Travel alerts & warnings
Japan driving guide.
Japan has well-maintained roads and orderly traffic, but narrow streets, unfamiliar signs and expensive expressways require planning. A rental car is especially useful in rural areas, while trains are usually easier in central Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.
- Advisory
- Normal precautions
- Drives on
- Left
- Best season
- April to May or…
- Permit honored
- Yes
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Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions
U.S. citizens should always exercise caution when traveling abroad. Use these general tips to stay safe.
- Exercise normal precautionin Japan.
Driving there
Your permit in Japan
- Japan honors the International Driving Permit. The permit is a translation of your license into ten languages — it is not a license on its own.
- Carry your valid U.S. driver's license with the permit at all times. The permit is valid for one year and only while your U.S. license is valid.
- Rental companies and local police can be stricter than national law. Confirm the requirement with your rental company before you travel.
Advisory information is published by the U.S. Department of State and reproduced here for convenience. It can change at any time — always check the official advisory before you travel. USIDA does not issue travel advisories.
Before you drive
Top travel tips for Japan
Road rules
Stop before railway crossings unless a traffic signal authorizes passage, yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, and never turn left on red unless specifically permitted. Japan strictly prohibits drink-driving. Seat belts are mandatory for everyone, and children under six need an appropriate child seat.
Expressway tolls
Most expressways charge tolls. Ask your rental company for an ETC card and compatible onboard unit; an installed unit alone is not enough. Without a working ETC setup, use lanes marked General, not ETC-only lanes, and avoid ETC-only smart interchanges.
Fuel and refueling
Confirm the required fuel before leaving the rental depot: regular gasoline is レギュラー, premium is ハイオク, and diesel is 軽油. A kei car normally takes gasoline, not diesel. Rural stations may close early; return the vehicle with the agreed fuel level and keep the final receipt.
Speed limits
Follow posted limits: local roads commonly range from 30–60 km/h, and expressways commonly from 80–100 km/h, with selected sections permitting 120 km/h. Unsigned narrow residential roads generally have a 30 km/h limit. Electronic signs can lower expressway limits during bad weather.
Rental documents and police checks
U.S. visitors should carry their valid U.S. license, passport and original 1949 Geneva Convention IDP; an IDP alone or a 1968-format permit is insufficient. Driving is allowed only while the documents remain valid and generally for no more than one year after entry. Rental staff and police may check these documents and your entry date. For a collision, stop and call police on 110; call 119 for an ambulance.
Worth the drive
Places to see in Japan
Lake Shikotsu
Hokkaido · Approximately 1–1.5 hours from central Sapporo.
Clear volcanic lake, forested shoreline and easy access to lakeside walks and hot springs; winter driving can be hazardous.
Nikko
Tochigi · Approximately 45–60 minutes from central Utsunomiya to the shrine area.
Ornate World Heritage shrines, with mountain roads continuing toward Lake Chuzenji and Kegon Falls; autumn weekends bring heavy traffic.
Fuji Five Lakes
Yamanashi · Approximately 1–1.5 hours from central Kofu to Lake Kawaguchi.
Lake Kawaguchi and neighboring lakes offer Mount Fuji viewpoints and scenic shoreline drives; visibility is often best early in the morning.
Shirakawa-go
Gifu · Approximately 1–1.5 hours from central Kanazawa using the expressway.
Traditional thatched farmhouses in a mountain valley; park in a designated visitor lot and explore the village on foot.
Amanohashidate
Northern Kyoto Prefecture · Approximately 2 hours from central Kyoto using expressways.
A pine-covered sandbar and panoramic hillside viewpoints, with coastal scenery well suited to a road trip.
Mount Aso
Kumamoto, Kyushu · Approximately 1.5–2 hours from central Kumamoto to Kusasenri.
Broad volcanic grasslands and dramatic caldera scenery; check current crater access restrictions because volcanic gases and activity can close roads.
Heading to Japan?
Apply online in about ten minutes. We print and mail your permit, and you can track it the whole way.