Driving in Japan: Car Rental, International Driving Permits & Road Rules

Last reviewed: October 23, 2026 · Prices are approximate and for orientation only.

You don't need a car in Japan's cities — public transport is far better. But for rural regions like Hokkaido, Okinawa, Kyushu's countryside, the Japan Alps or the Fuji Five Lakes, a rental car can be the best way to explore.

Can you drive in Japan with a foreign licence?

• Visitors from countries that are party to the 1949 Geneva Convention can drive with a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) issued in their home country plus their national licence (e.g. the USA, UK, Australia, Canada). Get the IDP before you leave — it can't be issued in Japan.
• Visitors with licences from certain countries (including France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Monaco, Taiwan and others) instead need an official Japanese translation of their licence (from JAF or an embassy).
• IDPs under the 1968 Vienna Convention have generally not been valid in Japan.
• IDPs and translations are valid for up to one year from entry.

Check the National Police Agency and your country's embassy for current rules — car rental companies will refuse to rent without the correct documents.

Renting a car

• Major companies include Toyota Rent a Car, Times Car Rental, Nippon Rent-A-Car, Orix and Nissan Rent a Car, with English booking sites.
• Rental often costs roughly ¥6,000–¥15,000 per day for a compact car, plus insurance options; kei cars (small cars) are cheapest.
• Ask for an English GPS (most cars accept phone numbers or map codes as destinations).
• Rent an ETC card to pay tolls automatically; expressway passes for foreign visitors (e.g. Hokkaido Expressway Pass, Japan Expressway Pass) can save money.

Key road rules

• Drive on the left.
• Zero tolerance for drunk driving — the legal limit is extremely low, and passengers can be penalised too.
• Typical speed limits: 30–60 km/h on ordinary roads, 80–120 km/h on expressways (as posted).
• Stop completely at railway crossings and at red-triangle 止まれ (tomare) signs.
• No turning on red. Pedestrians have priority when you turn.
• Children under 6 must use child seats (rent them with the car).
• Phones must be hands-free.

Tolls, fuel and parking

• Expressway tolls are expensive — a Tokyo–Osaka drive can cost more in tolls than a train ticket. Compare with the train.
• Petrol stations may be full-service or self-service; "regular" is the standard fuel. Rental cars should be returned full.
• Parking in cities is limited and costly — use coin parking lots. Street parking is generally not allowed.

Winter driving

In Hokkaido, Tohoku and mountain areas, rental cars come with winter tyres in season, but icy roads, whiteouts and early darkness make driving demanding. Allow extra time and avoid unfamiliar mountain passes at night.