If you read one page before booking a car in Japan, make it this one. Every year, visitors fly thousands of kilometres with the wrong piece of paper — and rental companies simply aren't allowed to hand them the keys. It's the most avoidable disappointment in Japanese travel.
Bring your original home licence, your passport, and either a 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit or — for licences from Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Monaco, Taiwan and a few others — an official Japanese translation. IDPs issued only under the 1968 Vienna Convention are not valid in Japan.
The rule, in plain English
To drive in Japan on a foreign licence as a visitor, you need your original home licence plus one of two supporting documents:
- A 1949 Geneva Convention IDP (most countries), or
- An official Japanese translation of your licence (a short list of countries).
You also carry your passport. All originals. No photocopies, no phone photos.
Who needs a 1949 Geneva IDP
Most visitors, including drivers with licences from the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and South Korea, along with many others.
Get your IDP in your home country before you travel — it can't be issued in Japan. Then check the cover. It must refer to the Convention on Road Traffic of 19 September 1949.
Some countries signed both treaties and issue IDPs under the 1968 Vienna Convention by default. Japan never ratified the 1968 convention, so a Vienna-only permit is worthless here. If the cover doesn't say 1949, ask your issuing body before you fly.
Who needs a Japanese translation instead
Licences issued in Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan — and a few others, such as Estonia — use an official Japanese translation instead of an IDP. Translations are issued by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) or the relevant embassy or office.
The list can change, so check with JAF before you travel and leave time for the translation to be processed. Carry it together with your original licence and passport.
Quick reference
| Your licence is from… | You need |
|---|---|
| Most countries (US, UK, Australia, Canada, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Korea…) | Licence + 1949 Geneva IDP + passport |
| Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Monaco, Taiwan, Estonia (and a few others) | Licence + official Japanese translation + passport |
| A country outside both systems | You generally can't drive on a foreign licence; you'd need a Japanese licence |
The five mistakes that cost people their booking
- The wrong convention. A 1968-only IDP isn't valid.
- Mismatched countries. The IDP must be issued by the same country as your licence.
- Copies or photos. Only originals are accepted.
- Forgetting the home licence. An IDP on its own isn't a licence.
- Expired documents. Check the dates cover your whole trip.
How long can I drive?
You can drive on an IDP or translation for up to one year from your arrival in Japan, as long as the documents stay valid.
If you live in Japan
Residents face extra rules. If you're registered as living in Japan, a new IDP may not be valid in some circumstances. If you live here, message us before booking — or use your Japanese licence if you hold one.
Licence categories
Your IDP shows the vehicle categories you're allowed to drive. If your home licence is automatic-only, you can't drive a manual here. See manual car rental in Japan.
Photograph every page of your IDP and your licence and send them to your rental company a few days before you arrive. Many operators, including ARTCARS, are happy to check them in advance so there are no surprises on the night.
What ARTCARS checks
At the briefing we check your original licence, your 1949 Geneva IDP (or official translation) and your passport. Without them we can't hand over the car — it's the law, not our choice. Unsure? Message us with photos before you book. More in the documents checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get an International Driving Permit in Japan?
No. You must get it in the country that issued your licence, before you travel.
Is my US IDP valid in Japan?
US IDPs are issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention and are accepted, together with your US licence and passport.
I'm German. Do I need an IDP?
No — you need an official Japanese translation of your German licence instead, plus the original licence and passport.
Does a digital licence work?
Bring your physical licence card. Staff need to inspect the original document.
My IDP expires halfway through my trip. Can I still drive?
Only until it expires. Make sure your documents cover every day you plan to drive.