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| Driving in Japan | ||||
| In Japan, driving
is the same as Australia, Britain, and some other European countries.
Drivers sit on the right side and drive on the left side of the road.
Basically, the road signs and rules follow international standards,
and fortunately most signs on major roads and highways are in both
Japanese and English. Drivers must be at least 18 years of age or
older to legally drive in Japan. Driving Costs Relative to the cost of living, buying a car is not that expensive in Japan. In the homeland of Toyota, Honda and Nissan there are some deals on used and new cars. Owning and maintaining a car is the expensive part due to the mandatory inspections, (shaken), and insurance every two to three years, automobile taxes, high parking costs in cities, expensive tolls on highways, and the high price of gasoline, (about ¥120/liter). Getting a drivers license can also be quite expensive due to the mandatory driver’s education course. Buying Cars Due to many local regulations and taxes, buying a car in Japan can be a bit painful. However, you will enjoy the wide selection of Japanese and imported cars. Dealers in Japan normally show only the base price for the car, but the actual “on-the-road” cost will go up as additional mandatory charges are added on top of it.”‘Shaken” is the Japanese vehicle inspection system, which is a series of tax payments. The first Shaken inspection and payment is valid for three years on new cars, after it must be paid every two years. Getting a Driver’s License Foreign residents who already have a valid driver’s license from their own country can drive for up to one year in Japan with an international drivers license. International driving permits must be obtained in your home country, usually through the national Automobile Association, before coming to Japan. However, Japan only recognizes international driving permits from countries on the Geneva Convention of 1949. Therefore, international driving permits from some countries, such as France, Germany and Switzerland, are not valid in Japan. Instead, foreign residents with driving permits from these countries can drive in Japan for up to one year with an official Japanese translation of their driving licenses from their respective embassies or consulates in Japan. Foreigners, who reside in Japan for more than one year and wish to continue to drive in Japan, must convert their driver's license into a Japanese license by taking an eye exam, aptitude test and possibly a practical exam. |
Residents from the UK, Australia,
New Zealand, France or other European countries can change their original
driver’s license to a Japanese license without taking a practical
exam. Residents from the US or other countries, which are not mentioned above have to take a written and driving practical exam to change their license into a Japanese. Necessary Documents and Fees 1. Alien Registration Card 2. One 3 x 2.4cm photo (color or B/W) 3. Passport 4. Valid Driver’s license from your home country 5. Japanese translation of your original license from the JAF. For this you will need a photocopy of the front and back of your drivers license and, in the case of most countries, your Alien Registration Card. The translation costs Y3,000 and can be done at the JAF or by post. JAF Regional Headquarters 2-2-17 Shiba, Minato-ku, Tokyo 6833-9100 You can download the application form and get more info at: www.jaf.or.jp/e/switch.htm 6. Pay a fee of ¥4,150 |
Renting a Car in
Japan Renting a car is usually an economical option, especially if you are planning to explore rural Japan and are traveling in groups. To rent and drive a car in Japan you need a Japanese driving license or an international driving permit.Some of Japan's leading car rental companies are Japaren, Mazda Rentacar, Nissan Rentacar, Toyota Rentalease, Nippon Rentacar and Orix Rentacar. They operate hundreds of outlets across Japan, offering cars in all sizes and, in some cases, large vans, buses and RVs. Most Japanese car rental companies do not provide English websites or service in English. Typical Costs for Renting Cars Small or Compact Cars – about ¥6,000/day Mid-Sized Cars - about ¥10,000/day Full-Sized Cars - about ¥15,000/day - prices include a mandatory insurance fee. - rates are usually higher during peak seasons. A recommended budget service for car rental in Japan is Club Tocoo who offer discounts and have service in English. web site>> |
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