Trivia: How long can you use your International Driving Permit?

Q.

How long can you use your International Driving Permit?

a) 3 months

b) 6 months

c) 1 year

A.

The answer is c) 1 year!

The International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Toad Traffic allows you to drive for up to 1 year from the day you entered Japan. 

If you plan to drive frequently or use a driver's license as an ID, you can convert your foreign driver's license to a Japanese license. This process is called "Gaimen Kirikae". In order to apply, an official copy of your jumin-hyo and offical Japanese translation of the foreign license will likely be required.

For more information, visit: https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/multilingual/english/traffic_safety/drivers_licenses/index.html 
(Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Website)

Note that if your foreign driver's license is from Belgium, France, Germany, Monaco, Switzerland or Taiwan, the application process may be slightly different. 

Before driving in Japan, please be aware of traffic rules and be extra careful especially in Tokyo, as the road tends to be narrow!

Do you have a Japanese driver's license?

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