{"id":42925,"date":"2025-03-03T13:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-03T04:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/?p=42925"},"modified":"2025-07-10T15:06:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T06:06:54","slug":"the-beginners-guide-to-car-rental-in-japan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.villagehouse.jp\/en\/japanese-apartment-life\/the-beginners-guide-to-car-rental-in-japan\/","title":{"rendered":"The Beginner\u2019s Guide to Car Rental in Japan\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In Japan, cars drive on the left side of the road with the steering wheel on the right. Both drivers and cyclists are required to keep to the left, while pedestrians keep to the right side of the road. The legal driving age is 18 and speed limits generally average at 60km\/h on regular roads and 100km\/h on expressways. For more information on traffic rules in Japan, visit the official Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) website<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, whether you\u2019re a newly minted driver with a shiny new driver\u2019s license itching to put your new skills to the test, or a tourist looking to embark on a road trip in Japan, you\u2019re probably going to have to rent a car. Read on to find out how to do so in Japan.  <\/p>\n\n\n

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Documents required <\/h2>\n\n\n
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If you\u2019re a local or permanent resident of Japan, then all you need to rent a car is a valid local driver\u2019s license and a credit or debit card. If you\u2019re a tourist, however, things get a little more complicated.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To rent a car as a foreigner in Japan, you need to obtain an International Driving Permit, also known as an IDP. IDP\u2019s are not issued in Japan so you need to have this done and dusted prior to your trip. The caveat to this is that Japan only recognizes IDP\u2019s based on the 1949 Geneva Convention. Visit the UN\u2019s website<\/a> which lists the countries and regions that participate in the Geneva Convention to see if your country falls under the category. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are a few exceptions, however. If you happen to hail from the following countries then all you need is your driver\u2019s license along with a Japanese translation of it, which you can obtain by making an appointment at one of JAF\u2019s offices in Japan: <\/p>\n\n\n\n