Japan is an archipelago in the far east, located in the Pacific Ocean, made up of 4 main islands (Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu, and Shikoku) plus many smaller islands. the nation is famous for its rich cultural heritage, cutting-edge technology, beautiful natural landscapes, and deep-rooted traditions. It is the third-largest economy in the world by nominal GDP, and a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary government. Tokyo (Japan's capital) is one of the most populous urban areas in the world. Originally a small fishing village called Edo, it became the imperial capital in 1868 when Emperor Meiji moved the seat of power from Kyoto, where it now serves as the political, economic, and cultural centre of the country. Additionally, the city is known for its skyscrapers and advanced infrastructure, landmarks like the Tokyo Tower, Senso-ji Temple, Tokyo Imperial Palace and Meiji Jingu Shrine, and world-class cuisine, ranging from sushi to ramen.
Due to its location along the Ring of Fire; earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, typhoons, and flooding.
Traffic and driving offences in Japan are taken very seriously, with penalties being able escalate quickly from fines to licence bans or even arrest. Japan is strict because road safety enforcement is highly standardised and heavily policed with cameras and checkpoints. The country even uses a demerit point system where points are added for traffic violations. Accumulating at least 6 points within a 1-year period will lead to licence suspension (30 – 90 days depending on how many points gained), but if a driver accumulates 15 points or more within the same period, their licence is immediately revoked.
Common traffic/driving offences include:
Penalties can escalate if offences caused even a small accident. As part of the Road Traffic Act, drivers need to be respectful, polite and considerate to everyone on the road, including pedestrians. Driving through a puddle that splashes a nearby walker can result to a fine up to ¥7,000 (~£32), even more for damage costs for the pedestrian’s clothing and properties.
Other violations to keep in mind are:
The official language of Japan is Japanese, but Ainu and Ryukyuan languages are also spoken.
For tourism, business (without paid activities), conferences, or short-term study (less than 90 days), a visa is generally not required. However, However, if the stay exceeds 90 days, or if engaging in paid work, a visa is necessary. For stays longer than 90 days, you'll need to apply for an extension at a regional immigration bureau before the initial period expires.
Driving is on the left-hand side in Japan. UK drivers must carry an International Driving Permit (IDP) based on the 1949 Geneva Convention, or an official translation of their driving licence by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) or the embassy/consulate, alongside their valid licence. The IDP is valid for up to one year from your arrival in Japan. The minimum driving and renting age in Japan is 18, but some rental companies may require drivers to be at least 20 to rent, or impose drivers under 25 to pay young driver fees.
Roads are generally clean and well-marked, with signs often in English as well as Japanese. However, speed limits are lower compared to some countries, and parking and navigating in cities and dense areas can be a challenge, especially with parking usually being paid and regulated, and expensive and limited in cities. Local drivers rarely honk their horns, and would hazard lights to say 'thank you' to pedestrians and other drivers. Pedestrians have strong priority when crossing the road, and at railway crossings, you must stop completely every time.
Most expressways are toll roads. The ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) system is common. It links to your credit card, allowing drivers to breeze through toll gates. Some rental agencies offer ETC cards for tourists. There's also the Japan Expressway Pass: allowing for unlimited expressway access — 7 days for ¥20,000 (~£93) or 14 days for ¥34,000 (~£158).
The most common types of fuel in Japan is unleaded/regular petrol (レギュラー), high-octane/premium petrol (ハイオク) and diesel (軽油) — always check your rental car fuel type before re-fuelling. Both self- and full-service stations exists in the country, where in full-service stations, payment can be made at the kiosk, and attendants would sometimes clean your windows as well as filling, where as for self-service, payment can be done either at the kiosk or at the pump, but not every self-service station has a kiosk. Cash and card are widely accepted, with rental car fuel cards sometimes provided from rental companies, and fuel is either pre-paid or paid after fuelling depending on the station. Some rural or self-service stations may only accept cash, so bring along some yen just in case.
On expressways/highways, you’ll find stations that come with service areas (SA) — large areas with food and shops, and parking areas (PA) with smaller stops. Expressway stations often have better English support, and are tourist-friendly compared to other stations, though fuel may be more expensive. Stations are generally easy to find in cities and expressways, but are scarce in remote areas like mountainous regions and inland Hokkaido, which they sometimes close early or are unattended at night. If you are driving to remote areas, refuel whenever your tank reaches half-full, use expressways where possible and avoid late-night driving if possible.
Be mindful of unique signs, like the red inverted triangle for 'STOP' (止まれ).
The legal drinking age is 20 years old, with the legal BAC limit being 0.03%.
Seatbelts must be worn by all passengers, front and rear.
Kids under 6 must be secured in an approved child restraint system (car seat or booster).
Check out more of our Country Guides: