Some licenses are not valid in Japan,
so make sure yours is OK!

Japan is strict, and road blocks are common! Foreign travellers must have a valid International Driver’s Permit and license in order to rent a car in Japan, so make sure you attain this before departure.

International Driver’s Permits vary by country
There are 2 different types of International Driver’s Permits. One is granted based on the Geneva Treaty, and the other is issued according to a treaty between Japan and the other country directly. Do you know which type your country provides? Please research this in advance to avoid trouble with borrowing a car.

International Driving Permit as per the Geneva Convention
There are currently 97 member nations of the Geneva Convention. If your drivers license is from a member nation and you have your passport, you can drive in Japan.
* Drivers of some non-member nations are also permitted to drive in Japan during a short stay. Please check the rules at an embassy before heading abroad.
(The member nations are listed in the left column.)

International Driving Permit for countries which have a treaty with Japan

Drivers from countries which have a treaty with Japan need a drivers license with a Japanese translation and a passport in order to drive in Japan. You can get a translation at the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country, or from JAF (Japan Automobile Federation).
*Taiwanese drivers must get their license translated by JAF or the East Asia Relations Commission.
(The member nations are listed in the left column.)

A list of the member nations of the Geneva Convention
Philippines, India, Thailand, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Republic of Korea, Turkey, Israel, Syria, Cyprus, Jordan, Lebanon, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Central African Republic, Egypt, Ghana, Algeria, Morocco, Botswana, Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Burkina Faso, U.K., Greece, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, France, Italy, Russia, Serbia, Montenegro, Spain, Finland, Portugal, Austria, Belgium, Poland, Ireland, Hungary, Romania, Iceland, Bulgaria, Malta, Albania, Luxembourg, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican, Kyrgyz Republic, Georgia, Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, United States, Canada, Peru, Cuba, Ecuador, Argentine, Chile, Paraguay, Barbados, Commonwealth of Dominica, Guatemala, Haiti, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Jamaica, New Zealand, Fiji, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, Macao

To drive in Japan, you need an international driving permit and a passport.

A list of countries which have a treaty with Japan
Taiwan, Switzerland, German, France, Belgium, Slovenija, Monaco

To drive in Japan, you need a drivers license issued in your country, a Japanese translation, and a passport.