Serious rules for foreign residents driving with an international drivers license (a big no-no, unless you stay 3 months in the States). (from US Embassy in Tokyos website) International Driving Permits (IDP) Residents are expected to convert or obtain a Japanese drivers license. Persons using an international drivers license who are resident in Japan can be subject to fines or arrest. The exact boundary between resident and not resident is unclear. In practice it seems to involve more than simply visa status or length of stay in Japan and is determined by the police. We have heard from several Americans who were told by the police that using an International Drivers License for more than a year, or using one after exiting and then returning to Japan, or using one when you are residing in Japan, or after you have obtained an Alien Registration Card, or after 90 days in Japan, or using a license obtained by mail while you are in Japan, is illegal. In two instances, following accidents, Americans were charged with driving without a license, a serious offense. Driving without a license may also void your insurance coverage. Read what the Japanese Police have to say about International Driving Permits. keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/foreign/kokusai_m/pdf/koku1eng.pdf
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 13:11:56 +0000