License Requirements

To drive one of our vehicles, you need to be able to legally drive in Japan.

To do so, you need one of the following licenses:

Japanese residents

Japanese Driving license

US Residents

  • SOFA Driving license for US Forces Japan
  • International Driving PErmit issued by AAA or AATA
  • US drivers license with US military ID

Western Europe

Passport with foreign driving license issued by the following countries:
Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Estonia or Monaco, and a translation provided by an authorized organization:

A translation can be provided by:

Drivers license from the EU is not allowed to drive in Japan

Taiwan

Passport with foreign driving license issued by Taiwan, and a translation provided by an authorized organization:

A translation can be provided by:

Signatories of the 1949 Geneva Convention

You'll need a passport and an international driving permit.

An IDP is valid from one year of issuance and the period of validity for driving in Japan is one year from date of entry as noted on entry stamp in passport.

IDP's issued under different conventions, like the 1926 Paris Convention, the 1943 Washington Convention and the 1968 Vienna Convention are not allowed to drive in Japan.

No Plastic cards are allowed to drive in Japan.
No paper book license without 1949 on the surface are allowed to drive in Japan.