Japan for Chinese Drivers — Why an IDP Won't Work, and What Does

Chinese visitors often ask whether they can drive from China to Japan. They cannot: the two countries are separated by sea, with no bridge or tunnel, so any trip begins with a flight or a ferry. The question that matters comes after you land, and it concerns a piece of paper. A Chinese IDP is not valid in Japan, and what Japan accepts instead is your Chinese licence plus an official Japanese translation.

Why the permit you can get at home does not work

Japan recognises International Driving Permits issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. China is not a party to that convention, so there is no 1949 permit a Chinese driver can legitimately carry. Rental desks know this and will turn you away.

The translation comes from the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) or another approved body. You can apply to JAF by post before you travel, or in person at a branch after you land. Our records give it a validity of one year, and it must travel with the original licence and your passport. Sort this out before booking a car, because the car will not be released without it. The Driving Permit Checker lays out the documents for your situation.

The same problem in reverse

If you are searching because you plan a Chinese leg afterwards, note that China does not accept IDPs either. Foreign visitors there must obtain a temporary Chinese driving licence. The paperwork logic is symmetrical, and neither country will let you drive on a document that looks right but is not on its list.

Left instead of right

China drives on the right, Japan on the left. Sitting on the right of the cabin, turning into the correct lane and reading roundabouts clockwise all take conscious effort at first. Keep your opening half-hour to quiet streets, and use the first junctions to repeat to yourself which lane you are turning into.

Numbers that change when you cross

From September 2026 narrow residential roads in Japan default to 30 km/h, so look for the posted number rather than assuming. The speeds are lower than the ones you are used to on expressways.

Japan’s speeding fines for an ordinary car, in yen:

• 1-15 km/h over: JPY 9,000 (about EUR 55)
• 16-20 km/h over: JPY 12,000
• 21-25 km/h over: JPY 15,000
• 26-30 km/h over: JPY 18,000
• 31-35 km/h over: JPY 25,000, with a licence suspension and 6 points at the higher end
• Over 35 km/h: JPY 35,000 or more

For comparison, China charges a flat CNY 200 for a lot of ordinary speeding offences, so the yen amounts can come as a shock. Running a red light is JPY 9,000 plus 2 points; a handheld phone is JPY 18,000 plus 3 points. A first seatbelt offence brings a warning and a point rather than a fine.

Equipment, signs and tolls

China expects a fire extinguisher, a reflective vest and a warning triangle in the car. In Japan only the warning triangle is on the required list, though your rental will have whatever it needs.

Motorway and destination signs carry English alongside the kanji, but smaller roads and parking signs often do not. A satnav app set to the destination’s map code (a Japanese system most satnavs accept) saves guessing. The expressway network is excellent but expensive, and most rentals can supply an ETC card; ask for one because paying cash at every gate is slow and long-distance totals climb quickly.

Alcohol and emergencies

Japan’s limit is 0.03, which is above China’s 0.02 on paper, but enforcement is heavy and criminal penalties apply, including liability for passengers who let you drive. Do not drink at all.

Japan’s emergency numbers are 110 for police and 119 for fire and ambulance. China’s ambulance line is 120, which does not work in Japan, so write 119 on your phone lock-screen note.

For parking, expressway etiquette and the full ruleset, see the Japan driving guide.

Sources

• Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), official Japanese translation of foreign licences: JAF branches and postal application
• Japan and China national driving data (licence rules, limits, fines, equipment, emergency numbers; checked 2026-10-20): Japan driving guide