DRIVING LICENSE GUIDE
What you need
to drive in Japan
Japan's rules for foreign driving licenses differ by country and can be confusing. Please check this page before you visit, so that you are not turned away after coming all this way.
DOCUMENTS
Required documents
The documents you need depend on how you will drive in Japan. Please bring all originals (copies, photos and screenshots are not accepted).
A. Driving with an International Driving Permit
- 1Passport
- 2International Driving Permit (1949 Geneva Convention format)
- 3Your national driving license
If your IDP was issued in a different country from your passport, please also bring the original residence visa, or a document showing that you lived in the country that issued your IDP.
B. Driving with your national license + Japanese translation
- 1Passport
- 2Your national driving license
- 3Official Japanese translation of your license (from an authorized issuer)
A Japanese translation can be used only with a driving license issued in Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan (as of October 2026). Drivers from other countries or regions need an International Driving Permit (A).
INTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT
About International Driving Permits
- Only IDPs in the 1949 Geneva Convention format are valid in Japan. IDPs in other formats, such as the Vienna Convention format, are not accepted.
- It must be within 1 year of issue and within 1 year of the date you entered Japan.
- Depending on when you entered or left Japan, you may not be able to drive even within the valid period.
JAPANESE TRANSLATION
About the Japanese translation (often forgotten)
- Drivers from some countries and regions can drive with their national license plus a Japanese translation instead of an IDP. Please check in advance whether this applies to you.
- Only translations made by an authorized issuer are valid. Translations made by yourself or a friend are not accepted.
- It may be too late to get one after you arrive in Japan. Please find out how to get it and how long it takes yourself, and have it ready before your visit.
- You cannot drive with only the translation or only your national license. Please bring the originals of both.
CHECKLIST
Before you visit
- Are all documents originals? (No copies, photos or screenshots)
- Are they all still valid (not expired)? (An IDP is valid for 1 year from the date of issue.)
- B: Do you have the Japanese translation?
- If your passport and IDP are from different countries: do you have the residence visa or proof that you lived there?
If any document is missing, we cannot rent you a car, even with a booking. This will be treated as a same-day cancellation for your own reasons, and the rental fee cannot be refunded.
PRICE & RESERVATION
Prices & booking
See our cars, prices, Coverage Plan and how to book on the car rental page.
Go to the car rental page