Rules of the Road · Verified August 2026

Driving Laws in Japan

Everything a visitor needs before driving in Japan — which side to drive on, the alcohol limit, national speed limits and licence requirements.

left

Driving Side

steering wheel on the right

0.03

BAC Limit (g/dL)

general drivers

100

Motorway Limit

km/h

required

Intl. Driving Permit

for foreign visitors

Speed Limits

National Default Speed Limits

Urban / Built-up

60 km/h

Rural / Open Road

60 km/h

Motorway / Highway

100 km/h

Note: Statutory 60 unless posted; 1949 IDP only.

Defaults only — posted signs always override national defaults. Laws verified August 2026; rules change, so confirm with an official source before you travel.

Alcohol & Driving

Drink-Driving Rules in Japan

General limit: 0.03 g/dL

Reaction time, judgement and night vision all degrade well below any legal threshold — the only limit that guarantees safety is 0.00. Alcohol is a factor in a large share of the world's fatal crashes, and enforcement in Japan can include checkpoints, licence loss and jail.

Live Tracking

Japan on the Live Map

Japan has a WHO-estimated 2.6 road deaths per 100,000 people. See live accident reports and full statistics for Japan.

Before You Go

Emergency Number

Save Japan's emergency number before you drive — find it in our worldwide emergency numbers directory. And check your rental's tires with the tire age checker.

Nearby

Driving Laws in Neighbouring Countries

South Korea North Korea Taiwan China Philippines Mongolia

Questions

FAQ

Which side of the road does Japan drive on?

Japan drives on the left-hand side of the road (like the UK, Japan and Australia).

What is the drink-driving limit in Japan?

The general limit is 0.03 g/dL BAC. Remember: impairment starts well below the legal limit.

Do I need an International Driving Permit in Japan?

Yes — an IDP (or a locally issued permit) is required or strongly enforced for foreign visitors driving in Japan. Get one in your home country before you travel.

Is it safe to drive in Japan?

By the numbers, Japan has a WHO-estimated road death rate of 2.6 per 100,000 people (global average about 15), which is among the safest countries in the world to drive in — it ranks 188 of 195 countries from most to least deadly. Traffic drives on the left, which takes getting used to if you normally drive on the right. Visitors need an International Driving Permit. Most road deaths anywhere happen at night, at higher speeds and on rural roads, so plan long drives in daylight and follow the posted limits.