If you plan to stay in Japan fewer than 90 days, you will likely never have the need to drive a car in Japan. In fact, even if you plan to live in Japan for a year, a decade or indefinitely, you will still likely never need a car if you leave in the Tokyo/Yokohama or Osaka areas. The reason for this is that the Japanese rail systems are just so extensive in these areas that it is actually much more convenient NOT to own a car in most cases.

However, if you do plan on having an extended stay in Japan – or if you plan to visit more remote areas in any of the islands – you may want to have the capacity to drive your own car. For that, you will need a driver’s license.

On The Validity Of An International Driver’s License

For foreigners traveling to Japan, you can make do for up to one year by applying in your home country for an international driver’s license (a.k.a., International Driving Permit, or IDP). Note that you need to have a valid state driver’s license in order to use an international driver’s license in Japan. (U.S. residents can obtain an international license from either the American Automobile Association (AAA) or the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA)).

You may only use an international driver’s license for a period of one year, after which you must stop driving or apply for a Japanese driver’s license if you want to avoid potential legal hassles. Furthermore, you cannot renew the one-year license by simply leaving the country and then returning again immediately; you must return at least 3 months after leaving in order to make this work.

The Easy Way To Get Your Japanese Driver’s License

If you do not have an international driver’s license or if it has been over a year that you have been relying on one, you will need to apply for a Japanese driver’s license if you are to continue driving in Japan. There are two ways to do this: the easy way and the hard way.

Depending upon your country of origin, you may be able to apply for your license via a simplified license application process. If you are from an approved country and you possess a valid, current driver’s license from your home country, you may be able to “exchange” your foreigner license for a Japanese one. Note that even though this is called an exchange, you are actually still able to keep your own license.

If you are Canadian or Australian (or from some other countries), you will not even need to take a driving test when using the simplified process. American citizens, however, do need to take the driving test, at the time of this writing.

To apply, have ready your passport, home country driver’s license, translation of your home country license, your foreigner ID card, and cash. Take these to your nearest licensing center. You will be required to take simplified written test and (depending upon your country of origin) a driver’s test.

The More Involved Way To Get Your License

If you do not qualify for the simplified process (i.e., you do not have a valid driver’s license from your own country), you will need to pass the same test as what the Japanese nationals have to pass. Find out more about this test at: Japan Automobile Federation.