Driving in Japan（日本で車を運転するには）
【Notice】
City Office is unable to answer inquiries regarding driver's licenses. If you have any questions, please contact the following inquiry points.
When driving a car or riding a motorcycle in Japan, you need a driving license. Also, when driving a car or riding a motorcycle, you must be sure to carry your license with you.
Driving Licenses That Can Be Used to Drive in Japan（日本で運転できる免許証）
To drive in Japan, you must hold one of the following licenses.
- A Japanese driver's license
- An international driver's license issued under the Geneva Convention
- A foreign driver's license. This is currently applicable to Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan, and only if you have a Japanese translation (created by the embassy or consulate of the country that issued the license, or by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) or Zipplas Co., Ltd.) and a passport.
For more information, please see the National Police Agency website.
Obtaining a Driving License in Japan（日本での運転免許取得）
If you pass the test, you will be able to obtain a driver's license in Japan. You can take the test at a Driver's License Center.
For more information about the test, please see the Hiroshima Prefectural Police website (Japanese).
Changing Your Driving License to a Japanese License（日本の運転免許への切り替え）
If you have a driving license from a foreign country, and you wish to obtain a valid license in Japan, you need to complete the formalities for changing your foreign license to a Japanese one, at the Driving License Center.
(it is necessary to make a reservation in advance)
For more information, please see the Hiroshima Prefectural Police website (Japanese).
Hiroshima Prefecture Driving License Center (広島県運転免許センター)
082-228-0110 (Extension 703-253)
Hiroshima Prefecture Eastern (Fukuyama) Driving License Center （広島県東部 （福山）運転免許センター）
082-228-0110 (Extension 704-263)
Traffic Rules（交通ルール）
In Japan, there are individual rules for pedestrians, cars, motorbikes, bicycles, etc. If you do not follow the traffic rules, you may be fined or imprisoned. Please learn the traffic rules for Japan, and follow them to protect yourself and others.
Basic traffic rules:
Living and Work Guidebook for Foreigners Chapter9
Penalties for using smartphones while riding a bicycle will be strengthened from November!
Starting in November 2024, the Road Traffic Act will prohibit the use of smartphones while riding a bicycle, except when the bicycle is stopped, and penalties will be strengthened. In addition to looking at the screen of a smartphone held in your hand, looking at the screen of a smartphone attached to a bicycle will also be prohibited.
Prohibited acts
- Talking on a smartphone while riding a bicycle (except when using a hands-free device).
- Looking at a screen displayed on a smartphone while riding a bicycle.
Both of these prohibited acts do not apply when the bicycle is stopped.
Current penalties
Fine of up to 50,000 yen
Penalties from November 2024
- Using a smartphone while riding a bicycle: Imprisonment of up to 6 months or a fine of up to 100,000 yen
- Creating a traffic hazard, such as causing a traffic accident, by using a smartphone while riding a bicycle: Imprisonment of up to 1 year or a fine of up to 300,000 yen
To protect yourself and those around you from bicycle accidents, please review the rules regarding riding a bicycle.
更新日：2025年03月05日