Driving in Japan: Licences, Left-Side Traffic, Parking, Tolls and Car Hire
A car can make rural Japan far more accessible, but it can add parking, tolls and inconvenience to a city-focused Tokyo or Kyoto stay. Match the rental to the route rather than automatically booking it for the whole holiday. Prepare for left-side traffic, unfamiliar signs and the practical details of ETC tolls before collecting the keys.
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When a rental makes sense
A trip centred on Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka can usually rely on rail and local transport. Driving becomes more useful for rural accommodation, villages and outdoor stops away from convenient rail connections. Include parking time in the plan, not just the driving estimate.
You can compare rentals on DiscoverCars for the rural days only. Check the actual supplier, insurance excess, loss-of-use or non-operation charges after damage, child seats, an ETC card and one-way fees. The headline rental price is not the full cost of driving.
Bring the right original documents
A visitor using an international driving permit needs one recognised under the 1949 Geneva Convention, not simply any document marketed as an IDP. Carry the original permit, passport and the domestic licence required by the supplier. A phone photograph or a self-made translation is not a substitute. Confirm eligibility with the rental company before paying.
For the IDP route, permission to drive ends at the earlier of one year after arrival and the permit’s expiry; recognition is limited to one year from its issue. A separate translation route applies only to specified jurisdictions, including Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan, with authorised Japanese translations. Returning residents face additional conditions. Do not assume a multi-year permit gives multi-year driving rights in Japan.
Keep left, and prepare before leaving the branch
Traffic keeps left, with right-hand drive in most rental cars. Adjust the mirrors and locate the indicators and wipers before setting off. Leaving a quiet car park, starting again in the morning and turning onto an empty road are moments to consciously check your road position.
Use the appropriate left-side travelling lane and leave an expressway overtaking lane after passing. Stop somewhere legal and safe before changing navigation settings; do not handle a phone while driving.
Traffic lights and turning across oncoming traffic
A right turn crosses opposing traffic. On an ordinary green signal, yield to oncoming vehicles continuing straight or turning left. A green light is not automatically a protected right turn. When turning left, watch for cyclists and pedestrians on the side you are entering.
Stop at red: there is no general permission to turn left or right merely because the road looks clear. A green arrow permits movement in its indicated direction under the junction arrangement even with the main light red. Yellow arrows are for trams, not a substitute green arrow for cars.
The stop sign looks different
The Japanese stop sign may be a downward-pointing red triangle marked 止まれ, sometimes with STOP as well. It requires a full stop, not merely yielding. Stop before the line and check the junction carefully.
Stop at a pedestrian crossing for someone crossing or about to cross. On narrow streets without pavements, slow well before reaching people. Road signs and markings take precedence over a navigation app’s suggested route.
Railway crossings and roundabouts
Normally stop and check before a railway level crossing even when its barrier is open; where a traffic signal controls passage, follow that arrangement. Never enter unless there is space to clear the tracks completely.
At a designated roundabout, circulate clockwise and yield to vehicles already circulating. Approach slowly and watch for pedestrians at entry and exit. Not every circular urban junction has that arrangement: obey its signals and signs.
Kilometres and the September 2026 speed change
Speeds and distances use kilometres. From 1 September 2026, the default for cars on ordinary roads without a centre line, marked lanes or suitable separation between directions is 30 km/h. This mainly affects residential streets, not every street in every city.
The default remains 60 km/h on qualifying ordinary roads with the relevant markings or separation. An explicitly posted speed limit overrides the default. On expressways follow posted and variable limits, and reduce speed further when visibility or road conditions require it.
ETC tolls need a working card as well as a reader
ETC electronic toll collection requires an onboard device and a compatible card inserted into it; an ordinary bank card is not the ETC card. Ask for a demonstration and establish how road charges and the card rental fee will be settled.
Enter an ETC lane below 20 km/h, leaving room for the vehicle ahead to stop. Without active ETC, choose an entrance and lane that allow conventional payment; some entrances are ETC-only. If the barrier stays down, stop and use the intercom, rather than reversing into another lane. An expressway pass is useful only if its dates and coverage fit your route.
Use a car park, not an apparently empty roadside
Do not treat verges or pavements as available parking. Small car parks may use a rising plate beneath the vehicle; others read number plates by camera. Record your bay or vehicle details and follow the payment machine before leaving. Never drive over a plate that has not lowered.
Read the charging interval, day and night tariffs and maximum-price conditions. A maximum is not necessarily a rolling 24-hour cap or automatically repeated the next day. Mechanical garages have size and weight restrictions. Contact the rental company and follow the required process for a parking ticket; returning the car does not remove it.
The Times parking app and the right entrance
The Times Parking Search app, also named タイムズ駐車場検索, helps locate Times car parks, view occupancy information, filter facilities and estimate fees. Availability can change while you drive there. It neither guarantees a reserved space nor acts as a universal payment app for Japanese parking.
The Times parking availability map is also useful. Navigate to the actual garage entrance rather than the attraction’s address. At the machine, confirm the correct bay or vehicle, exit hours and accepted payment methods.
Fuel: green can mean diesel
Regular unleaded is commonly identified in red, premium in yellow and diesel in green. Match the fuel name to the vehicle and rental instructions rather than relying on colour alone. 軽油 means diesel, not a general fuel for a small car.
At an attended station, request the correct fuel and a full tank when required by the return terms. At self-service pumps, read the choice before dispensing. Keep the final receipt and refuel before long rural sections; small stations are not necessarily open at night.
Electric cars: connector and payment first
A map pin does not establish compatibility. Japan has CHAdeMO rapid chargers for compatible vehicles, including Japanese-market models; do not assume a CCS arrangement used elsewhere applies. Ask the rental branch to demonstrate the connector, charging activation and any included card or account.
Some Toyota chargers offer guest payment using a QR code and bank card, subject to vehicle and charger compatibility. Check the charging-station map and plan an alternative stop. Confirm hotel charging availability and reservations, and keep a larger range reserve in cold or mountainous conditions.
Winter, heavy rain and seasonal closures
Hokkaido, Tohoku and mountain routes require different preparation from a city stay. Arrange winter tyres before a winter rental and ask the supplier about chain requirements on your route. Four-wheel drive does not eliminate skidding or replace suitable equipment.
Prefer daylight for mountain drives and allow changes for snow, heavy rain and seasonal closures. Do not enter a closed road, private track or restricted area because navigation suggests a shortcut. Choose rail or a transfer when the conditions exceed your driving experience.
Children, alcohol and accidents
Everyone must wear a seat belt. Children under six need a child restraint; beyond that age, use a restraint appropriate to their size and its manufacturer’s instructions. Reserve it in advance. The person driving should not drink alcohol.
After an accident, stop safely, summon help when needed and notify the police and rental company. Call 110 for police and 119 for ambulance or fire. Document details when safe and do not rely on an informal agreement with the other driver. Keep the supplier’s emergency number and your accommodation address in Japanese available offline.
We stayed at RESI STAY Hotel SUN CHLORELLA on our Japan trip and recommend it. Compare rooms for your party, cancellation terms and whether the local accommodation tax is included. Rooms and prices on Trip.com