Driving
Before you consider driving in Japan, remember that Japan's major metropolises are difficult and frustrating to navigate by car. Add to this exorbitant parking and toll fees, and you've got the most expensive, slow, and often infuriating way to get around a Japanese city.
Japan is covered by one of the best public transportation systems in the world, stretching from Okinawa to Hokkaido, and even in the remotest of places you'll find some sort of public transportation in the vicinity or not too far away.
That being said, there are places where driving makes much more sense than taking a bus or train. Hokkaido, with it's relatively limited rail system, is a good example of a place where a car does come in very handy. Also, if you're looking to get off the beaten path, often a car is the best or even the only way to do it.
Especially outside of the cities, public transportation does tend to be inconvenient, and most people rely on a car.
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Rules and conditions
- You must be 18 years old or over to drive a car in Japan
- Cars drive on the left side of the road, and a Japanese car has the steering wheel on the right side
- Signage is clear and follows international standards. Most major signs are in both Japanese and English
- Typical speed limits: 80 to 100 km/h on expressways; 40 km/h in urban areas; 30 km/h in side streets; 50 to 60 km/h elsewhere. Drivers usually exceed the speed limits by about 10 km/h
- You must pay a toll for expressways and some scenic routes
- Road conditions are generally very good, but streets can be narrow and crowded, especially in the cities
- Traffic congestion is a major issue, especially in the cities
- Japanese drivers are known for being extremely courteous, polite, and cautious
- Japanese drivers may speed through a yellow light, or even one that has just turned red
Japanese driver's license
Main article: Driver's License
Japan has agreements with more than 20 countries to ease conversion of their driver's licenses into Japanese ones. Among these countries are Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. If you're from one of these countries, converting your license is easy. Here are the steps:
- Go to your local license center
- Provide an official translation of your home country's license
- Take an eye test
- Prove that you lived at least three months in the license issuing country after receiving your license
For those from countries who have not made a license agreement with Japan - like the US, China, and Brazil - they will have to take the official Japanese written and practical tests. These are notoriously difficult, and most people - even experienced drivers - take several attempts before they pass.
International driving permits
Drivers must get an international driving permit in their home country, through their respective national automobile association, before they leave for Japan. Once you have that permit, you can drive in Japan for one year, after which time you must get a Japanese driver's license.
Japan recognizes international driving permits that follow the Geneva Convention of 1949. This applies to most countries. However, some countries (Belgium, France, Germany, Switzerland) issue international driving permits that follow different conventions. French, German, and Swiss drivers can drive in Japan with an official translation of their country's driver's license. Drivers from other countries who do not follow the Geneva Conventions regarding international driving permits must obtain a Japanese driver's license.
Japanese driver's licenses are required for all drivers who stay in Japan for more than one year. However, if you leave Japan for more than 3 consecutive months, you can once again drive on an international driving permit when you come back.
Buying and owning
Don't let the attractively priced sub-compact cars fool you: owning a car in Japan is seriously expensive. The fees and costs of car ownership may be higher in Japan than anywhere else. Here are some examples:
- Shaken: mandatory safety inspections of your car, every 2-3 years. The first one doesn't happen until 3 years after you buy a new car. You'll usually pay between 100,000 and 200,000 yen for the actual inspection, plus a weight tax (typically 8,000 to 50,000 yen) and mandatory insurance (about 30,000 yen)
- High parking costs in the cities
- Various taxes: examples include the automobile tax (¥10,000-¥50,000) and the acquisition tax when you buy the car
- Insurance: both mandatory and optional (mandatory insurance does not provide full coverage)
There is also a lot of paperwork to be done (the dealer will take care of most of it for you). Some examples are car registration and providing proof that you own a parking space. If you buy a used car, the process is even more complicated. You'll need an inkan to fill out your part of the paperwork.
See also
Some content adapted from Wikipedia.org.
