Driving Licence Requirements
To drive during a Wangan Drive tour, you must hold valid documentation that legally permits you to drive in Japan.
You must have one of the following:
1. A Japanese Driving Licence
A valid Japanese driving licence that permits you to drive the relevant type of vehicle.
2. An International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention
Only an International Driving Permit issued under the Convention on Road Traffic of 19 September 1949—the Geneva Convention—is valid in Japan.
International Driving Permits issued under other conventions, including the 1968 Vienna Convention, are not valid in Japan.
You must carry:
- Your valid International Driving Permit
- Your original, valid driving licence issued in your country or region
- Your passport
Please confirm that your International Driving Permit is in the correct Geneva Convention format and covers the vehicle category you intend to drive.
3. A Foreign Driving Licence with an Official Japanese Translation
Holders of driving licences issued in the following countries or region may drive in Japan by carrying their original, valid driving licence together with an official Japanese translation:
- Switzerland
- Germany
- France
- Belgium
- Monaco
- Taiwan
The translation must be issued by an organization authorized under Japanese law. Please check the official JAF information for the accepted issuing organizations and requirements.
You must carry:
- Your original, valid driving licence
- The official Japanese translation
- Your passport
An unofficial translation, privately prepared translation, or translation issued by an unauthorized organization will not be accepted.
Validity Period
Your permission to drive in Japan is limited to the shortest applicable validity period, including:
- One year from your date of entry into Japan
- The expiration date of your International Driving Permit
- The expiration date of your original driving licence
Special rules apply to Japanese residents registered in the Basic Resident Register who leave Japan and return within three months.
Important
Driving eligibility is determined by the country or region that issued your licence, the type and format of your documents, their validity periods, and your entry history—not simply by your nationality.
If your documents do not legally permit you to drive in Japan, you will not be allowed to drive during the tour.
Depending on the selected tour and availability, you may still be able to participate as a passenger. Please contact us before booking if you are unsure.
Wangan Drive cannot make exceptions to Japanese driving-licence laws.
Customers are responsible for confirming their eligibility and bringing all required original documents on the tour date. Photographs, screenshots, photocopies, digital copies, expired documents, and unofficial translations will not be accepted.
Please check the official JAF information before making a reservation:
