LICENSE

Valid Driver's Licenses in Japan

The type of driver's license required to drive in Japan does not depend on the driver's nationality (passport country). It is determined by the country that issued the driver's license and the country of residence of the driver.

For holders of licenses from countries that are signatories to the Geneva Convention
(USA, UK, Hong Kong, Singapore... and about 180 other countries)

You will need to present your passport and an international driving permit. You can drive for the shorter of either the "valid period of the international driving permit (one year from issuance)" or "one year from the date of entry into Japan" (*1).
(*1) Confirmed by the entry stamp in your passport.
Driving with an international driving permit based on the Paris Convention (1926), Washington Convention (1943), or Vienna Convention (1968) is not permitted in Japan. For more details, please check the official websites of the respective countries.

Asia	Philippines	Africa	South Africa	Europe	United Kingdom
	India		Central African Republic		Greece
	Thailand		Egypt		Norway
	Bangladesh		Ghana		Denmark
	Malaysia		Algeria		Sweden
	Singapore		Morocco		Netherlands
	Sri Lanka		Botswana		France
	Cambodia		Democratic Republic of the Congo		Italy
	Laos		Republic of the Congo		Russia
	South Korea		Benin		Serbia
Middle East	Turkey		Ivory Coast		Montenegro
	Israel		Lesotho		Spain
	Syria		Madagascar		Finland
	Cyprus		Malawi		Portugal
	Jordan		Mali		Austria
	Lebanon		Niger		Belgium
	United Arab Emirates		Rwanda		Poland
America	United States		Senegal		Ireland
	Canada		Sierra Leone		Hungary
	Peru		Togo		Romania
	Cuba		Tunisia		Iceland
	Ecuador		Uganda		Bulgaria
	Argentina		Zimbabwe		Malta
	Chile		Namibia		Albania
	Paraguay		Burkina Faso		Luxembourg
	Barbados		Nigeria		Monaco
	Dominican Republic	Oceania	New Zealand		San Marino
	Guatemala		Fiji		Vatican City
	Haiti		Australia		Kyrgyzstan
	Trinidad and Tobago		Papua New Guinea		Georgia
	Venezuela	Special Administrative Region	Hong Kong		Czech Republic
	Jamaica		Macau		Slovakia

For holders of licenses from Taiwan, Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, and Monaco

You will need to present your national driver's license, a Japanese translation of your license, and your passport. The valid period is the shorter of either "one year from the date of entry into Japan" or "the validity period of your national driver's license."

For Taiwanese Nationals
A Japanese translation of your license can be easily obtained at the Taiwan Transportation Bureau. The bureau has offices in Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Hsinchu, Chiayi, and other locations in Taiwan. For more details, please visit the following website:
https://www.koryu.or.jp/tw/faq/tabid1185.html