The Short Answer

Yes, you can drive in Japan with a German license, but you need an official translation.

Drivers from the USA, the UK, Australia and other 1949 Geneva Convention countries drive in Japan with an International Driving Permit (IDP). Japan has a different rule for licenses from 6 places: Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Monaco, and Taiwan.

If you're from one of these countries, you need a JAF translation (日本語翻訳文), an official Japanese translation of your driver's license issued by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF).

💡 Key Point

An IDP issued in Germany (or any of these 6 countries) is NOT valid for driving in Japan. Even if you already have one, Japanese police will not accept it. You specifically need the JAF translation.

Why Can't I Just Use an IDP?

This confuses a lot of people, so here's the simple explanation.

There are two main international road traffic agreements, and their IDPs look different:

Germany is not a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention (it is not on the United Nations list of parties), so a German IDP, the Internationaler Führerschein, is not valid in Japan. France, Belgium and Monaco did join the 1949 convention, but according to Japan's National Police Agency they issue only the 1968 Vienna-style permit. Switzerland signed the 1949 convention without ratifying it. Taiwan is not a party.

For licenses from these 6 places, Japanese rules set a separate route: you drive on your national license with an official Japanese translation attached.

What Exactly Is a JAF Translation?

The JAF translation (formally: 外国運転免許証翻訳文) is a single A4 document that contains:

You carry this document together with your original license when driving. If stopped by police, you show both.

How to Get Your JAF Translation

You have two options:

Option 1: JAF, After You Arrive in Japan

Drawback: you can only apply once you are in Japan, so the wait comes out of your trip. If you're landing in Fukuoka and heading straight to your campervan rental, you would lose the first two or three days.

Option 2: Apply Online Before Your Trip

Services like drive-japan-license.com let you apply from home before you travel:

This saves you from waiting two or three days for JAF after you land, as long as you apply early enough for the original to reach your hotel.

⚠️ Important

Your JAF translation is valid for one year from your entry date into Japan, not from the date the translation was issued. Make sure your original license remains valid for the duration of your stay.

What About Switzerland and France?

The same rules apply. If you hold a Swiss (Führerausweis) or French (permis de conduire) license, you need exactly the same JAF translation. The process is identical.

In fact, all 6 countries (Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Monaco, and Taiwan) follow the same procedure. One translation document, same format, same validity.

Can I Rent a Campervan with This? Next Step: Pick Your Dates

Yes. With your original German license plus the Japanese translation, you can rent and drive our campervans in Fukuoka. They are ordinary cars, so a standard car license is enough.

Guests from Germany and France tour Kyushu with us on exactly this pair of documents.

  1. Check dates and prices on our rental page in English or German. It shows which vans are free and what your exact dates cost.
  2. Send a booking request through our booking form (in German). No payment details are needed yet; we confirm the dates first.
  3. Complete the online procedure. Once your dates are confirmed, we send you a personal link. Choose Germany as the country that issued your license, and the page asks whether you already have the Japanese translation or want to order it through our partner JDLTC. You upload your license (both sides), passport and, if you already have it, the translation on the same page. Karen checks every document before she sends the payment link.
  4. Pick up in Fukuoka. Our base is in Hakozaki, about 10 minutes from Fukuoka Airport. Self check-in works at any hour; returns are between 9:00 and 17:00.

Availability as of late October 2026: autumn 2026 is almost fully booked, while most dates from December 2026 to February 2027 are still open. Try three weeks in January 2027 on the German rental page. Winter trips here follow coastal and lowland roads. The Bongo vans have no heater, so we lend a free electric blanket on request; the Pocket Loft has a cabin heater.

Weekday rates start at ¥22,000 a day (about €124) for the Roof Tent Probox and the Bed Bongo Brawny, and at ¥25,000 for the Pocket Loft. Saturdays and Sundays cost 150% of the weekday rate. Longer trips get a discount on the total: 10% from 7 days, 15% from 14 days and 20% from 21 days. Every rental includes CDW insurance with a deductible and a basic camping gear set; tolls and fuel are extra.

🚐 Pro Tip

If you're planning a Kyushu road trip, get your JAF translation sorted before you fly. That way you can pick up your campervan in Fukuoka and start exploring immediately, without waiting for JAF after you land.

Quick FAQ

Can you drive in Japan with a German driving license?

Yes, but not with the license on its own. Drivers from Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan need a JAF translation, an official Japanese translation of the license issued by the Japan Automobile Federation. You carry that single A4 document together with your original license and show both if police stop you. No driving test or special visa is required.

Why is an International Driving Permit not valid in Japan for German drivers?

Japan recognizes only IDPs issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. Germany is not a party to that convention, so a German IDP is not valid in Japan and Japanese police will not accept it. France, Belgium and Monaco issue only the 1968 Vienna-style permit, Switzerland never ratified the 1949 convention and Taiwan is not a party. For those 6 places Japan has a separate route: a JAF translation of the national license, which is a completely different document from an IDP.

Do I need to carry my original license too?

Yes. The JAF translation is not a standalone document. You must carry both your original license and the translation when driving.

Can I drive a motorcycle with the JAF translation?

Yes, as long as your original license includes motorcycle categories. The translation covers all vehicle categories on your license.

What if my license expires during my trip?

Your driving authorization in Japan becomes invalid the moment your original license expires. Plan accordingly.

Is this the same as an International Driving Permit?

No. They're completely different documents. For the 6 countries listed above, only the JAF translation is accepted in Japan, not an IDP.

Can you rent a campervan in Japan with a JAF translation?

Yes. With your original license plus the Japanese translation you can rent and drive VanTripJapan's campervans, which are ordinary cars, so a standard car license is enough. Send a booking request without payment, and after the dates are confirmed you upload your license, your passport and, if you already have it, the translation on a personal procedure page, where you can also order the translation through our partner JDLTC.

Summary: Your Checklist

  1. ✅ Check that your license is valid for the duration of your Japan trip
  2. ✅ Get your Japanese translation (from JAF after you land, or online)
  3. ✅ Carry both your original license + JAF translation when driving
  4. ✅ Remember: drive on the left side in Japan!
  5. ✅ Pick your dates on our rental page (English / Deutsch) and send a booking request

No driving test and no special visa. Just your license, the translation, and the open road. 🛣️

Prefer to read in German? See Wohnmobil mieten in Fukuoka. Licenses from other countries: Can foreigners drive in Japan? License rules by country.