Japan on an Italian Licence — IDP Required + Driving on the Left

For an Italian visitor the licence answer comes with one firm condition: Japan does not accept the Italian licence on its own. You need an International Driving Permit, and it has to be the right one.

Only the Geneva model counts

Japan’s National Police Agency states that it recognises only permits issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention by an authorised body of a party state. The permit must follow the Convention’s paper format, a photo on a phone is refused, and you may drive only the vehicle classes that carry a stamp, so check that box B is stamped. Italy ratified the 1949 Convention in 1952, so the Motorizzazione can issue that model; make sure you are not handed the 1968 version. Get it before you fly, and carry it with your licence and passport. The Driving Permit Checker confirms the format.

From the right to the left

Italy drives on the right and Japan drives on the left. Junctions feel reversed, the gear lever sits under your left hand, and the danger window is the first hour. Collect the car somewhere calm rather than central Tokyo. Main routes have English signs, smaller roads often only Japanese, so set up an offline map with romanised names.

Alcohol: lower than at home

The WHO profile gives Japan’s limit as 0.03%. Italy allows 0.5 g/l (0.05%) for experienced drivers and zero for those under 21 or in their first three years, so for most Italian adults Japan is stricter. Passengers who knowingly ride with a drinking driver can be penalised as well. Keep driving days dry.

Limits and fines

Ordinary roads have a 60 km/h maximum and expressways 100 km/h, with lower limits wherever signs say so. Fines are fixed: the Tokyo Metropolitan Police table sets JPY 9,000 for a car driven less than 15 km/h over the limit and JPY 18,000 for holding a phone while driving. Expressway tolls add up quickly, so budget for them. In an emergency dial 110 for police and 119 for fire or ambulance.

More in the Japan driving guide, and penalties in the Speeding Fine Calculator.

Sources

• National Police Agency, Q&A for international driving permit holders (Geneva Convention only, original paper, category stamps): npa.go.jp
• UN Treaty Collection, 1949 Convention on Road Traffic (Italy ratified 1952, Japan acceded 1964): treaties.un.org
• Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department, table of traffic offence fines (speeding under 15 km/h JPY 9,000; phone JPY 18,000): keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp
• WHO Global status report on road safety 2023, Japan profile (0.03 g/dl; 60/100 km/h): who.int
• GOV.UK foreign travel advice, Japan safety and security (passenger liability for drink-driving): gov.uk
• Codice della Strada art. 186 and 186-bis (0.5 g/l; zero for under-21 and new drivers): normattiva.it