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DRIVER’S LICENSE & REGULATIONS Driving in Japan

Driver’s Licenses

Driver’s license issued in Japan

Please bring a valid driver’s license (for all drivers).
You can drive with a regular, semi-mid-sized vehicle, mid-sized vehicle, or large vehicle driver’s license.

  • Please check the expiration date.
  • Can I rent a car with a support car license?
  • No. You can’t rent with a support car license.

International Driver’s License

International driving permit（IDP）

You can drive with an international driver’s license issued by a member country of the Geneva Convention (1949) (except Japan) or an international driver’s license issued by the two administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau.

You must present your original international driver’s license and passport of your country.

To drive a mid-size vehicle offered by AMUSE RENTACAR, a permit stamp is required in Section D of the Driver’s License Vehicle Classification.

  • Please bring the original international driver’s licenses. Photocopies are not acceptable.
  • Please check the expiration date.
  • Passport with the date of landing in Japan stamped on it.
    • *People entering and exiting at the automated gate must have their entry/exit stamped by an official when they pass through (rentals are not available for those without stamps).

Period of driving in Japan

One year from the date of landing in Japan or the validity period of the international driver’s license in Japan (one year from issuance), whichever is shorter.

For those who are recorded in the Basic Resident Registry or registered as a foreigner in Japan

If you are recorded in the Japanese Basic Resident Registry or registered as an alien in Japan and wish to drive a car in Japan with an international driver’s license, you must satisfy the following two requirements at the same time.

  1. You had stayed outside of Japan for more than 3 consecutive months, and it has been less than 1 year from the date of re-entry (does not need to be the same country/region as where the license was issued).

    *If you re-enter Japan within a period of less than 3 months (consecutive, not total) after leaving Japan, the date of landing will not be considered as the date of re-entry (the starting date of the validity period of driving in Japan).

  2. Expiration date of international driving license.

The following international licenses are not accepted.

  • Driving with an international driver’s license obtained in a country that is a signatory to the Paris Convention (1926), Washington Convention (1943), or Vienna Convention (1968) is not allowed in Japan.
  • International driver’s license issued by a member state of the Geneva Conventions, but issued in accordance with a form based on another convention (such as the Vienna Convention).
  • International Driver’s license issued in Japan.

For details, please check 「Procedures related to Driver’s License」on Metropolitan Police Department’s website.

International driving permit

Foreign driver’s license issued in the applicable countries and regions

Foreign driver’s license issued in the applicable countries and regions (original) + official Japanese translation (original) + passport must be presented.

Applicable countries and regions: Swiss Confederation, Federal Republic of Germany, Republic of France, Kingdom of Belgium, Principality of Monaco and Taiwan.

  • Please bring the original international driver’s licenses. Photocopies are not acceptable.
  • Please check the expiration date.
  • Passport with the date of landing in Japan stamped on it.
    • *People entering and exiting at the automated gate must have their entry/exit stamped by an official when they pass through (rentals are not available for those without stamps).

Period of driving in Japan

One year from the date of landing in Japan or the validity period of the foreign driver’s license for driving in Japan (one year from issuance), whichever is shorter.
However, if a person who is recorded in the Basic Resident Registration or registered as an alien leaves Japan with re-entry permission, etc. and returns to Japan within three months, the date of return (landing) will not be the starting date of the period during which the foreign driver’s license, etc. can be used to drive.

A certified Japanese translation letter issued

Japanese translation letter of your driving license issued by your consulate/embassy orJapan Automobile Federation (JAF) branch offices shall be valid.

For a driving license of Taiwan, Japanese translation letter issued by JAF or Japan-Taiwan Relations shall be valid.

  • ・Making the application in Taiwan: Taiwan-Japan Relations Association
  • ・If made in Japan: Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in Japan, etc., JAF or ZIPLUS

The following international licenses are not accepted.

  • International driver’s licenses issued by eligible countries and territories.
  • Japanese translations prepared by persons other than those specified by government ordinance.

For details, please check 「Procedures related to Driver’s License」on Metropolitan Police Department’s website.

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