In order to drive a car or other vehicles in Japan, you need to obtain one of the following driver's licenses:

1. a Japanese driver's license　（Click here if you wish to switch from a foreign drive's license to a Japanese one.）
2. an internatinal driving permit issued by the authorities of the foreign countries in accordance with the Convention (Geneva) on Road Traffic Law
3. a driving permit issued by the autorities in the following five countries and a region. However, the driving permit should be accompanied by a translation of the license in Japasese(created by a person who can translate the license in Japanese as required by law).
   • Swiss Confederation
   • Federal Republic of Germany
   • French Republic
   • Kingdom of Belgium
   • Taiwan
   • Principality of Monaco
   （Note）Regarding "a person who can translate the license as required by law"
   • The license issuing authority, the embassy or consulate of that country in Japan.
   • Authority that has been notified by the relevant country as an intitution capable of producing Japanese translations and has been recognized by the National Public Safety Commission as an appropriate institution.
   • Japan Automobile Federation(JAF)
   • ZIPLUS Co.,Ltd.
   （Note）「Sample of translated text（Taiwan)」

1. Japanese driver's license
   Within the validity period of the driver's license
2. Internatinal driving permit
   One year from the date of landing in Japan or the validity period of the international driving permit whichever is shorter.
3. Foreign driver's license with Japanese translation attached
   One year from the date of landing in Japan or the validity period of the foreign license whichever is shorter.

（Note）Regarding the "date of landing in Japan"
For those who are registered residents in Japan, if you leave Japan and re-enter after staying abroad for less than three months, the date of landing will not the starting date of the period during which you are allowed to drive in Japan.
In short, unless you leave Japan and re-enter after staying abroad for three months or more, you are not allowed to drive in Japan, even if you obtain an international driver's permit or foreign driver's license with a translation attached.

※国際免許証で運転できる期間(PDF:251KB)
※English(PDF:336KB)

翻訳文の見本（台湾）

運転免許証記載内容の翻訳（表）

運転が認められる車両の種類（裏）

※1 上記は、小型車免許所有者の例。運転が認められる車両の種類に○が付される。 ※2 小型車免許をR5.6.30以降に取得した者は、普通軽型機器脚踏車の運転は不可となっています。