Driving in Japan

Driving license permitted in Japan

Using international driving permit

International Driving Permit

You will need your passport and International Driving Permit (IDP), recognized under the Geneva Convention.
The IDP must have an expiry date of one year after issue.
It will be valid in Japan one year after entering the country (immigration stamp).
IDP recognized under the Paris Convention (1926), Washington Convention (1943), Vienna Convention (1968) are not permitted in Japan.
*IDP issued in Japan will not be accepted.
A resident’s card and an international driver’s license together do not fulfill the identification requirement for renting cars.
The international diver’s license expires in a year after entering Japan.
As the date of entry to Japan cannot be confirmed with a residence card,we require a passport in order to confirm the date of entry.

Using foreign driving permit

If you hold a driving permit from Switzerland, Germany, France, Taiwan, Belgium, Slovenia, Monaco, you may use your driving permit in Japan for one year after arrival, as along as you provide a Japanese translation of the permit.
Please bring both documents and passport to our store.

Issuing a Japanese translation

You may issue a Japanese translation at your embassy, consulate, or JAF.
Click on the following link to find out more about JAF.
If you hold a permit from Taiwan, you must issue a translation from JAF or the East Asia Relations Commission.

For those who would like to rent either a WC class vehicle (van) or micro-bus

D: Large Vehicles (10 or more people) a reservation.

Please double check that your international license has a stamp in the D-Box.
This will allow you to rent out larger vehicles such as WC class vehicles and micro-buses.

If you do not have a stamp on this section, you will not be allowed to drive Large Vehicles in Japan.
Please confirm before making a reservation.

If you fall into any of the following categories, we cannot provide our service.

Due to the spread of the use of counterfeit licenses, AVIS Rent-a-Car refuses to provide services to non-Filipino citizens with Filipino International Driverʼs Permits.
This shall apply to our services until this notice is taken down from our website.
Thank you for your understanding in advance.

Information about driving in Japan

Keep to the left side of the street.

In Japan, cars must keep to the left side of the street.
Please drive under the legal limit on street with traffic signs indicating speed limit.

Please fasten your seat belt while driving.

You must fasten your seat belt in all seats.
You'll be fined if you violate this law.

Traffic signals

Green means to drive, red means to stop.
Wait until it turns green if it's red.
However, if the green arrow is lit, you may drive toward the direction of the arrow.

Please refrain from talking on the cellphone while driving.

You will be fined if you use your cellphone while driving.
You will be fined even when you operate on your phone to check or send messages as well.

Please do not park on the street.

Parking on the street is violating the law, and you may be targeted for inspection even if parked for a short period.
You can be fined up to \18,000.

Information about child safety seats

Use child safety seats for children under 6.

When turning right, you must give priority to other cars driving straight.

In Japan, cars must keep to the left side of the street.
When turning right, you must give priority to oncoming cars driving straight and turning left before turning right.

Pedestrians are prioritized anywhere

Regardless of turning right or left, pedestrians are prioritized.
Be careful with pedestrians while turning right or left.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is prohibited.

Driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal.
Never drink and drive!
Also, the person who provides car for those intoxicated will be severely punished.

Emergency contact number: 110 for police, 119 for ambulance or fire truck

In the case of an accident, first, check your condition, then call an ambulance via 119 if there are any injuries and police via 110 to report the location.
You must call the police no matter how small the accident is.

In Japan, stop signs are triangular shaped.

Internationally, stop signs are usually octangular shaped, however in Japan, stop signs are red, reverse-triangular shape that says "止まれ (STOP)" in Japanese.

Stop

Stop completely at the "止まれ (STOP)" sign, and check your left and right.
You must always stop at the railway crossings even without the stop sign.