License Requirement

Go Karting in Tokyo

License Requirement

Street Go Karting takes place on real streets and is regulated by Japan Road Traffic Authority. For residents of Japan your Japan driver's license is required. For foreigners visiting Japan, your passport, local driver's license and International Driving Permit (IDP) issued in your home country is required.

License

Please click below for the Driving License Applicable to you.

Driving License for residents of Japan
Driving License issued by the Public Safety Commission. japanlicense
Driving License for Overseas Nationals

Anyone with an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued abroad under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic can drive a car in Japan in accordance with Japanese laws.

IDPs issued in accordance with other treaties (such as the Vienna Convention) cannot be used in Japan even if it is issued by countries of the Geneva Convention.

License

List of Countries under the Geneva Convention

Parties to the Geneva Convention Iceland Croatia Dominican Republic Belgium
Ireland Ivory Coast Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Botswana
United States of America Congo Türkiye Poland
United Arab Emirates Democratic Republic of the Congo Nigeria Portugal
Algeria San Marino Namibia Madagascar
Argentina Sierra Leone Niger Malawi
Albania Jamaica Japan Mali
Israel Georgia New Zealand Malta
Italy Syria Norway Malaysia
India Singapore Haiti South Africa
Uganda Zimbabwe Vatican Monaco
UK Sweden Papua New Guinea Morocco
Ecuador Spain Paraguay Montenegro
Egypt Sri Lanka Barbados Jordan
Republic of Estonia Slovakia Hungary Lao People's Republic
Australia Slovenia Bangladesh Lithuania
Austria Senegal Fiji Liechtenstein
Netherlands Serbia Philippines Luxembourg
Ghana Thailand Finland Romania
Canada South Korea France Rwanda
Cambodia Czech Republic Bulgaria Lesotho
Cyprus Central African Republic Burkina Faso Lebanon
Cuba Tunisia Brunei Russian Federation
Greece Chile Benin
Kyrgyzstan Denmark Venezuela
Guatemala (Note 2) Togo Peru
Special administrative districts, etc. Overseas territories of the United States (Guam, Puerto Rico, etc.) Curacao Island Jersey Hong Kong
Aruba Cayman Islands Sint Maarten Macau
Guernsey Gibraltar French Overseas Territories (French Polynesia, etc.) Isle of Man
(Note 1) Please note that there are countries and regions other than those listed above that are subject to the Geneva Convention. (Note 2) Although Guatemala is a party to the Geneva Convention, we have not been able to confirm that Geneva-style international driver's licenses have been issued so far, so please contact us as soon as possible.

Notes on international driving licenses

Countries that are party to the Geneva Convention but have not yet issued a Geneva-style international driver's license.
Algeria Democratic Republic of the Congo France Monaco
Albania Georgia Bulgaria Montenegro
Kyrgyzstan Serbia Belgium Rwanda
Ivory Coast Haiti Botswana Russian Federation
(Note 1) Since Geneva-style international driving licenses are not issued, it is not possible to drive in Japan with an international driving license from that country (as of June 2020). (Note 2) Among the above, drivers from France, Belgium, and Monaco can drive in Japan by attaching a Japanese translation to their driver's license.

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.

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