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Under current Japanese law, foreigners entering Japan from a country that has ratified the Geneva Convention, and who hold both a valid driver's license from their home country and a valid international driving permit (IDP) can drive in Japan using these documents for a period of one year. The driver's license and the IDP must be used together - neither document alone will enable you to legally drive. The one-year period begins from the date of issue of the international license or from the date of arrival in Japan, whichever is the shorter amount of time. As of June 1st 2002 the regulations are as follows: If you have completed Alien registration and leave Japan for a duration less than 3 months then your original date of entry into Japan is still valid and you can only drive for one year from this date, or until your IDP expires, whichever comes first. However, if you have completed Alien registration and leave Japan for a duration greater than 3 months then your date of re-entry counts as your new date of entry and you may drive for a period of one year from this date or until your IDP expires, whichever comes first. Following this, you must convert your licence to a Japanese licence (see below). With both of these you may drive any car or scooter (50-250cc) on an international car licence, and most capacity motorcycles on an international motorcycle licence. We stress that you are only qualified to drive the vehicle in the corresponding category of your home licence, for example your domestic licence must include motorbike or scooter clearance to ride a motorbike or scooter in Japan. Note: The information and precise procedure on how to obtain a Japanese licence varies from prefecture to prefecture and many have not been updated on the new regulations. Many JETs have visited their local licensing centers only to be told that their current IDP was valid, when the new law actually renders it invalid. It is ultimately your responsibility to adhere to the current national law. TEST: WANT TO DRIVE IN JAPAN?
THE INTERNATIONAL DRIVERS PERMIT Foreigners who come to Japan from countries that have not ratified the Geneva Convention (but have ratified only the Vienna Convention) are not permitted to use an IDP at all, and must straight away obtain a Japanese license. Japan is a signatory to the Geneva Convention, so any foreign national from a country signatory to the same convention is permitted to use any IDP issued before June 1st 2002 for an initial one-year period. If your IDP was issued after June 1st 2002 it is not valid here and you need to get your licence converted into a Japanese licence.
The IDP can be used for one year only and only in your FIRST year resident in Japan, regardless of its length of validity. If during this initial year you leave Japan for three months or more on a re-entry PERMIT, then you will receive a new yearly period in which you can drive on your IDP. Being out of Japan for three or more months will void any previous time you used your IDP, and you will be able to continue using the IDP for one year from your date of re-entry. Valid in over 150 countries, the permit contains your name, photo and driver information translated into ten languages. An IDP must be issued in the same country as the drivers license of the traveler. Therefore, if someone from the United Kingdom has a U.K. drivers license, their IDP must also be issued in the United Kingdom. Everything can be handled in a single office visit. You can apply for one in person in your home country before departure. It is also possible in some countries to apply by mail which helps if you did not get an international permit before your arrival. Check with the automobile agency of your home country as to whether you can apply by post. If you are British and require an international permit it is possible to apply by post. Simply print off an application form from the AA website by following the link below and pressing the 'print' button when you have the form on screen.
If you are American you may also apply by post to the AAA. Processing will take about two weeks by mail. You will need to complete a brief application form (available through the link below, or your nearest AAA office), provide 2 passport-sized photographs with your signature on the back of them, a photocopy of your valid U.S. issued drivers license, and a check or money order for $10 in U.S. funds.
If you are currently overseas or in Japan, these items would need to be mailed to a AAA office in the United States. You can mail your completed application to the following office and address: AAA/IDP, 1000 AAA Dr., Heathrow, FL 32746 Attn: Mailstop #28. DRIVING FOR MORE THAN ONE YEAR IN JAPAN If you are staying in Japan for more than a year you must get your home licence converted into a Japanese one, as you will eventually need to go back to your home country to renew your old licence. The one-year period begins from the date of issue of the international license , or from the date of arrival in Japan, whichever is the shorter amount of time. It is? technically illegal for a foreigner, resident in Japan more than one year, to be driving on an IDP. Under Japanese law it is illegal to use these to drive in Japan outside of your first year of residency. Even if you have never driven in Japan and never used an IDP before, if you have been resident here more than one year, you will need to obtain a Japanese license. Individuals who possess a driver’s license issued by an overseas authority can apply to obtain a similar category of Driver’s License issued in Japan (some individuals may be exempt from parts of the tests/examinations). Procedures may vary depending on the country in which your driver’s license was issued, or when the JET participant entered Japan. Please contact the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre of the Prefectural Police for information regarding application procedures, necessary documents for application, location/time of examination, fees, examination languages, etc. To convert your home licence take your licence, personal stamp (hanko), Alien registration card, passport and about ¥3,000 to your your nearest Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) main office and they will prepare the translation and mail it to you. Once you have this translation go to your nearest Oonten Menkyo (Driver Licensing Centre) with your Alien card, passport, original licence and translation, two passport photos, glasses if you need them and about ¥4,000 to ¥6,000. It is possible to get a Japanese licence from scratch but the test is very difficult and expensive at around ¥300,000. The cost of the licence is only about ¥4,000 (Test and licence), It is the required classes themselves that run the total cost up to around ¥300,000. Also if you already drive you only need one or two classes to learn how to take the test. (this does differ from prefecture to prefecture). MOTORBIKE LICENCES The bare minimum is a current international drivers licence and a valid full licence for the type of vehicle you intend to drive (car or motorcycle), which are only available from your home country. With either of these you may drive any car or scooter (50-250cc) on an international car licence, and most capacity motorcycles on an international motorcycle licence. If you have a Japanese "b" (car only) licence you may drive a 50cc bike, this however does not transfer to international "b" licence's. For more information see our licence section. YOUR DOMESTIC LICENCE MUST INCLUDE THE MOTORCYLE CATEGORY TO BE USED IN JAPAN. IF YOUR LICENCE IS "B" TYPE (FOR A CAR ONLY) YOU MAY NOT USE IT TO RIDE ANY SCOOTER OR MOTORBIKE. IF YOU RIDE WITHOUT A VALID LICENCE ANY INSURANCE WILL BE VOIDED. GETTING A LICENCE IN JAPAN FOR SCOOTERS 50cc OR LESS Many opt to get a scooter licence in Japan from scratch. It is straight forward and cheap to do and the licence will be valid only for scooters 50cc or less. To get a scooter only licence you need to register at a driving school for a half day 'scooter school'. This involves a half day at any driving school (¥4000), then a written test at the prefectural testing centre nearest you (approx ¥2000, multiple photos, forms galore, etc). The test itself is 30 minutes, but registration and waiting for results, followed by dexterity/vision checks, a traffic safety speech and actually receiving your licence card if you pass (you need 90% or you have to pay the fee and write the test again) means that this will likely take up half a day at least. The driving schools can fill you in on where the closest centre is to you that offers tests in English (and about 5 other languages too). Scooter shops will do the licensing, minimal insurance, and other registration paperwork you need for you. This also usually takes about half a day. Bigger bikes (over 50cc and under 125cc) have a different set of rules but you do not need a full motorcycle licence to ride them. FOR BIKES ABOVE 251cc If you are planning on riding a bike above 251cc in Japan then this is a rough guide on how to get a licence. If you already have a licence in your home country you can get it translated for the equivalent class licence to ride in Japan. If you do not have a licence and are planning to get one in Japan then read on. There are two types of main licence, the first is up to and including 400cc and is called a 'futsu' or standard licence. The second is for 401cc and over bikes and is called an 'otaga' or big bike licence for which you will have to sit a proficiency test. Getting a licence in Japan takes time, you will need a month or so. If you have a four wheeler licence you will need to visit a driving school that caters for bikes. They will require your alien card, passport, proof of residence, original licence and translation, two passport photos, glasses if you need them, helmet and about 4,000 to 6,000yen. They will then sign you up for rider-training (jitsugi), explained above, leading to a test (jitsu-shiken).
If you have no licence whatsoever you must find a driving school that has a bike section. They will require your alien card, passport, proof of residence, two passport photos, glasses if you need them, helmet and about ¥4,000 to ¥6,000. They will then sign you up for both rider-training, explained above (jitsugi) and a textbook course (gakka) on traffic law and driving in Japan which is explained below.
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