Driving in Japan
In order to drive in Japan, one of the following licenses is required.
１）Japanese Driver’s License
２）An International Driving Permit (IDP) based under the Convention on Road Traffic (the Geneva Convention)
◇This must be issued by a signatory country to the Geneva Convention and in accordance with its provisions. Before acquiring your IDP, please seek an authorized agency in your home country to see whether your country is a signatory.
◇IDP is valid for one year from the date of issue or one year from the date of your entry to Japan, whichever is shorter. In the case of loss, IDP cannot be reissued in Japan and driving without it will be considered driving unlicensed.
◇If you are registered for alien registration and leave Japan to obtain a new IDP from another country, the license will be considered invalid if the period between your departure and the re-entry to Japan is no more than 3 months.
◇You must carry your passport and alien registration card upon driving, as authorized officials may ask for these additional identifications to verify the effective period of your license in Japan.
３）A driver’s license issued from a region or country that does not issue IDP but share the same licensing system as Japan
◇A license obtained in the countries or regions of Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Taiwan, or Belgium is eligible (as of August 2008).
◇When driving with an eligible license, you must carry a Japanese translation issued by one of the authorized agencies noted below.
◇The license is valid for one year from the date of issue or one year from the date of your entry to Japan, whichever is shorter. In the case of loss, it cannot be reissued in Japan and driving without it will be considered driving unlicensed.
◇If you are registered for alien registration and leave Japan to obtain a new driver's licence from any of the countries or regions mentioned above, the license will be considered invalid if the period between your departure and the re-entry to Japan is no more than 3 months.
◇You must carry your passport and alien registration card when driving, as authorized officials may ask for these additional identifications to verify the effective period of your license in Japan.
*Only a Japanese translation issued by the following authorities is valid:
The administrative authorities of the country that issued the license, foreign embassies or consulate offices in Japan (the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office for Taiwan), or the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF).
Japanese Driving License
License Types and How to Obtain Them
There are several types of driver’s licenses in Japan, and the vehicle you can operate vary depending on the license you obtain. For example, while you can operate a regular automobile or motorbike (50cc or under) for personal use with a class 1 regular license, you are required to have a class 1 regular motorcycle license for operating a motorbike that is more than 51cc and less than 400cc. A license can be obtained by passing an aptitude test, written test, and practical test at your nearest driving test center. In Japan, most people attend a driving school before taking these tests. The classes are taught in Japanese and if you successfully graduate, you will be exempt from the practical test at the driving test center. The fee varies with schools and the contents of courses, but it normally costs about 300,000 yen. For more information about driving schools, contact Fukuoka Driving School (Tel: 092-871-0826, 6-12-26 Tajima, Jonan-ku; http://www.kenjiko.or.jp/) or inquire at other schools in your area.
*Aptitude Test: Vision test, color blindness test, etc.
*Written Test: Knowledge required for driving (traffic rules, etc.); test is available in Japanese or English
* Practical Test: Skills required for driving (practical skills)
Renewal and Change of Address
A Japanese driver’s license has an expiry date and must be renewed regularly. The first license is valid until the first month after your third birthday after obtaining the license. Afterwards, you can renew it every three or five years depending on your driving records and age. Your license can be renewed at a driving test center within one month ahead or one month after your final birthday before the expiry date. Please be advised that your license will become invalid if you fail to renew it within the effective period. If you move, you are required to change the address of your license. Bring your alien registration card with the new address to the police station of your new jurisdiction.
Converting a Foreign License into a Japanese License
A foreign license can be converted into a Japanese license. For conversion, you must prove that you have stayed in the country where your foreign license was issued for over three months. The foreign license must be valid at the time of conversion. You must apply with the necessary documents noted below and pass the aptitude test, written test, and practical test. Some countries (22 countries) are exempt from written and practical tests. Written tests involve simple questions and can be taken in English, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Persian, Thai, Tagalog, or Russian. IDP cannot be converted into a Japanese license. For details, inquire at the driving test center noted below.
＜Necessary Documents＞
◇Application form （available at the driving test center）
◇2 photographs： length 3cm×width 2.4cm （color or black & white）; taken within 6 months
◇Valid foreign license
◇Official translation： must be obtained by the above specified organizations
◇Passport： a proof showing that you have stayed in the country for over 3 months after obtaining your foreign license
◇Alien registration card or certificate of alien registration (available at the citizen’s section of ward offices and “Fukuoka City Information Plaza”
◇Interpreter (If you do not speak Japanese）
Venue for Driving Test, License Renewal and Conversion
「Fukuoka Driver’s License Test Center」
Tel: 092-565-5109 （4-7-1 Hanahata, Minami-ku, Fukuoka）
Public Transportation Access：
Nishitetsu Bus: take a bus bound for “Hibaru” or “Kashiwara”
Hakata Station: take #50 from bus stop A, #65 from bus stop B, or #67 from bus stop D.
Tenjin: take #51 at bus stop 10 in front of Kyowa Bldg., or # 151 at bus stop 4C in front of Daimaru Department Store and get off at “Jidosha Menkyo Shikenjo-mae” and walk 3 min.
Traffic Rules in Japan
A guide on Japanese traffic rules, “Rules of the Road”, published by JAF is available in English, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, and Korean for 1,000 yen (incl. tax and excl. shipping fee). It can be purchased at JAF Fukuoka and is useful for safe driving in Japan, as well as for the driving tests.
AF Fukuoka (JAF)
Tel: 092-841-7731
（5-12-27, Muromi, Sawara-ku）
http://www.jaf.or.jp/
Auto Insurance
You must enroll in auto insurance when purchasing automobiles or motorcycles in case of traffic accidents.
Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance
In order to provide all victims of traffic accidents with minimal medical coverage, all vehicle and motorcycle owners in Japan are obligated to enroll in compulsory automobile liability insurance, or they will be legally punished. Upon purchasing your vehicle, make arrangements to enroll in this insurance and renew it as needed. Never operate your vehicle uninsured.
Auto Insurance (Voluntary Insurance)
In the event of a traffic accident, it is not rare for your liability to largely exceeds the limit of compulsory automobile liability insurance coverage. In order to cover such shortfall, it is desirable to enroll in voluntary insurance in Japan. A number of insurance companies provide various types of voluntary insurance. You can enroll in the type that meets your needs.
