International License

Anyone staying in Japan for more than 12 months must obtain a Japanese drivers license. You can drive with an international license for only one year from the date of your landing permit or one year from the date of issue of the international license, whichever comes first. (If you were to leave Japan for a minimum period of 3 months during this year, the 12 month count down begins again.)

Drivers with German, Swiss or French drivers licenses do not need an international drivers license, but can drive in Japan for one year with their country's license and a Japanese translation done by JAF or their embassy.

After one year everyone needs to change to a Japanese license. Drivers with licenses from the following 22 countries need only an eye sight check and are exempted from the "traffic rule" written test and the driving skill test ; Australia, Austria, Belgium ,Canada, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Korea, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. Persons from all other countries need to pass both the "traffic rule" written test (easy) and the driving skill test (difficult).

I suggest you make sure that you are driving with a valid license while in Japan. Even though getting the Japanese license is a bit time consuming and at times frustrating, driving with an international driving license after you have been in Japan for 365 day is ILLEGAL.

If you are pulled over for speeding and the police find that you have been in Japan for more than a year, and remember, it is written right there on your Alien registration card, in addition with your penalty fee for speeding, you will be charged with "Driving without a valid License" a serious offense and could be fined as much as 200,000 yen. (More if other penalties are added. like speeding, parking etc.)

If you should be involved in a serious accident, you can be arrested, prosecuted and sent to prison.
Even if you are driving perfectly, you can still be caught in one of the police "random check points" that are common these days.
So be smart and do the responsible thing......

Drinking & Driving

Drunk driving is not tolerated in Japan, and certainly not by JSPS.

Those involved in drinking and driving incidents run the risk of losing their Fellowship. And of course the legal implications are severe.
The law has recently been revised and the penalties have been increased. Japan uses a "point system". You are given points for various offences and when you have accumulated a number of points your license will be suspended or revoked.

6-14 points	Suspension for 1-6 months
15-24 points	Revocation for 1 year
25-34 points	Revocation for 2 years
35-44 points	Revocation for 3 years
45 points and up	Revocation for 5 years

(for drivers who have not had their license suspended in the last 3 years.)

Here is a sample of some of the points regarding drunk driving.

酒酔い運転　drunk driving	25 points
酒気帯び運転　driving under the influence of alcohol (if level of alcohol is 0.25 in a "breath alcohol test")	13 points
酒気帯び運転　driving under the influence of alcohol (if level of alcohol is 0.15 in a "breath alcohol test")	6 points

As you can see it doesn't take much to have your license suspended. If you are arrested for drunk driving you can expect to be prosecuted for a sentence of up to ５ years in prison or a 1,000,000 yen penalty fee. Not to mention if you are involved in an accident and hurt or kill someone. In such a case you may face a sentence of many years in prison.
Several traffic laws changed on June 1st, 2008. For example, it will be mandatory for people to wear seatbelts in the back seats of cars, and fines and imprisonment terms for drunk drivers and people who do not stop drunk drivers from driving will be stiffened.

1. Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

a. Rules Affecting the Driver

Drunk Driving

Old LawPenalty of less than three years imprisonment or less than 500,000 yen fine

New LawPenalty of less than five years imprisonment or less than 1,000,000 yen fine

Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol

Old LawPenalty of less than one year imprisonment or less than 300,000 yen fine

New LawPenalty of less than three years imprisonment or less than 500,000 yen fine

Refusing Breathalyser Test

Old LawPenalty of less than 300,000 yen fine

New LawPenalty of less than three years imprisonment or less than 500,000 yen fine

b. Rules Affecting Accomplices to the Driver

Providing a Vehicle to Someone who Could be Under the Influence of Alcohol

Old LawNone

New LawIn the case of a drunk driver: Penalty of less than five years imprisonment or less than 1,000,000 yen fine
In the case of a driver under the influence of alcohol: Penalty of less than three years imprisonment or less than 500,000 yen fine

Providing Alcohol to Someone who is Likely to Drive

Old LawNone

New LawIn the case of a drunk driver: Penalty of less than three years imprisonment or less than 500,000 yen fine
In the case of a driver under the influence of alcohol: Penalty of less than two years imprisonment or less than 300,000 yen fine

Asking or Requesting Someone who is Known to be Under the Influence of Alcohol to Drive and Accompanying Him/Her in the Car

Old LawNone

New LawIn the case of a drunk driver: Penalty of less than three years imprisonment or less than 500,000 yen fine
In the case of a driver under the influence of alcohol: Penalty of less than two years imprisonment or less than 300,000 yen fine

It is also advisable to remember that if you ride in a car where the driver is drunk or if you let someone drive even if you know that they have been drinking, you too can be held responsible.

If you have to drink and don't want to leave your car there is now a convenient service that is called DAIKO. ( a Japanese word that translates to "surrogate" or "to do something for someone.") A request for the service results in two licensed drivers coming to pick the costumer up, one to drive the taxi and the other to drive the customer's car.

The cost is about 1.5 the cost of a regular taxi.

c. Rules About Hit and Run

Old LawPenalty of less than five years imprisonment or less than 500,000 yen fine

New LawPenalty of less than ten years imprisonment or less than 1,000,000 yen fine

2. Laws Regarding Elderly Drivers

Drivers over 75

They must take a test within six months prior to the expiry date of their license.
They must display an "elderly driver" sign on their cars.

People between the ages of 70 to 75 years of age

They SHOULD display the mark. (The elderly driver symbol is in the shape of a tear drop. It is cut down the middle and the left half is orange and the right half is yellow. Other drivers must not interfere with vehicles displaying such marks.

3. Laws Regarding Cyclists

You may ride your bicycle on the sidewalk under the following conditions.

• If there is a sign that specifically permits riding bicycles on the sidewalk.
• If you are under 13 or over 70 years of age.
• When you have to because of road or traffic conditions.

Cyclists must ride slowly on the part of the sidewalk that is designated for bicycles. However, if there are no pedestrians on the part of the sidewalk that is designated for bicycles, or if there are no pedestrians who are trying to walk on that part of the sidewalk, then cyclists can go at a safe speed using proper and safe riding techniques. Pedestrians must also make an effort to avoid the part of the sidewalk that is designated for bicycles.

Children must wear helmets when riding bicycles or when being carried on a bicycle that is being driven by someone else.

4. Laws to Reduce Injuries

• All passengers must wear seatbelts, including those in the back seat. If the driver or any of the passengers are not wearing a seatbelt in a car that is driving on the toll highways, the driver will be punished. Also when riding a taxi or highway bus, seatbelt must be used. (Source: Shaney Crawford, Tsukublog)
• People who are hard of hearing are now able to get a driver's license if they use a special wide mirror. They must display a "hard of hearing mark" on their cars. Other drivers are forbidden from cutting off or aggressively passing cars with such marks. (The "hard of hearing" symbol is a green circle with a yellow butterfly inside.)

Buying a Car

If you are buying a car from a car dealer, the paperwork needed for changing of ownership will be taken care of by the dealer. If however, you are buying a car from a private person, the paperwork generally fall on the buyer and can be somewhat confusing and time consuming. It is recommended to ask a Japanese colleague or friend for help.

After you have found a car that you want to buy, the first thing you need to do is to get a "Shako shoumei-sho (proof of parking certificate)" from the police department. This takes about one week. The forms are available at the police station and includes a "Hokan basho shoudaku shoumei (Certificate of Permission for Use of Parking)" form that must have the seal from the real estate agent, building owner or building management company where you live, stating that you have a car parking space.

Be careful when filling out the forms, for a mistake, particularly on the registration numbers of the car you are buying, may result in doing it all over again. Also, you need to draw a detailed map of the parking place and the surrounding area. Be sure to include major landmarks such as stores and parks. You need to give the approximate dimensions of the area you'll be using for parking , along with the width of adjacent roads and if you are parking in a parking lot, then you should also include the parking space number.

The police will give you a date about one week later when you can pick up the certificate. Once you have gotten your "Shako shoumei-sho (proof of parking)" from the police, you can then go to the "riku-un kyoku (Land Transport Office)" in your area.

The easiest way is to go together, buyer and seller, bringing with you the "Shako shoumei-sho (proof of parking)", your passports, your alien registration certificates "Gaikokujin tourokuzumi shoumei-sho (which is different from your alien registration card)", the seller need also to bring "shaken sho" (car registration documents), "Nouzei shoumei-sho (certificate of car tax payment)", "Jibaiseki hoken (compulsory insurance receipt)" and a "Inkan shoumei-sho (proof of seal registration certificate)" if the seller is Japanese or a foreigner with a registered seal.

At the Land transport Office "Riku-un jimusho", you will be required to fill out some forms. If you find it difficult, there are staff there that will do it for a fee. Also they charge you for the forms so be sure to bring some cash with you. If the buyer is going by himself, he also need to get a "Jouto shoumei-sho (certificate of transfer)" with the seller's seal and "Inkan shoumei-sho (proof of seal registration certificate)" and an "Inin-jyou (power of attorney)".

Please note that the "Inkan shomei-sho (proof of seal registration certificate)" is only valid for 3 months from issue so if the ownership change is not completed within this time, it may be difficult to do so, especially if the seller has already left the country. If the car you are buying is registered at a different Land transport Office you will also have to pay for new number plates and you should bring the car with you and change plates at the land transport office at the same time.

Remember that you are required to keep the "Shaken-shou (car registration)" documents and the "Jibaiseki hoken (compulsory insurance)" receipt in the car at all times.

If the car you are buying is a smaller car with yellow number plates "Kei-jidousha", the procedure is somewhat different. Depending on where you live, you might not need a "Shako shoumei-sho (proof of parking)", and an "Inkan shoumei-sho".

Please inquire at your local Land transport Office to find out the correct procedure for your city.

Please click here to download:

• "Jouto shomei-sho (certificate of transfer form)" (pdf: 86KB)
• "Inin-jyou (power of attorney form)" (pdf: 70.6KB)

Insurance

Are you driving a car or bike here in Japan ?

If so, do you know what kind of insurance you have ? It has happened that the person thought he was insured only to find out after the accident that his insurance was not at all what he expected and he ended up paying a lot of money for medical bills, etc.
So it is important to know what your insurance actually cover.

Mandatory Insurance

This is the minimal liability insurance that all cars and bikes must have. This is paid at the same time as you do the SHAKEN ( car inspection) so if you buy your car privately you should ask the seller to show proof that it has been paid. This insurance covers only the other party and doesn't cover the passengers in your car, the car itself or things you damaged during the accident. It is therefore not sufficient and it is advisable to get extra optional insurance.

Extra optional insurance

So what kind of coverage do you need? That of course depends on a lot of things.
The cost vary depending on; your age, if you are the only person driving the car of if your spouse drives too and maybe sometimes you lend it to a friend?
How new and expensive the car is. etc.
For an example I have included the insurance cover I myself have.

Personal liability

unlimited coverage

Injury for passengers who are in my car, including both family members and others, up to 50 million yen /accident.

Hospitalization

15,000 yen/day or 5,000 yen for each visit to hospital. Total up to 10 million yen.

Damage to the other person's car or property unlimited coverage.

Coverage in case the other party is not insured

200 millions yen.

Damage to my own car

none. (my car is old and it would make the cost a lot more so I choose not have this).

I also do not have any of the "extra" options but you may want to check out those as well.

For example, theft, vandalism, disaster damage, etc.
The insurance companies have various kinds of "offers" to attract customers. Make sure that you understand all the details before signing though.

So, where do you find a good insurance company?
There are many to choose from and since most of them do not speak very much English, the best way, in my opinion is to ask your host/coworkers to put you in contact with the insurance office they use.