Driving Permit for Japan
Driving in Japan with a foreign license? You need an IDP issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention, carried with your home license and passport. Learn who qualifies, who is exempt, and Japan's rental rules.
- Drive on
- Left
- Convention
- 1949 Geneva
- IDP validity
- 12 months
- Processing time
- 24-72 hours
Do you need an IDP to drive in Japan?
Driving in Japan on a foreign driver's license is entirely possible, but only if you carry the right paperwork. Japan recognises the International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, and this is the permit most visitors will need. Crucially, Japan accepts only the 1949 Geneva-style IDP. Permits issued under other treaties, such as the 1968 Vienna Convention, are not valid here, so travellers should confirm their home country issues the correct type before departure. The IDP is effectively a certified translation of your national licence and must always be presented together with your original home-country licence and your passport, not on its own.
There is an important exception. Drivers licensed in Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, or Taiwan can drive in Japan using their valid home licence accompanied by an official Japanese translation, rather than an IDP. The Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) and other approved bodies issue these translations. For everyone else, an IDP obtained in your home country before you travel is the standard route. IDPs cannot be issued inside Japan, so this must be arranged in advance.
On the ground, the rules are practical and strictly applied. Japan drives on the left, and rental companies will not release a vehicle without a valid IDP (or approved translation) plus your original licence and passport. A foreign visitor may drive on a recognised IDP for up to one year from the date of entry into Japan, even if the permit itself shows a longer validity. Police do carry out checks, and driving without the correct permit is treated as unlicensed driving, so keeping all three documents on you whenever you drive is essential.
Japan recognises the IDP under the 1949 Geneva Convention.
Japan is a signatory to the 1949 Geneva Convention. In practice, an IDP issued by another signatory country is recognised for your permitted visitor stay — in Japan, plan on 12 months.
What you need to drive in Japan
Have these ready before you pick up the keys.
1949 IDP is mandatory.
Original license.
Passport.
An International Driving Permit for Japan must be issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic; IDPs issued under other treaties, such as the 1968 Vienna Convention, are not accepted.
The IDP is not a standalone licence: you must carry it together with your valid home-country driving licence and your passport whenever you drive.
IDPs cannot be obtained inside Japan and must be arranged in your home country before you travel.
A recognised IDP lets a foreign visitor drive in Japan for a maximum of one year from the date of entry into Japan, even if the permit itself shows a longer validity.
Drivers from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, and Taiwan can drive using an official Japanese translation of their licence issued by JAF or another approved body, alongside their home licence, instead of an IDP.
The legal minimum age to drive in Japan is 18, though many rental companies set a higher minimum age of their own.
What to know before you turn the key
Japan drives on the left — the driver sits on the right, and roundabouts flow clockwise.
Carry your IDP and your original license together — rental desks and police checks will ask for both documents.
Specific countries (France, Germany, etc.) need translation instead of IDP.
Japan enforces a strict drink-driving limit of 0.03% blood alcohol concentration, with criminal penalties including heavy fines and imprisonment; passengers and those who supplied the alcohol or vehicle can also be charged, and driving without a valid IDP or approved translation is treated as unlicensed driving.
Signs you'll meet on the road
Eight internationally recognised signs — including which side of the road Japan keeps.
Common questions about driving in Japan
Drive Japan, confidently.
Apply online in minutes and get instant digital access to your IDP translation — with an IDP PVC card option if you want one in your wallet.