing in Japan)
・International driving license (issued by countries that are members of the Geneva Convention based on the Geneva Convention)
・Foreign driver's license (Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, Taiwan) and Japanese translation of the license
・U.S. Forces Japan Personal Vehicle Operation Authorization (SOFA) and U.S. Military ID
About international driving license
An international driving license from a country that is a member of the Geneva Convention (1949) and a passport must be presented at the same time.
The expiration date for an international driving license is one year from the date of issue (be sure to check the date of issue), and the expiration date for driving in Japan is one year from the date of entry (confirm by the stamp of the date of entry into Japan in your passport).
Driving with an international driver's license based on the Paris Convention (1926), Washington Convention (1943), or Vienna Convention (1968) is not permitted in Japan.
*However, a Japanese international driver's license issued in Japan cannot be used to drive within Japan.
*For those who are recorded in Japan's Basic Resident Register or who have been registered as foreigners to drive a car in Japan with an international driver's license, the following two items must be met at the same time.
(1) Stayed outside of Japan for 3 consecutive months or more, and 1 year from the date of re-arrival. (It does not necessarily have to be the country/region where it was issued)
*If you return to Japan within a period of less than 3 months (not in total, but consecutively) after leaving Japan, the date of your return visit will be the date of your landing (the day your international driver's license and foreign driver's license are valid). (starting date of the period)".
(2) Expiry date of international driving license
If you are entering or exiting Japan through an "automated gate," please ask a staff member to stamp your entry/exit stamp when you pass through the gate. If you do not have a stamp, you will not be able to rent a car because you will not be able to confirm your return date/re-landing date.
Available cars
Please make sure that the stamp is in the appropriate place for vehicle categories B, C, and D that you can drive.
B: Ordinary car (9 seats or less) Light car, Economy, Economy Plus, Standard, Standard Plus, Luxury, W1-3, SUV, V, T1 class
C: Large cargo vehicle (vehicle gross weight 3.5t or more) T2 to T8 class
D: Large passenger car (10 or more passengers) W4, BUS2 class
*If you are using W4 class, you will need a permission stamp in column D of the vehicle category that you can drive.
About foreign driver's license
If you have a driver's license from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, or Taiwan, you can drive for one year after landing in Japan by carrying a Japanese translation of that license with you. Please bring the following two items along with the driver's passport to the store.
Publication of Japanese translations
Japanese translations can be issued at the embassies and consulates of each country, or at JAF branches across Japan.
Please check the following page regarding JAF. For Taiwan, a translation issued by JAF or the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association is required.