Traffic rulesJapan

Prefectural public safety commissions and police administer applications, examinations, renewals and licence records.

The National Police Agency (NPA) establishes national standards under the Road Traffic Act.

Yes, subject to its categories, conditions and current legal status.

No. Reservations, locations, languages, fees and document procedures can differ.

It is a school officially designated by a public safety commission whose graduates normally receive a practical-test exemption.

Yes. The direct-examination route is available through a prefectural driving-licence centre.

It is driving-licence information recorded on an eligible My Number Card under the system introduced on 24 March 2025.

Yes. A holder may choose the conventional card, the MyNa licence or both.

Yes. All active categories and restrictions are recorded in one integrated driver record.

On the official website of the prefectural police responsible for the applicant’s registered address.

18 years.

16 years.

18 years.

16 years.

18 years.

Yes. Medium, large and passenger-service licences require statutory age, experience or approved special training.

At the licence centre or authorised facility serving the applicant’s registered residence.

A residence certificate showing registered domicile or nationality, plus accepted identification and photographs.

Yes, when residence, identity, age, fitness and examination requirements are met.

Not until the suspension, cancellation disqualification period or other prohibition has ended.

Yes. Impersonation, false documents or false declarations can cause refusal, cancellation and criminal action.

Yes. Applicants and renewing drivers complete the checks prescribed for the category.

Yes. Higher categories can require stricter acuity and depth perception.

Yes. The licence records a condition requiring glasses or contact lenses.

A first applicant may be checked for the ability to distinguish red, blue and yellow.

Yes, although eligible hearing-impaired drivers may qualify with conditions such as special mirrors.

Yes. Conditions can require hand controls, additional mirrors or an automatic transmission.

No. Fitness is assessed individually, often using a consultation and adapted vehicle.

Yes. Applications and renewals include questions about seizures, loss of consciousness, severe sleepiness and similar risks.

Yes. A public safety commission may order specialist assessment or a doctor’s certificate.

Yes. The licence may be restricted, suspended or revoked.

Graduation from a designated driving school or direct testing at a prefectural licence centre.

Traffic law, closed-course control, provisional-licence preparation, road driving and hazard awareness.

The learner develops basic knowledge and control before the provisional examinations.

The learner enters supervised public-road training.

It focuses on public-road driving, hazards, faster roads, emergencies and graduation preparation.

No. The graduate still completes aptitude checks, the final knowledge test and licence issue.

Aptitude, provisional knowledge and skills, supervised road practice, final knowledge and final practical tests.

No. It normally requires very strong test readiness and can involve repeated visits.

Yes, subject to transfer records and the receiving school’s acceptance.

No. Only the legally designated route provides the recognised practical-test exemption.

No. Valid provisional entitlement and qualified supervision are required.

A temporary entitlement permitting supervised public-road practice before the full licence.

Six months.

Normally 50 true-or-false questions.

At least 45 correct answers.

Yes, unless the recognised designated-school procedure supplies the equivalent pass.

No.

Normally a person who has held the appropriate licence for at least three years or a qualified instructor.

Yes, clearly at the front and rear.

Yes, when the learner is ready and every supervision and vehicle condition is met.

No.

Public-road practice must stop until valid provisional entitlement is obtained again.

Ordinary first-time applicants, including most designated-school graduates.

95 questions.

Ninety one-point questions and five illustrated hazard questions worth two points each.

100 points.

At least 90 points.

50 minutes.

Traffic rules, signs, safe behaviour, accident duties and hazard prediction.

Yes, but the available languages differ by prefecture.

Direct applicants and candidates without a valid designated-school exemption.

Observation, control, positioning, signalling, speed choice, intersections and pedestrian safety.

Yes. Dangerous conduct or examiner intervention can end the test.

Normally one year for the relevant exemption and application.

One year after first obtaining the applicable ordinary or semi-medium licence.

Yes, at the front and rear of the vehicle.

Yes, unless a statutory exemption applies.

They must not crowd, cut in front of or unreasonably interfere with a properly marked beginner vehicle.

After three qualifying points during the first year, or normally four where one offence alone carries three points.

Yes.

The driver can be ordered to take a re-examination after the beginner period.

The relevant newly obtained category can be cancelled.

No. The rules apply separately to specified newly obtained categories.

Sometimes, when at least one year of qualifying foreign driving experience is documented.

No. The result depends on the experience officially recognised during conversion.

Vehicles below 3.5 tonnes gross weight, below 2 tonnes payload and with no more than 10 occupants.

Vehicles from 3.5 to below 7.5 tonnes gross weight, with payload below 4.5 tonnes and no more than 10 occupants.

Vehicles below 11 tonnes gross weight, below 6.5 tonnes payload and with no more than 29 occupants, subject to the lower boundary.

Vehicles of 11 tonnes or more, payload of 6.5 tonnes or more, or capacity for 30 or more occupants.

Motorcycles within the ordinary motorcycle class, including available automatic restrictions.

Motorcycles without the ordinary-category engine-size limit.

Vehicles legally classified as mopeds under the current Road Traffic Act definitions.

Professional passenger-service licences for taxis, buses and similar paid passenger transport.

Yes, for qualifying combinations beyond the limited statutory exemptions.

Yes. Automatic, corrective-lens and vehicle-adaptation conditions can be attached to particular entitlements.

Yes. The driver must confirm that the vehicle fits the weight, payload and seating limits of the held licence.

No. The appropriate second-class licence is normally required.

Usually age 21 and at least three years of relevant experience, with approved special-training exceptions.

Yes, for a large passenger-service vehicle.

Yes. Employment, health, transport-business and company rules apply in addition to the licence.

At least one year.

The rider must normally be at least 20 and have at least three years of relevant motorcycle-licence experience.

No.

Yes. Vision, depth perception and other standards can be stricter.

Yes. Dangerous conduct or medical unfitness can cause suspension or revocation.

No. The driver needs both the vehicle entitlement and passenger-service entitlement.

No. Goods transport generally uses the appropriate first-class vehicle licence.

Often five years, but first-time, violator and older-driver licences can be shorter.

Green generally identifies a first licence, blue an ordinary licence and gold an excellent-driver licence.

From one month before the birthday immediately preceding expiry until one month after that birthday.

Excellent, general, violator and first-renewal courses, selected according to the driver record.

Eligible excellent and general drivers can complete the approved lecture online.

Excellent and general drivers can receive five years; violator and first-renewal drivers receive three.

Excellent and general drivers can receive four years; violator and first-renewal drivers receive three.

Generally three years.

The prescribed senior-driver course.

A cognitive assessment measuring memory and judgement.

A driver aged 75 or older with specified traffic violations during the relevant preceding three years.

Yes, when lawfully issued, valid and carried with the supporting national licence and passport.

No longer than one year from issue and no longer than one year from the relevant entry into Japan, whichever ends first.

No. Japan recognises the 1949 Geneva format.

Yes, when the licence and translation meet the statutory requirements.

Licences from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan.

Yes. The licence must be valid and the applicant must prove at least three months of residence in the issuing country after obtaining it.

It became a 50-question test requiring at least 45 correct answers.

Yes. Additional tasks and stricter assessment were introduced.

Yes, under the current exemption list.

Yes. The issuing authority, embassy, JAF or another legally accepted body must provide the translation.

No. Both documents are required.

Violation and accident points are accumulated under the statutory period and prior-record rules.

The ordinary threshold begins at six points.

The ordinary threshold begins at 15 points.

Yes, by completing the designated violator course when the statutory conditions are met.

Yes.

0.15 mg per litre or more.

The base points and administrative consequences become more severe, normally reaching cancellation for a driver without other points.

Yes. Drunk driving is based on inability to drive normally.

Yes. Vehicle providers, alcohol providers and knowing passengers can face penalties.

Yes. Serious offences can cause direct suspension, cancellation and criminal penalties.

This FAQ was prepared from current National Police Agency guidance and official prefectural police licensing information.

This website is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with the National Police Agency, a prefectural police force, public safety commission, driving-licence centre or driving school.

Official legislation and instructions from the competent prefectural authority always take precedence. Last reviewed: 4 August 2026.