Driving in Japan unlocks regions impossible to reach efficiently by rail — the Shiretoko Peninsula, Okinawa’s remote beaches, Kumano Kodo trailheads, rural Tohoku, and mountain onsen villages. Japan’s roads are well-maintained and well-signed; for visitors from left-hand-traffic countries (UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Thailand), adapting to the left-side driving is straightforward. This guide covers licensing, rental logistics, and the rules that surprise foreign drivers most.
Driving License Requirements
An International Driving Permit (IDP) based on the 1949 Geneva Convention is required for most foreign visitors. Citizens of Switzerland, Germany, France, Taiwan, Belgium, Monaco, and Slovenia may drive with their national license plus a certified translation from their embassy or the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF). Check JAF’s official list before travel.
Note: An IDP based on the 1968 Vienna Convention (common in some European countries) is NOT valid in Japan. Ensure your IDP specifies the 1949 Geneva Convention.
Renting a Car
Major rental chains — Toyota Rent a Car, Nippon Rent-A-Car, Orix, Times Car, and Nissan Rent a Car — have airport and city locations nationwide. International cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) are accepted. Many companies now offer English-language GPS navigation and English-speaking staff at major airports.
Book online 1–2 weeks ahead for peak periods. One-way rentals between major cities (pickup Sapporo, drop Hakodate) are often available with a small one-way fee. Kei cars (kei-jidosha) — the small 660cc vehicles — are excellent for narrow rural roads and cheaper to rent and fuel.
Rules That Surprise Foreign Drivers
Speed limits: 60 km/h on regular roads, 100 km/h on expressways (120 km/h on some designated sections). Speed cameras are extremely common and strictly enforced — fines are substantial. Zero alcohol tolerance: Japan enforces 0.03% BAC for drivers and 0.00% for passengers who might enable drinking — one beer makes you illegal. Mobile phones: absolutely prohibited while driving; pull into a parking area.
Expressway system: Japan has an extensive toll expressway (kosoku doro) network. Tolls are paid by ETC (electronic transponder — available as a rental add-on, approximately ¥330/day) or at cash toll booths. Budget ¥5,000–¥15,000 for expressway tolls on longer journeys. The ETC2.0 discount offers up to 50% off tolls on certain expressways during non-peak hours.
Navigation
Rental cars come with Japanese GPS units; input destinations via phone number (denwa-bango) or mapcode — more reliable than address input for rural areas. Google Maps in English works well as a supplement via smartphone (ensure offline maps downloaded). Note that Japanese rural addresses can be complex; a mapcode (7–10 digit code linked to coordinates) eliminates ambiguity.
Practical Tips
- Gas stations (gasorin sutando): self-serve (serufu) is cheaper; staff-serve (furru-saabisu) is common in rural areas. Fuel type: regular (レギュラー) for most cars; confirm with rental company.
- Parking: paid parking lots (coin parking) are common in cities. Many shopping centers offer free parking with purchase validation. Street parking is rarely permitted.
- Ferry-car combinations: taking a rental car on the Tomakomai–Sendai or Osaka–Beppu ferries creates excellent scenic touring circuits.
- Earthquake preparedness: in the event of a strong earthquake while driving, slow gradually and pull to the left; do not stop on bridges or tunnels.