Driving requirements

                
                     
To drive in Japan there are a couple of requirements you must need:        
                     
  ・Must be at least 18 years of age            
  ・Must have a valid Driver’s License or Translation (more on that next)      
                     
Acquiring International Driving Permits and Japanese Licenses          
You will fall under one of two categories:              
1. Short-term stay (tourists, people on business trips, etc.)          
2. Long-term residents.                
Case 1: Short-term Stay / International Driving Permit    
                     
For travelers temporarily visiting Japan, you will either be required        
to bring an International Driving Permit (IDP) under the Geneva Convention of 1949,      
or a driver’s license from your own country with a valid legal translation of your license.     
 The required materials will vary depending on your country of domicile, so be sure to check the lists below!
                     
Countries requiring an International Driving Permit:          
                     
   Asia Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Fiji, Hong Kong(China), India, Japan,
   Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea,
  Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand 
  Europe Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina,Bulgaria,
  Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Georgia,Greece, Hungary,
  Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands,
  Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of San Marino,Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Serbia, Spain,
  Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom, Vatican City (Holy See)
  North America  Canada, United States of America
 
  South America Argentina, Barbados,  Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, Guatemala,Haiti, Jamaica, Paraguay,
  Peru, Republic of Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago,  Venezuela
  Africa/Middle East Algeria, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Côte d’Ivoire,
  Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Ghana, Israel,Jordan, Kingdom of Lesotho, 
  Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, 
  Republic of South Africa, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Syria, Togo, Uganda, 
   United Arab Emirates, ZimbabweRepublic of Congo,

 

PASSPORTINTERNATIONAL DRIVING PERMIT

 

Countries requiring Driver’s License from country of domicile + Legal Translation:  
                   
 Asia   Taiwan
 Europe Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Estonia, Monaco

 

PASSPORTDOMESTIC DRIVING LICENSELEGAL TRANSLATION
Case 2: Long-term Stay / Acquiring a Japanese License    
                     
For those residing in Japan and are planning to stay long-term,        
you get to go through the process of acquiring your very own Japanese Driver’s License!    
You may start out by following Case 1 (International Driving Permit),        
however, those are only valid for one year. It is also illegal to return to your home country to renew  
your IDP and then return to Japan and use it again. The IDP is not a replacement for a permanent license.