Driving in Japan and Passing the Driver’s Test - Chapter 1 - The Price of Freedom: Buying and Owning a Car in Japan

Sep 18, 2026

Driving in Japan and Passing the Driver’s Test guides readers through legal eligibility and practical steps for driving and obtaining a license in Japan, with a focus on Chapter 1’s car ownership basics. It explains requirements to drive with a Japanese license or an International Driver’s Permit alongside a home license, limits on permit duration, and exceptions tied to home countries. The chapter also covers what to buy, key vehicle categories, and cost considerations, including car plate types, along with what buyers must do for registration, ownership transfer, and parking verification.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages51

Reading Time2 h 9 min

AccessFree to download

Chapter 1 - The Price of Freedom: Buying and Owning a Car in Japan

Am I Allowed to Own and Drive a Car in Japan?

What Should I Buy?

Scooters

Motorcycles

Cars

Buying

DRIVING IN JAPAN AND PASSING THE DRIVER’S TEST by: Melissa Fedak Hiroshima-ken ALT 2003-2005 This book can also be found online at: [www.supermelf.com/japan/ajetdrivingbook](www.supermelf.com/japan/ajetdrivingbook) Driving in Japan and Passing the Driver’s Test CHAPTER 1 The Price of Freedom: Buying and Owning a Car in Japan CHAPTER 2 The Written and Unwritten Rules of the Road CHAPTER 3 So You’ve Been Here A Year: Getting a Driver’s License in Japan CHAPTER 4 The Written Test CHAPTER 5 The Practical Test CHAPTER 6 Driving School APPENDIX A Helpful Japanese Terms APPENDIX B Additional Websites and Information APPENDIX C Sample Driving Courses APPENDIX D List of Prefectural Driving Centers Author’s Apology: The spellings and words in this book are American English. I use license instead of licence, windshield instead of windscreen, curb instead ofkerb, and so forth. I’m not trying to mess with your head, I’m just using an American spellchecker. CHAPTER 1 THE PRICE OF FREEDOM: BUYING AND OWNING A CAR IN JAPAN Contents: 1. Am I Allowed to Own and Drive a Car in Japan? 2. What Should I Buy? 3. What are the Costs of Buying? 4. What are the Costs of Owning? AM I ALLOWED TO OWN AND DRIVE A CAR IN JAPAN? Can I drive a vehicle in Japan? Yes, you are allowed to drive a vehicle in Japan if you have either a Japanese driver’s license or an International Driver’s Permit IN CONJUNCTION WITH a valid driver’s license from your home country. Using the permit, you can drive in Japan for up to one year after your first date of arrival. You cannot drive on your home country license alone – not even for a rental car! -unless you are from Germany, France, or Switzerland, in which case you must also carry an official Japanese translation of your license. You must have a motorcycle license in your home country to drive a motorcycle. Where do I get an International Driver’s Permit? It is easiest to get one before you leave at a local Automotive Association, but if you are already here, you can often get one through the mail. You can only get International Driver’s Permits from your home country. Be cautious of internet scams and use a proper authority. (See [http://drivers.com/article/207/](http://drivers.com/article/207/ for a list of)[ for a list of](http://drivers.com/article/207/ for a list of) recognized authorities, usually major automotive associations. ) Under new law, your International Driving Permit is only valid for a maximum of one year and cannot be renewed unless you have been in your home country for at least three months straight. Can I own a vehicle in Japan? Yes, you are allowed to own a vehicle in Japan. Your contracting organization cannot keep you from buying or using a car if you so desire, even to drive to work. They can restrict you from using it to drive between places of work, however. Some contracting organizations will give you or help you buy a car, some will try to discourage it. WHAT SHOULD I BUY? There are variety of vehicles available to drive in Japan. Cars of all sizes, motorcycles, and scooters, each with different license rules, traffic rules and costs share the road. Deciding what to buy depends on your needs. If you only need to get around town occasionally, you may want a smaller car or scooter. If you want to take friends and explore Japan’s roads, a larger, more powerful car will suit you better. For regular commuters, it may come down to a simple preference. Scooters If you decide to drive a 50cc or less scooter (good for low-speed around-town driving in decent weather), the buying process is somewhat easier (and much of the paperwork may be taken care of by the scooter shop. ) As for licensing, you can get a separate scooter license which is unrelated to a regular driver’s license. To get one, you are only required to take a paper test and a lesson; no practical test. Please see the section on The Written Exam for mo

FAQs

What documents are required to drive in Japan as a foreign visitor?

You may drive if you have either a Japanese driver’s license or an International Driver’s Permit together with a valid driver’s license from your home country. The permit allows driving for up to one year after your first arrival date.

Can you drive in Japan using only your home country license?

No. Your home license alone is not sufficient, even for a rental car, unless you are from Germany, France, or Switzerland, in which case you must carry an official Japanese translation of your license.

What are the two main types of vehicles discussed for purchase, and how do they differ for everyday use?

The chapter distinguishes vehicle categories including scooters, motorcycles, and cars, and for cars specifically it contrasts white-plate cars versus yellow-plate cars. Yellow-plate cars are narrow and cheaper but less spacious and less safe, while white-plate cars are generally more spacious, safer, and more powerful at a higher cost.

Sep 18, 2026

Uploaded by Ben Jamin