Cars / Transportation
Cars, bikes, driver license conversion, and personal transportation in Japan.
May 25, 2026 · How to get and use a Suica or IC card in Japan. The easiest way to pay for trains, buses, and convenience stores.
Mar 4, 2026 · Complete guide to Gaimen Kirikae — converting your foreign driver's license to a Japanese license. Learn eligibility by country, required documents, costs, step-by-step process, and tips for the 2025 updated rules.
Curious about foreign license conversion in Japan? This guide explains the process, requirements, documents, and provides expert tips.
Convert Your Foreign License Into a Japanese One If you live in Japan and hold a valid foreign driver's license, you can convert it into a Japanese license through a process called gaimen kirikae (外免切替). This guide covers the documents you'll need.
Jun 20, 2026 · A practical guide to converting your foreign driver's license in Japan after the October 2025 reforms—documents, tests, exemptions by country, and who cannot apply.
Mar 31, 2026 · Japan updated its driver's license rules for foreign residents in October 2025. Here’s how the current system works, who’s eligible, and how you can get (or convert) your license the right way.
July 5, 2026 - No—since October 1, 2025, you must submit a residence record (住民票), so conversion is only for registered residents. Tourists drive on an IDP instead.
April 10, 2026 - If your country is on the list, you can convert your foreign driver’s license to a Japanese one without taking the full driving test. ... Drivers from Belgium, France, Germany, Monaco, Switzerland, and Taiwan can use their.
Japan Guide's reference on Suica, PASMO, ICOCA, and other IC cards: how they work, mutual compatibility, and where to buy them.
Practical guide to navigating Japan's train and bus networks as a foreign resident, including IC card setup, route-finding, and regional differences.
How to use Japan's expressway network: toll payment by cash, IC card, or ETC; speed limits; approximate costs between major cities; and discount passes for frequent drivers.
Tokyo Cheapo's guide to buying and selling used cars through private sales in Japan — process, pricing, and what to watch out for.
End-to-end guide for foreigners buying a car in Japan: finding a dealer, required documents (jitsu-in, shako shomeisho), taxes, and insurance.
Official Go Tokyo guide to Suica, PASMO, and IC cards for transit and cashless payments across Japan.
Explains compulsory vs. voluntary car insurance in Japan, costs, and which insurers offer English-language support.
May 1, 2026 · If you’re in Japan on a Working Visa, Student Visa, Spouse Visa, or Permanent Resident status, this guide walks you through the full process — what’s required, what changed, what tricks exempt-country and non-exempt-country drivers.
Jul 13, 2025 · Planning to drive in Japan? Learn how to convert your foreign driver’s license with our step-by-step Gaimen Kirikae guide. Updated for the 2025 rule changes.
Aug 17, 2026 · Practical guides to foreign driving license conversion in Japan: the procedure, 2025 rule changes, expiry dates, appointments, and the current Japan speed limit.
Step-by-step guide to the gaimenkirikaeshi (外免切り替え) process: which countries are test-exempt, the 3-month residency proof requirement, required documents, and booking your appointment.
How to do a user shaken (self-managed vehicle inspection) in Japan rather than taking the car to a garage — the process, costs saved, and what to bring.