License

About driver’s LICENSE and other requirements

Rental requirements is as follows.

• Be at least 20 years of age.
• Passport.
• Credit card (we recommend bringing more than one just in case).
• Home Country Driving License + International Driving Permit(based on the Geneva International Road Traffic Convention of 19th September 1949)
• International driving permit must be stamped on “A” for motorcycles.

List of the contracting countries of Geneva International Road Traffic Convention of 19th September 1949

If your driving license was issued in a country not listed above, you cannot drive in Japan.
Also please check notes regarding foreign driving licenses at the end.

*1 License holders from Belgium, France and Monaco have two options:

• Option1: Obtain a 1949 Geneva Convention based IDP, as the countries mentioned above.
• Option2: Obtain an official Japanese translation of their driving license

*2 Italy, Poland and Russia signed both the:

• 1949 Geneva Convention on road traffic.
• 1968 Vienna Convention on road traffic.

Therefore authorities of these countries have rights to issue IDPs based on both conventions, but they usually issue IDPs based on the 1968 Vienna Convention. However Japan only recognizes IDPs issued based on the 1949 Convention. If you can obtain an IDP based on the 1949 Geneva Convention (“1949 Convention” is written on the front cover) then you can drive in Japan. But with an IDP based on the 1968 Vienna Convention you cannot drive in Japan.

*3 United States: Please see especial note at the bottom of this page.
In the USA, only two organizations are allowed to sell real, legal IDPs: the American Automobile Association, and the American Automobile Touring Alliance, which offers IDPs through the National Automobile Club.

If your license is issued in Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland, Monaco, Slovenia or Taiwan you will need to obtain an official Japanese translation of your home country driving license. This can be obtained at the Japanese Automobile Federation or official authorities like Embassies and consulates.

Contact

Please feel free contact us.