International Driving Permit in Japan

International Driving Permit for your travel in Japan

Instant approval
Fast & Easy Process
Valid from 1 to 3 years
Drive Legally Overseas
Translated in 70 Languages
Recognized in over 150 countries
Worldwide Express Shipping

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Where to get an International Driving Permit in Japan?

Obtaining an International Driving Permit (IDP) in Japan is straightforward if you hold a valid Japan national driver's license. For those planning a visit to Japan, it is advisable to contact the relevant authority in your home country to secure an IDP before departure. However, if you are already traveling and do not possess the IDP, you may opt to have your national driver's license translated online. This method offers a quicker, more convenient, and efficient way to ensure you can legally drive during your travels.

The International Driving Permit is a translation of the national driving license into many languages. The first ID cards appeared in 1926, after the Paris International Convention relative to Motor Traffic. The International Driving Permit was also influenced by two other conventions in 1949 and 1968. The International Driving Permit is the same as the International Driving License.

We remind you that the IDP works only with a valid national license.

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How to obtain an International Driving Permit in Japan online?

Simply and quickly

To get the International Driving Permit (IDP), you should apply and then fill out the form for which you need to give us:

1. A photo of your valid domestic driving license
2. Your personal data
3. A photo of yourself
4. Your signature (scan or photo it)

Our services will not cost you a fortune.
Get an International Driving Permit (IDP) now and travel easily.

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International Driving Permit price in Japan?

7 days money back guarantee!

You may return the documents issued by the International Driving Authority anytime before the delivery or within 7 days after the delivery of the document for a full refund.

Payment currency

Delivery

Airmail:

14.99 USD — 15 - 50 business days

FedEx Priority:

31.99 USD — 1 - 3 business days

EMS:

52.99 USD — 15 - 30 business days

DHL Express:

53.99 USD — 2 - 5 business days

UPS:

88.99 USD — 4 - 7 business days

Express processing

5 minutes for an additional fee 25.00 USD

UN Standard International Driving Permit
The United Nations Standard International Driving Permit includes a plastic ID card, a booklet and a mobile application for Android and iOS with the translation into 70 languages (29 in a booklet and all 70 in a mobile app). The IDP is made in compliance with United Nations Conventions on road traffic standards for document size, color, format, etc.
Electronic International Driving License
The Electronic International Driving License or eIDL includes a printable PDF document of a booklet and a mobile application for Android and iOS with the translation into 70 languages.

De jure, according to the United Nations Convention on road traffic, physical copy of IDL is mandatory, as there is no such notion in the UN Convention as an eIDL yet. De facto we and our clients used digital version many times, and road police and car rentals accept it. However, we advise you to choose the United Nations standard IDP if you have enough time for delivery.

Cancelation and refund are possible only until your order is not processed. Once an order is processed, and an email with eIDL is submitted to you, our service is completed, and the respective PDF file shall be considered exploited and shall become non-redeemable.

1 year Expires 2027 USD 69.00 Apply

2 years Expires 2028 USD 75.00 You save 63.00 USD Apply

3 years Expires 2029 USD 79.00 You save 128.00 USD Apply

The International Driving Permit includes a plastic ID card, a booklet and a mobile application for Android and iOS with the translation into 70 languages (29 in a booklet and all 70 in a mobile app).

How to get an International Driving Permit in Japan?

According to the Vienna Convention of 1968, International Driving Permits (IDPs) are authorized to be issued by national governments or designated organizations. In most countries, this function is carried out by automobile associations affiliated with the AIT/FIA, the police, or other authorized entities. To obtain an International Driving Permit in Japan, you must possess a local license and apply to the relevant authorities here (please notify us if the link is not working). The cost and processing time for an IDP vary by country.

If you hold a national license not issued in Japan, you must verify if your license permits you to drive and if you require an IDP. If an IDP is necessary, the only option is to order a translation of your driver's license, available either via delivery or as an electronic version (confirm with the rental car company if an electronic version is acceptable), for example, through our services.

For U.S. citizens with only a U.S. driver's license, you can obtain an IDP from AAA, but it must be done before traveling to Japan!

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FAQ

How to get an International Driving Permit in Japan?

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If you have a local license and want to travel, contact a competent organization. If you are an American and plan to travel in advance, you can get an IDP from AAA. In other cases, you can have your driver's license translated into the required languages so that you can travel with your national license and its translation.

How to apply for International Driving Permit?

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Our application process is fast and simple. Complete the IDP application form, attach a copy of your valid driver's license, your handwritten signature and a color ID photo, and make the payment. You can apply for an IDP online here.

Do I need an International Driving Permit for Japan?

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Japan has not unified its driving license in accordance with the 1968 Vienna Convention. Drivers from other countries need an International Driving License, unless Japan and the country that issued your license have an additional agreement on the recognition of driving licenses.

Can I drive in Japan with a US license?

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You can only drive in Japan with your driver's license if you have a valid International Driving Permit (IDP). Additional information for traveling U.S. citizens can be found on the government website.

Can an American drive in Japan?

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To drive an American in Japan, you must have an International Driving Permit (IDP). Additional information for traveling U.S. citizens can be found on the government website.

What is the International Driver's Document?

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Our IDD is ideal for travelers visiting multilingual destinations. No test is required, and the IDD is valid for up to three years. This document is used in conjunction with, but does not replace, your valid national license; it is a translation of your driver’s license in three formats.

Can I rent a car with this document?

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Usually, yes. However, as requirements vary from region to region, you are advised to inquire directly with car rental companies.

Can I purchase car insurance with the IDD?

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Usually, yes. However, as requirements vary from region to region, you are advised to inquire directly with local insurances companies.

What do you need to know to drive in Japan?

🗓 Facts checked against Japan's road-traffic law and official sources. Research last updated: 28 July 2026. You may copy this information only if you provide a link back to this page.

⚠ This page is general information about driving rules, not legal advice. Rules change, and each authority applies its own — confirm your case with the relevant authority before you drive.

ℹ We are a private company. We are not a government body, a licensing or issuing authority, or a treaty organisation, and we are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting for any of them. The International Driver's Document we sell is a translation of your national driving licence: it is not a driving licence, and it is not a government-issued document.

Driving in Japan: key facts
Do you need an International Driving Permit in Japan?
What side of the road does Japan drive on?
How long can you drive in Japan with a foreign licence?
Is Japan a party to the 1949 or 1968 Road Traffic Convention?
Why acceptance of your licence varies from place to place
Can you drive in Japan with your country's licence?
Where to get an International Driving Permit
Moving to Japan? Rules for new residents
Driving rules in Japan tourists get fined for
Read more about driving in Japan
Sources

Driving in Japan: key facts

Question	Answer
Side of the road	Left
International Driving Permit (IDP)	Required for 125 of the 240 origin licences, 9 of which have no established rule — see the row for your country of issue, in the table below
IDP types accepted	1949 Geneva only (booklet IDP, valid 1 year)
UN Road Traffic Conventions	1949 Geneva — accession 7 Aug 1964
Time limit for visitors	1 year from date of entry into Japan and within 1 year of IDP issue (both clocks apply)
Minimum age	18 to drive

Do you need an International Driving Permit in Japan?

For origins outside the translation scheme, a 1949 Geneva booklet IDP is the only visitor path; 1968-only IDPs are invalid even if the holder's country also signed 1949 without ratifying.

Tourists and short-term visitors: carry your national licence together with the document named in the row for your country of issue, in the table below — for most non-exempt licences that is an IDP.
Car renters: Rental companies physically check the booklet IDP + passport (ORIX policy verified); scheme-country renters must present licence + official translation.

What side of the road does Japan drive on?

Japan drives on the left-hand side of the road, and overtaking is done on the right. Cars in Japan are right-hand drive.

How long can you drive in Japan with a foreign licence?

1 year from date of entry into Japan and within 1 year of IDP issue (both clocks apply) (Keishicho IDP PDF, verbatim)

Planning to move to Japan? Different rules apply once you become a resident — see the residents section below.

Is Japan a party to the 1949 or 1968 Road Traffic Convention?

Japan is a Contracting Party to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, but not to the 1968 Vienna Convention.

1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic: accession on 7 Aug 1964.

Why acceptance of your licence varies from place to place

Whether a foreign country accepts your driving licence hangs on a tangle of variables: three different road-traffic conventions signed decades apart (1926, 1949, 1968) — the oldest predates the United Nations itself, and only the latter two were concluded under it — countries at different stages of joining each (signed vs. accepted vs. ratified), licences printed in alphabets local police can't read, vehicle-category systems that don't line up between countries, document generations that may not meet a convention's format even when the country is a member, bilateral deals between individual states, and local laws that are looser in one place and stricter in the next. The same licence can be fine at one border and rejected at the next — even at the next rental desk. The International Driving Permit exists to cut through most of it: a standardized, multilingual presentation of your existing licence, with harmonized category symbols, that most officials can read at a glance. It doesn't replace your national licence or grant new rights — you carry both — and it doesn't guarantee acceptance: a handful of destinations still require a local permit alongside or instead of it, but for most it meaningfully improves your odds.

Can you drive in Japan with your country's licence?

This table is for tourists and temporary visitors. Moving to Japan as a resident? Different rules apply — see the residents section below. Find your licence's country of issue below. Japan accepts only the 1949 Geneva Convention booklet IDP (Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2) — 1968-Vienna IDPs are not valid. Licences of six jurisdictions (Belgium, France, Germany, Monaco, Switzerland, Taiwan) work with an official Japanese translation instead. Everyone else from non-1949 countries cannot drive as a visitor at all. Rules change — confirm with official sources before you travel. Last verified: July 2026.

Legend: "1949" — Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (IDP valid up to 1 year); "1968" — Vienna Convention (IDP valid up to 3 years).

What the Status column means on this page:

IDP or translation — your national licence needs a supporting document alongside it. Which ones the destination accepts, and whether an official IDP can be issued for your licence at all, are in the row for your country of issue, in the table below.
IDP required — the destination requires an IDP in addition to your national licence. The row for your country of issue, in the table below, says which IDP to carry and what else to carry with it.
Not recognised — the record shows no route to drive here as a visitor on this licence; ask the local authorities about conversion or a temporary permit. The row for your country of issue, in the table below, says what stands in the way.
Not established — the record does not settle whether you may drive here on this licence; confirm with the destination's licensing authority before you rely on it. The row for your country of issue, in the table below, says what could not be confirmed.

Country of licence	Status	What you need to carry	Why
Abkhazia	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Afghanistan	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Albania	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Algeria	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
American Samoa	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (via United States of America — territorial application) [2]
Andorra	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Angola	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Antigua and Barbuda	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Argentina	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Armenia	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Aruba	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (via Netherlands — territorial application) [2]
Australia	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Austria	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Azad Kashmir	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Azerbaijan	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Bahamas	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Bahrain	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Bangladesh	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Barbados	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Belarus	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Belgium	IDP or translation	Original licence + official Japanese translation (JAF/embassy)	Special scheme country — IDP not required
Belize	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Benin	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Bermuda	Not established	We cannot confirm a convention basis for a Bermuda licence — confirm with Japan's licensing authority before you travel	The depositary record does not settle whether a road-traffic convention covers Bermuda: the state responsible for its international relations enumerated its 1949 territorial extensions one by one without naming Bermuda, but separately told the depositary that the 1949 Convention continues in force for its Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories. No convention basis for the licence can be established either way — check with the authorities before you travel [2]
Bhutan	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Bolivia	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Botswana	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Brazil	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
British Virgin Islands	Not established	We cannot confirm a convention basis for a British Virgin Islands licence — confirm with Japan's licensing authority before you travel	The depositary record does not settle whether a road-traffic convention covers British Virgin Islands: the state responsible for its international relations enumerated its 1949 territorial extensions one by one without naming British Virgin Islands, but separately told the depositary that the 1949 Convention continues in force for its Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories. No convention basis for the licence can be established either way — check with the authorities before you travel [2]
Brunei	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Bulgaria	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Burkina Faso	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Burundi	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Cambodia	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Cameroon	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Canada	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Cape Verde	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Caribbean Netherlands	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (via Netherlands — territorial application) [2]
Cayman Islands	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (via United Kingdom — territorial application) [2]
Central African Republic	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Chad	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Chile	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
China	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Colombia	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Comoros	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Congo (Brazzaville)	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Congo (Democratic Rep.)	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Cook Islands	Not established	We cannot confirm a convention basis for a Cook Islands licence — confirm with Japan's licensing authority before you travel	We could not confirm any ratification, accession or territorial extension covering Cook Islands, so no convention basis for the licence can be established — check with the authorities before you travel [2]
Costa Rica	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Croatia	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Cuba	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Curacao	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (via Netherlands — territorial application) [2]
Cyprus	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Czech Republic	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Denmark	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Djibouti	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Dominica	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Dominican Republic	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
East Timor	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Ecuador	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Egypt	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
El Salvador	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Equatorial Guinea	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Eritrea	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Estonia	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Eswatini	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Ethiopia	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Falkland Islands	Not established	We cannot confirm a convention basis for a Falkland Islands licence — confirm with Japan's licensing authority before you travel	The depositary record does not settle whether a road-traffic convention covers Falkland Islands: the state responsible for its international relations enumerated its 1949 territorial extensions one by one without naming Falkland Islands, but separately told the depositary that the 1949 Convention continues in force for its Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories. No convention basis for the licence can be established either way — check with the authorities before you travel [2]
Faroe Islands	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (via Denmark — territorial application) [2]
Fiji	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Finland	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
France	IDP or translation	Original licence + official Japanese translation (JAF/embassy)	Special scheme country — IDP not required
French Guiana	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
French Polynesia	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) (via France — territorial application) [2]
Gabon	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Gambia	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Georgia	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Germany	IDP or translation	Original licence + official Japanese translation (JAF/embassy)	Special scheme country — IDP not required
Ghana	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Gibraltar	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) (via United Kingdom — territorial application) [2]
Greece	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Greenland	Not established	We cannot confirm a convention basis for a Greenland licence — confirm with Japan's licensing authority before you travel	We could not confirm any ratification, accession or territorial extension covering Greenland, so no convention basis for the licence can be established — check with the authorities before you travel [2]
Grenada	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Guadeloupe	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Guam	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (via United States of America — territorial application) [2]
Guatemala	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Guernsey	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) (via United Kingdom — territorial application) [2]
Guinea	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Guinea Bissau	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Guyana	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Haiti	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Honduras	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Hong Kong	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1949 Geneva continued application to Hong Kong SAR; HK issues 1949 IDPs) [2]
Hungary	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Iceland	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
India	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Indonesia	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Iran	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Iraq	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Ireland	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Israel	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Italy	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Ivory Coast	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Jamaica	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Jersey	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) (via United Kingdom — territorial application) [2]
Jordan	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Kazakhstan	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Kenya	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Kiribati	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Kosovo	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Kuwait	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Kyrgyzstan	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Laos	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Latvia	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Lebanon	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Lesotho	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Liberia	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Libya	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Liechtenstein	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Lithuania	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Luxembourg	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Macau	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1949 continued application to Macau SAR) [2]
North Macedonia	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Madagascar	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Malawi	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Malaysia	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Maldives	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Mali	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Malta	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Marshall Islands	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Martinique	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Mauritania	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Mauritius	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Mayotte Island	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) (via France — territorial application) [2]
Mexico	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Micronesia	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Moldova	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Monaco	IDP or translation	Original licence + official Japanese translation (JAF/embassy)	Special scheme country — IDP not required
Mongolia	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Montenegro	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Montserrat	Not established	We cannot confirm a convention basis for a Montserrat licence — confirm with Japan's licensing authority before you travel	The depositary record does not settle whether a road-traffic convention covers Montserrat: the state responsible for its international relations enumerated its 1949 territorial extensions one by one without naming Montserrat, but separately told the depositary that the 1949 Convention continues in force for its Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories. No convention basis for the licence can be established either way — check with the authorities before you travel [2]
Morocco	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Mozambique	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Myanmar	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Namibia	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Nauru	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Nepal	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Netherlands	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
New Caledonia	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) (via France — territorial application) [2]
New Zealand	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Nicaragua	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Niger	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Nigeria	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Niue	Not established	We cannot confirm a convention basis for a Niue licence — confirm with Japan's licensing authority before you travel	We could not confirm any ratification, accession or territorial extension covering Niue, so no convention basis for the licence can be established — check with the authorities before you travel [2]
North Korea	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Northern Cyprus	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Northern Mariana Islands	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (via United States of America — territorial application) [2]
Norway	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Oman	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Pakistan	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Palau	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Palestine	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Panama	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Papua New Guinea	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Paraguay	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Peru	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Philippines	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Poland	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Portugal	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Puerto Rico	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (via United States of America — territorial application) [2]
Qatar	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Nagorno-Karabakh	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Reunion	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Romania	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Russian Federation	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Rwanda	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Sahrawi Republic	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Saint Martin	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Saint Pierre and Miquelon	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) (via France — territorial application) [2]
Samoa	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
San Marino	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
São Tomé and Príncipe	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Saudi Arabia	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Senegal	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Serbia	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Seychelles	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Sierra Leone	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Singapore	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Sint Maarten	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (via Netherlands — territorial application) [2]
Slovak Republic	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Slovenia	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Solomon Islands	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Somalia	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Somaliland	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
South Africa	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
South Korea	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
South Ossetia	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
South Sudan	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Spain	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Sri Lanka	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
St. Kitts and Nevis	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
St. Lucia	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
St. Vincent	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Sudan	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Suriname	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Sweden	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Switzerland	IDP or translation	Original licence + official Japanese translation (JAF/embassy)	Special scheme country — IDP not required
Syria	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Taiwan	IDP or translation	Original licence + official Japanese translation (JAF/embassy)	Special scheme country — IDP not required
Tajikistan	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Tanzania	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Thailand	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Togo	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Tokelau Islands	Not established	We cannot confirm a convention basis for a Tokelau Islands licence — confirm with Japan's licensing authority before you travel	We could not confirm any ratification, accession or territorial extension covering Tokelau Islands, so no convention basis for the licence can be established — check with the authorities before you travel [2]
Tonga	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Transnistria	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Trinidad and Tobago	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Tunisia	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Turkey	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Turkmenistan	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Turks and Caicos Islands	Not established	We cannot confirm a convention basis for a Turks and Caicos Islands licence — confirm with Japan's licensing authority before you travel	The depositary record does not settle whether a road-traffic convention covers Turks and Caicos Islands: the state responsible for its international relations enumerated its 1949 territorial extensions one by one without naming Turks and Caicos Islands, but separately told the depositary that the 1949 Convention continues in force for its Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories. No convention basis for the licence can be established either way — check with the authorities before you travel [2]
Tuvalu	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
U.S. Virgin Islands	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (via United States of America — territorial application) [2]
Uganda	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Ukraine	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
United Arab Emirates	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
United Kingdom	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
United States of America	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Uruguay	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Uzbekistan	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Only 1949 Geneva IDPs are valid in Japan; the 1968 Vienna type is explicitly excluded [1]
Vanuatu	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Vatican	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Venezuela	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party [2]
Vietnam	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]
Wallis and Futuna	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) (via France — territorial application) [2]
Western Sahara	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Yemen	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Zambia	Not recognised	Local licence conversion only	Japan records no visitor route for a licence from a country outside the 1949 Geneva Convention — conversion to a local licence is the only path [1]
Zimbabwe	IDP required	1949 Geneva booklet IDP + national licence + passport	1949 Geneva party (1968 IDP not valid here) [2]

Sources and notes for the table above

[1] Road Traffic Act Art. 107-2; Keishicho (Tokyo Metropolitan Police) PDF 'Valid International Driving Permit in Japan'

[2] UN Treaty Collection, Multilateral Treaties Deposited with the Secretary-General — status of the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic (chapter XI-B-1) and of the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic (chapter XI-B-19) — XI-B-1, XI-B-19

Where to get an International Driving Permit

An International Driving Permit must be obtained before you travel, and only certain countries may issue one to you — you cannot buy an official IDP from an unrelated country. Under the 1968 Vienna Convention it may be issued only by the Contracting Party where you normally reside and which issued or recognizes your licence — by that Party's competent authority or by an association it has duly empowered. Under the 1949 Geneva Convention it is issued by the competent authority of a Contracting State, or by an association that authority has duly empowered. Which body that is varies by country: a government agency in some, an authorized motoring club in others.

Travelling from Japan? Japan's official IDPs are issued by Prefectural Public Safety Commissions (via Driver's License Centers and police stations).
Travelling from another country? Ask that country's driving-licence authority which body it authorizes to issue IDPs — a government agency in some countries, an authorized motoring club in others.

Separately, IDA offers a digital International Driver's Document — a translation of your national licence that you carry alongside it. It is not an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 or 1968 conventions by the body your country authorizes for that purpose, and it is not a certified, sworn or otherwise official translation: no authority certifies it, and where a country requires an official or certified translation by law, our document does not satisfy that requirement. It is a private translation meant to make your national licence readable at rental desks and roadside checks.

Moving to Japan? Rules for new residents

Non-scheme, non-1949 origins (e.g. China, Brazil) cannot drive as visitors at all — conversion to a Japanese licence (gaimen kirikae) is the only path.

Driving rules in Japan tourists get fined for

Rental companies physically check the booklet IDP + passport (ORIX policy verified); scheme-country renters must present licence + official translation.

Sources

Apply

International Driving Permit in Japan

International Driving Permit for your travel in Japan

Where to get an International Driving Permit in Japan?

How to obtain an International Driving Permit in Japan online?

International Driving Permit price in Japan?

How to get an International Driving Permit in Japan?

FAQ

What do you need to know to drive in Japan?

Driving in Japan: key facts

Do you need an International Driving Permit in Japan?

What side of the road does Japan drive on?

How long can you drive in Japan with a foreign licence?

Is Japan a party to the 1949 or 1968 Road Traffic Convention?

Why acceptance of your licence varies from place to place

Can you drive in Japan with your country's licence?

Where to get an International Driving Permit

Moving to Japan? Rules for new residents

Driving rules in Japan tourists get fined for

Read more about driving in Japan

Watch what driving in Japan looks like

Sources