Can I drive in Japan with my licence? IDP and translation rules

To drive in Japan without a Japanese licence, you need an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention, or a licence from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan together with an official Japanese translation. Either one lets you drive for one year from the day you enter Japan, or until it expires. A licence from any other country or region cannot be used on its own.

Which licence do I need to drive in Japan?

Japanese police accept three kinds of licence. Visitors use the second or third.

What you carry	Who can use it
A Japanese driving licence	Holders of a Japanese licence
An International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention	Drivers from countries and regions that are parties to the 1949 Convention
Your home licence + an official Japanese translation	Licences issued in Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan only

Source: National Police Agency; Kyoto Prefectural Police (checked on 23 October 2026)

An IDP issued under any other treaty is not valid in Japan, even if the issuing country has also signed the 1949 Convention. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department names the 1969 Vienna Convention as an example. Check that your IDP shows the 1949 Geneva Convention before you travel.

What do I need for my country or region?

Where your licence is from	What you need in Japan
Taiwan	Your Taiwanese licence + an official Japanese translation
Hong Kong	An IDP issued in Hong Kong under the 1949 Convention
South Korea	An IDP issued in South Korea under the 1949 Convention
Mainland China	Cannot be used (not a party to the 1949 Convention)

Source: National Police Agency; United Nations Treaty Collection; Hong Kong Government (checked on 23 October 2026)

• Taiwan: Taiwan is one of the six places whose licences are used with a Japanese translation, not an IDP.
• Hong Kong: China notified the United Nations that the 1949 Convention applies to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The Hong Kong Government issues IDPs under that Convention to Hong Kong licence holders who live in Hong Kong.
• South Korea: The Republic of Korea has been a party to the 1949 Convention since 1971.
• Mainland China: China is not listed as a party to the 1949 Convention, and mainland China is not one of the six places that use a translation.

Who can issue the Japanese translation?

The translation must come from one of the organizations recognized by the Japanese authorities. According to the National Police Agency, these are:

• the authority that issued your licence, or its embassy or consulate in Japan
• a foreign organization approved by Japan’s National Public Safety Commission, such as the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association (for Taiwanese licences) or ADAC (for German licences)
• the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF)
• ZIPLUS Co., Ltd.
• the general incorporated association 訪日運転者支援協会 (an association that supports visiting drivers)

Source: National Police Agency (checked on 23 October 2026)

A translation by a certified translator in your own country is not accepted.

How long can I drive in Japan?

You can drive for one year from the day you enter Japan, or until your IDP or licence expires — whichever comes first. An IDP itself is valid for one year from the date it was issued, so an IDP issued long before your trip may expire during your stay.

People who live in Japan follow an extra rule. If they leave Japan and come back within three months, the one-year period does not restart from the new entry date.

Source: National Police Agency; Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (checked on 23 October 2026)

Before you book a rental car

1. Check which of the three options applies to your licence.
2. If you need an IDP, apply in your home country or region and confirm it shows the 1949 Geneva Convention.
3. If you need a translation, order it from one of the organizations listed above.
4. Make sure your IDP or licence will still be valid on every day you plan to drive.
5. Check the rental company’s own requirements when you book. Rental offices check your documents at pick-up and can refuse an IDP they judge to be invalid.