Verified in Japan

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Transportation · 公開 2026-09-29 · 更新 2026-09-29

事実の最終確認 2026-09-29 · 次の見直し 2027-09-01

Driving in Japan as a visitor: which international driving permit works, and for how long

Japan accepts international driving permits issued under the Geneva Convention, not ones in the Vienna Convention format. The permit must be within one year of issue and of your arrival. Here is what the Tokyo police say.

A quiet rural road leading toward misty mountains
Photo: Nizar F / Pexels

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Renting a car opens up parts of Japan that trains do not reach. But you cannot drive in Japan on your home license alone. The rules are specific about which international permit is accepted. This article follows the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) pages, checked on 2026-09-29.

You need a license Japan accepts

The MPD's page for visitors from abroad says that visitors who drive in Japan need an international driving permit, and asks drivers to check the official information before driving.

The MPD also lists a separate route for licenses from certain countries and regions set by government ordinance, which follow separate conditions. If your country is on that list, check the MPD page for that route. We have not covered the list in this article.

A straight road leading toward Mt. Fuji under a blue sky
Photo: Yusuke Furuya / Pexels

Which international permit works

From the MPD page on international driving permits:

  • The permit must be issued by a country that is party to the Geneva Convention, in the format set by that convention.
  • A permit issued in a different format, such as under the Vienna Convention, cannot be used in Japan, even if the issuing country is also a Geneva Convention party.

Check which convention your permit follows before you travel.

How long it is valid

The MPD says you can drive with an international permit if:

  • it is within one year of its date of issue, and
  • it is within one year of the date you arrived in Japan.

There is also a "three-month rule" for people registered as residents in Japan (such as mid- to long-term foreign residents) who leave and come back within three months with a new permit. For short-term visitors, the main thing to remember is the one-year limit.

Before you drive

  • Japan drives on the left. The MPD's page for visitors reminds drivers that traffic rules differ by country.
  • Obey signals, and cross at crosswalks when walking.
  • The MPD offers a traffic-rules leaflet for visitors in several languages, including English, Chinese and Korean.

Is a car the right choice?

Check the access notes for each place you plan to visit. Some pages on this site note that a car is needed or that buses are infrequent.

Sources