Driver’s licenses issued in Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan

• The Road Traffic Law of Japan stipulates that individuals with driver’s licenses issued in the above countries/regions are allowed to drive vehicles complying with Japanese laws and regulations only when they carry both the original license issued in the above countries/regions and a Japanese translation of such issued by JAF, or foreign embassies or consular offices in Japan.
• These Foreigners who want to drive in Japan must always carry the Japanese translation of the license with them, together with the original driver’s license issued in the countries/region above.
• The effective period of the Japanese translation is one year from the date of your entry into Japan. (For re-entry after leaving Japan, the effective period is one year from the date of re-entry.) However, conditions vary for those who register as a resident or as a foreign national in Japan, leaves and reenters Japan within three months. For more information, please contact us by email.
• When you drive in Japan, the police may request that you present your passport to check the days elapsed from your entry into Japan.

Note:
You are not allowed to drive in Japan beyond one year from your entry into Japan, even if the Japanese translation is attached to your license. Those who intend to stay in Japan for a long period and drive are required to obtain a Japanese driver’s license.

You can apply to switch your current license to a Japanese driver’s license if you have the Japanese translation.

We can assist with your license translation if you contact us within one month of your travel to Japan.