Most visitors drive in Japan on an International Driving Permit — but if your license is from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, or Taiwan, the rules are different. You don’t use an IDP at all. Instead, you drive on your home-country license plus an official Japanese translation. Here’s how it works.

Which guide do you need?

・1. Drive with an IDP (most countries)

・2. Drive with your license + a Japanese translation — this page

・3. No IDP route — license conversion required (China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brazil, and more)

The six places that use the translation route

Drivers from the following hold a license that Japan recognizes when accompanied by an official Japanese translation, valid for up to one year from your date of entry:

・Switzerland

・Germany

・France

・Belgium

・Monaco

・Taiwan

Why these six, and not an IDP?

Switzerland, Germany, and Taiwan are not 1949 Geneva Convention members. France, Belgium, and Monaco are members but do not issue Geneva-format permits. So for all six, the translation route is the path that actually works in Japan — a Vienna-format or other IDP from these places will not be accepted.

How to get an accepted Japanese translation

The translation must be prepared by an authority designated by Japan. A translation you make yourself, or one from a foreign sworn translator, is not accepted. Approved options include:

・The Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) — the most common route. Applications are made online; the finished translation is printed on paper (a home-printed PDF is not valid).

・The issuing country’s embassy or consulate in Japan.

・For Taiwan licenses, the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association (or JAF); for German licenses, the German automobile club (ADAC) is also recognized.

・Other services specifically approved by Japan’s National Public Safety Commission.

When you drive, carry all three: your original home-country license, the official Japanese translation, and your passport.

Rules every driver should know

・One-year limit: You may drive for up to one year from your date of entry, or until your license expires, whichever is sooner.

・The 3-month re-entry rule: Leaving Japan briefly to “reset” the one-year clock does not work if you re-enter within three months.

・Carry your original license + translation + passport at all times while driving.

・Japan drives on the left: steering wheel on the right. Minimum driving age is 18, and drink-driving carries severe penalties.

Driving a street go-kart in Tokyo

A street go-kart on public roads is a road vehicle, so the same requirement applies: bring your original license, its official Japanese translation, and your passport to your booking. (Drivers from most other countries use an IDP instead — see the IDP guide.)

Frequently asked questions

I’m from Germany — can’t I just use an International Driving Permit?

No. Germany does not issue a Geneva-format IDP that Japan accepts. You need your German license plus an official Japanese translation.

Where do I get the translation?

JAF is the standard option and is widely used; embassies/consulates and a few approved services are alternatives. Arrange it before you need to drive.

Can I get the translation after arriving in Japan?

Yes — unlike IDPs, a JAF translation can be arranged from within Japan, though planning ahead avoids delays.

How long can I drive on my license + translation?

Up to one year from your date of entry into Japan, or until your home license expires, whichever comes first.

Sources

・Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) — Japanese translation of a foreign license (English):※

・National Police Agency (NPA) — Driving in Japan with a foreign license (Japanese):※

・Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) — Geneva Convention contracting states (Japanese):※