Japan
Driving in Japan: licences, car rental and road rules
Rent a car only for rural Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku or the Alps — not for Tokyo, Osaka or Kyoto, where trains win. You need a licence plus a 1949 Convention IDP (1968-only IDPs are refused). Budget ¥8,000–12,000 per day plus tolls; book in cherry-blossom and autumn weeks.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
GuideJapan
Key facts
- Do you need a car?
- No in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Fukuoka; yes for rural Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku, the Alps and Okinawa beaches
- Licence rule
- Foreign licence + International Driving Permit under the 1949 Convention; 1968-only IDPs are refused
- IDP validity
- One year from issue, or until your licence expires, whichever is sooner
- Residents
- If you live in Japan you need a Japanese licence; an IDP is for visitors only
- Rental cost
- ¥8,000–12,000 per day for a compact; ¥10,000+ tolls on a one-way Kanto–Kansai run
- Driving side
- Left; steering wheel on the right
- Speed limits
- 60 km/h urban, 80–120 km/h expressway; posted signs take priority
- Alcohol
- Zero tolerance; any measurable alcohol can end in a charge
- Tolls
- Electronic toll cards (ETC) are cheaper; rent the card with the car
- Winter
- Studless tyres or chains are required on snowy routes; rental firms charge extra
Summary by licence, month and cost
Use this to decide in one pass. Costs are 2026 estimates for a compact car with basic insurance; tolls and fuel are separate.
| Situation | Can you drive? | What it costs | Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| US, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ, Ireland licence + 1949 IDP | Yes, up to 1 year | ¥8,000–12,000/day + tolls | IDP must be the 1949 booklet, not a translation |
| Licence from a 1968-Convention country only | No | — | Rental firms refuse; take trains |
| Resident in Japan | Only on a Japanese licence | — | Convert or pass the test |
| March–April (cherry blossom) and late October–November | Yes | Rates 20–40% higher | Book cars and parking early |
| January–February in Hokkaido, Tohoku, the Alps | Yes with winter kit | ¥2,000–5,000/day extra | Studless tyres or chains required |
| Golden Week, Obon, New Year | Yes | Peak rates, full car parks | Avoid long drives on these dates |
Step by step
Get the paperwork right first. You need your home licence, a passport, and an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. Permits issued under the 1968 Convention alone are not accepted, and a plain translation is not a substitute. The IDP is valid for one year from issue or until your home licence expires, whichever comes first. If you live in Japan, none of this applies: you need a Japanese licence.
Book before you fly for peak weeks. Rental desks at airports and big stations carry English navigation and ETC cards, but compact cars sell out in cherry-blossom and autumn-leaf weeks. A one-way drop between regions adds a fee, often ¥10,000 or more, and some firms refuse cross-island drops.
Collect the car and set it up. Staff will walk you through the controls, the navigation unit and the toll card. Check the fuel type, the insurance tier and the return time. Most firms offer an optional waiver that cuts your excess; decide before you drive off.
Drive on the left, keep right on multi-lane roads except when overtaking, and stop completely at railway crossings. Speed limits are low by US or European standards: 60 km/h in towns and 80–120 km/h on expressways, with signs taking priority. Alcohol is zero tolerance.
Plan tolls and parking. Expressways are fast but costly; the ETC card gives a small discount and avoids cash queues. City parking runs ¥300–600 per 30 minutes in central Tokyo and Osaka, and many hotels charge ¥1,000–3,000 a night. Rural car parks are often free.
Return the car full. Fuel stations are full-service or self-service; ask for the type if unsure. A missed fuel stop or a late return adds a fee.
Cautions
Do not drive into central Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto or Nagoya. Parking is scarce and costly, one-way streets are dense, and trains are faster door to door. Leave the car at a suburban station or skip it entirely.
Winter driving in Hokkaido, Tohoku and the Alps needs studless tyres or chains; rental firms charge extra and some routes close after heavy snow. Check road status before setting out.
Railway crossings, narrow rural roads, and cyclists and pedestrians on the left need attention. Rural petrol stations close early, and some mountain passes shut at night.
- Carry your licence, IDP and passport while driving.
- Keep the rental agreement and emergency number in the car.
- Do not drink and drive; penalties are severe.
- Check the last fuel stop on rural routes.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What should I know about driving and car rental in Japan?
You need your home licence plus a 1949 Convention IDP; 1968-only IDPs are refused. Drive on the left. Rent only for rural Hokkaido, Kyushu, Shikoku, the Alps or Okinawa; in Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto, trains are faster and parking is costly.
How much does it cost?
A compact car is ¥8,000–12,000 per day in 2026, plus fuel and tolls. A one-way Kanto–Kansai run adds ¥10,000 or more in tolls. Winter tyres and one-way drop fees cost extra; peak weeks raise rates 20–40%.
When should I plan for it?
Book two to three months ahead for cherry-blossom (late March–April) and autumn-leaf (late October–November) weeks, and for Golden Week, Obon and New Year. Winter trips to Hokkaido or the Alps need winter tyres booked with the car.
Can I drive in Japan with an IDP from any country?
No. The permit must be issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. Permits issued under the 1968 Convention alone, or plain translations, are not accepted. If you live in Japan, you need a Japanese licence instead.
Is it worth renting a car in Tokyo or Kyoto?
No. Parking is scarce and costly, one-way streets are dense, and trains beat driving door to door. Rent a car only for rural regions, and pick it up outside the city.
Do I need winter tyres?
Yes on snowy routes in Hokkaido, Tohoku and the Alps from roughly December to March. Rental firms charge ¥2,000–5,000 per day extra; some mountain passes close after heavy snow, so check road status first.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check