Destinations / Japan
Driving in Japan as a visitor
Read this before you buy. Japan accepts only a 1949 Geneva Convention permit issued by the authorities of the country that issued your licence, carried with the original. A privately prepared translation is not that document. Drivers holding French, German, Swiss, Belgian, Monégasque, Slovenian or Taiwanese licences need an official Japanese translation from JAF or their embassy instead. Arrange the official permit before you travel.
We do not sell for Japan. Check with the authority that issued your licence for the official permit. If you are also driving elsewhere on the same trip, check that destination.
Reviewed July 2026 · A translation of your own licence, carried with it. Not a government permit.
What Japan expects
| Permit needed | Expected |
|---|---|
| Convention format | 1949 Geneva |
| Valid for | 1 year |
| Drives on the | Left |
| Emergency number | 110 (police), 119 (ambulance) |
| Top speed limit | 100–120 km/h expressways |
What the rental desk will ask you for
| Your own licence | The original card. A photo of it, or a photocopy, gets turned away. |
|---|---|
| Licence translation | Only a permit issued by an authority in your own country is accepted here. |
| Booklet format they know | 1949 Geneva |
| Minimum age | 18. Under 25 usually pays a young-driver surcharge. |
| Deposit | A credit card in the driver's name. The hold is taken in JPY. |
Rules that catch visitors out
| Alcohol | Zero-tolerance alcohol law — severe penalties. |
|---|---|
| Crossings | Stop fully at all railway crossings. |
| Tolls | Expressway tolls via ETC or cash. |
On the road in Japan
At the pump
Pumps are colour-coded: red = regular petrol ('regular'), yellow = high-octane ('hi-oku'), green = diesel ('keiyu'/light oil). Both full-service and self-service ('serufu') stations exist, cards are accepted, and regular runs roughly 170-185 JPY per litre.
After a crash
Call 110 for police and 119 for ambulance/fire; reporting every accident to police is legally mandatory and you cannot get an insurance certificate without it. Do not leave the scene and do not privately settle injuries - move the car off the carriageway only if safe, then wait for police.
Sources: japan-guide.com · japanlivinglife.com · ready2drivejapan.com · driveinjapan.com
Common questions
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Japan?
Read this before you buy. Japan accepts only a 1949 Geneva Convention permit issued by the authorities of the country that issued your licence, carried with the original. A privately prepared translation is not that document. Drivers holding French, German, Swiss, Belgian, Monégasque, Slovenian or Taiwanese licences need an official Japanese translation from JAF or their embassy instead. Arrange the official permit before you travel.
Which IDP format does Japan accept?
Japan recognises the 1949 Geneva format. Your permit is prepared in that format.
Will a rental desk in Japan ask for one?
A 1949 Geneva IDP issued in your home country is expected; French, German, Swiss, Belgian, Taiwanese, Monégasque, Slovenian and Estonian licences need a JAF translation.
How fast can you get one?
Express orders are emailed within 5 minutes. The exact delivery moment is quoted before you pay and the order is refundable for 30 days.