Driving in Japan: International Permit, Car Rental & Road Rules (2026)

Driving in Japan completely changes how you travel: Hokkaido, the Noto Peninsula, the coastal roads of Okinawa or the Shimanami Kaido cycling route open up in places the train never reaches. But between the international driving permit, renting a car, driving on the left and reading signs in Japanese, there are a few rules to know before you take the wheel. This 2026 guide covers it all, from the one document you cannot skip to the GPS that keeps you from getting lost deep in the Tohoku countryside.

The International Driving Permit, the document you can't skip

In Japan, a foreign national driving licence alone is not enough. The authorities require an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. For travellers from countries that signed this convention — the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States and France among many others — the permit is recognised across the archipelago for one year from your date of entry. You must always carry both documents together — the IDP and your original national licence — plus your passport, because Japanese police can check that all three match.

Apply for the IDP well before you leave. In the UK it is issued by the Post Office over the counter; in the US the AAA or AATA handles it; other countries have their own motoring bodies. The permit is inexpensive, usually valid for one year, and takes the form of a small booklet translating your licence into several languages, Japanese included. Do not leave it to the last minute — some offices need lead time or postal delivery.

One more point on duration: the IDP lets you drive in Japan for a maximum of one year. Beyond a one-year stay you must convert your licence into a Japanese one (the "gaimen kirikae" procedure). For a two- to four-week holiday this limit obviously doesn't apply. For a long stay such as a working holiday or remote work, keep it in mind. If you're planning a longer connected trip, our guide on how many GB to plan for pairs well with this.

Renting a car in Japan: agencies, prices, ETC

Renting a car in Japan is simple, reliable and free of nasty surprises — as long as you book ahead. The big chains are everywhere: Toyota Rent a Car, Nippon Rent-A-Car, Times Car Rental, ORIX and Nissan Rent a Car have counters at airports (Narita, Haneda, Kansai, New Chitose in Sapporo, Naha in Okinawa) and next to major stations. Expect from ¥6,000 to ¥8,000 a day for a compact, more in high season or for a family minivan. The kei car — those small yellow-plate Japanese vehicles — is the cheapest option and perfect for narrow country roads.

At the counter you'll be asked for your IDP, your national licence, your passport and a credit card. Reserve an ETC card (Electronic Toll Collection): this small device records highway tolls automatically and saves you fumbling for change at every NEXCO gate. Without an ETC card, each toll is paid in cash or by card at a booth — tiresome on a long trip. Weekend flat-rate ETC passes also exist for some regions, real savings on a road trip in Hokkaido or the Japanese Alps.

Payment almost always goes through smoothly with an international card, and most agencies offer an English-speaking hotline. To return the vehicle, you're usually asked to refill the tank just before (keep the fuel station receipt). If you chain several cities together, a one-way drop between agencies is possible but charged extra. To plan your stops, our 14-day Japan itinerary offers loops that mix train and car.

The road rules you need to know

In Japan, you drive on the left, like in the UK. The wheel is on the right, the indicator and wiper stalks may be swapped from what you're used to, and the first roundabouts take a little concentration. Nothing overwhelming: after an hour the reflex kicks in. The trickiest part is often parking and city intersections, where signage is dense and written in kanji.

Speed limits are low compared with Europe or North America: around 40 km/h in town, 50 to 60 km/h on general roads, and 100 to 120 km/h on expressways (the NEXCO toll network). Speed cameras exist and police checks are serious. The single most important point for a foreign driver: zero tolerance on alcohol. There is no legal threshold — a single drink can mean a heavy fine, prison and deportation, and in some cases the penalty even reaches passengers. If you drive, you drink nothing. Full stop.

"Driving in Japan is calm and disciplined: the real challenge isn't the traffic, it's reading the signs and never losing your navigation thread."

A few signs to memorise: stop is an inverted red triangle bearing the character 止まれ (tomare), not the Western octagon. A round blue sign means an obligation, a red one a prohibition. At railway crossings, a full stop is mandatory even when no train is coming. Finally, pedestrian priority is taken very seriously, especially at crossings near schools. Driving in Japan is a surprisingly serene experience: drivers are courteous, rarely honk and keep their distances scrupulously.

Navigation, GPS and Google Maps: why data is essential

This is the point travellers underestimate most. The built-in GPS in Japanese rental cars works mostly in Japanese and relies on the mapcode system: to enter a destination you often type a venue's phone number or a numeric location code rather than an address. On the ground, almost everyone ends up putting their smartphone on the mount and using Google Maps or Yahoo Car Navi, which are far more intuitive and up to date, with turn-by-turn voice guidance in English.

But Google Maps needs data to reroute, show live traffic or find the next petrol station. Offline maps help in a dead zone, but they give you no traffic, no place search and no dynamic rerouting if you miss a turn. On the mountain roads of Tohoku, in the valleys of the Japanese Alps or on the small islands of Okinawa, a drop-out at the wrong moment leaves you guessing. That's where a connection that works everywhere makes all the difference — and that's exactly what the NTT Docomo network our eSIM runs on delivers.

Good news on usage: GPS guidance sips data — a few megabytes per hour of driving. It's mostly restaurant searches, photos shared at each stop and music streaming that push the meter up. The Docomo network covers 99.9% of the territory, including the country roads where rival carriers weaken — a point detailed in our article on rural network coverage in Japan. To pick your road apps (parking, tolls, weather, sign translation), take a look at our roundup of the best travel apps for Japan.

Which eSIM plan to pick for a road trip

Our eSIM is a data-only service: no Japanese number, no calls or SMS over the Japanese network, but your messaging apps (WhatsApp, iMessage, Signal) keep working normally with your usual number in dual-SIM mode. For the road, that's exactly what you want: data for the GPS, place searches and sharing, with no commitment. The right plan mainly depends on trip length and your usage.

Here are the benchmarks to keep in mind for a road trip:

For a road trip of more than ten days, or if you share the connection (hotspot) between several people in the car, the unlimited plan is the most relaxed: no data cap and unlimited hotspot, without watching the meter at every stop. On timing, remember that classic data plans can be activated freely within 180 days of purchase (30-day validity once started) and unlimited plans within 30 days — the ideal is to trigger activation the day you land at the airport. If you're still unsure about volume, our dedicated comparison on how many GB to plan for breaks down each profile.

On the road: tolls, rest areas and practical tips

Japan's expressway network is excellent but tolled, and the fees add up fast: a long haul like Tokyo–Kyoto can top ¥10,000 in tolls. That's exactly where the ETC card earns its keep. The rest stops — the service areas and michi-no-eki (those local roadside stations) — are worth the detour: they serve regional specialities, have spotless toilets and often a petrol pump. Michi-no-eki make excellent waypoints for a food-focused road trip across Kyushu or Tohoku.

A few regions lend themselves especially well to driving. Hokkaido is the paradise of the Japanese road trip: long distances, wide-open scenery, a thin rail network — a car is almost essential there, as our guide on staying connected in Hokkaido explains. Okinawa and its islands are also far easier to discover by car, a topic covered in our article on network coverage in Okinawa. The Japanese Alps (Takayama, Kamikochi), the Noto Peninsula and the Izu coastal road round out the list of great classics.

Two closing tips. First, carry cash: some small rural petrol stations and car parks don't take cards. Second, keep a power bank in the car — a smartphone running GPS all day drains quickly, and being stuck with no navigation and no connection in the middle of nowhere is no fun at all. With a valid international permit, a booked car and an active eSIM, you have everything you need for a successful Japanese road trip. For official sources, the driving in Japan guide from the national tourism organisation and the practical information from the JNTO are the references.

FAQ — Driving in Japan

Is my national licence enough to drive in Japan?

No. You need an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention, carried together with your national licence and your passport. A national licence alone is not recognised by Japanese police.

How long does it take to get an International Driving Permit?

It depends on your country. In the UK the Post Office issues it over the counter; in the US the AAA handles it; elsewhere your motoring body does. Apply well before departure — it's inexpensive and usually valid for one year.

Is it hard to drive on the left in Japan?

No, most travellers adjust within about an hour. Japanese traffic is calm and disciplined. The trickiest part is reading kanji signs and handling city intersections, which is why a good smartphone GPS helps so much.

Do I need internet to use GPS while driving?

Yes, to get the most out of it. Google Maps and Yahoo Car Navi need data for rerouting, live traffic and place search. Offline maps help but don't reroute dynamically. A data eSIM keeps you connected everywhere, including on mountain roads.

How much data does GPS navigation use?

Very little: GPS guidance uses a few megabytes per hour of driving. It's mostly place searches, music streaming and photo sharing that push consumption up. A 20 GB plan is plenty for a standard week-long road trip.

What is an ETC card and do I need one?

The ETC card (Electronic Toll Collection) records highway tolls automatically without stopping to pay cash. On a long road trip it saves real time and unlocks some money-saving passes. Ask for it when you rent.

Can I have a drink before driving in Japan?

No, never. Japan enforces absolute zero tolerance on drink-driving. A single drink can lead to a heavy fine, prison and deportation. If you drive, drink nothing at all.