Driving in Japan on the Left — A Canadian’s Guide to Left-Hand Traffic

From the videos · checked November 2, 2026

Canadian driver’s checklist for Japan

Bring a valid original Canadian licence, the proper 1949 Geneva Convention International Driving Permit (IDP), and your passport. The permit accompanies your licence; an online “international licence” or a generic translation is not a replacement.

Before leaving Canada

1. Use CAA’s official application route for your home region. CAA is Canada’s authorised IDP issuer. Apply well before departure rather than relying on a same-day rescue.
2. Prepare the regional application, valid full licence, licence copies and passport photos required by that application. The published CAA form calls for two signed passport photos and front/back licence copies.
3. Budget the permit fee plus any photos/shipping. CAA’s linked form and fee FAQ list C$32; the main page also says to confirm current costs with your local club.
4. Check the IDP’s issue/expiry dates and permitted vehicle categories. The Canadian form states one year from issue; do not obtain it so early that it expires during your trip.

At pickup and while driving

Keep the original documents with you and preserve evidence of your entry date. JAF specifies a Geneva 1949 permit, not a Vienna 1968 permit, and a maximum driving period of one year after entry. The permit’s own expiry can shorten that period. Residents and repeat-entry cases have additional nuances; check the Japanese licensing authority for your circumstances.

A Japanese translation route for certain other countries’ licences does not make a Canadian licence alone sufficient. Licence conversion for residents is a separate process from a holiday rental.

Legal documents do not guarantee a rental

Confirm the rental company’s minimum age, licence-holding period, accepted licence class, credit-card/deposit rules, additional drivers and insurance terms separately. Each intended driver needs accepted documents. A car entitlement does not automatically cover a motorcycle or scooter.

If you forgot it

Do not drive without the required documents. Contact your CAA club about lawful application/delivery options and timing, and use public transport meanwhile. CAA now describes international shipping for some online applicants; the old absolute claim that you cannot obtain a permit after arriving overseas is too broad. Delivery availability does not establish that a newly issued permit is valid for your particular Japanese entry/residency history.

Start the driving day gently

Choose a rested daylight pickup, practise controls in a safe place, and plan the first route before moving. There is no universal “30 minutes to adjust” promise. Check parking, tolls, winter equipment, local signs and rental emergency instructions.

Next action: open your regional CAA application, allow processing/shipping time, and send the rental company your document questions before paying a non-refundable booking.

Sources and next checks

• CAA official IDP application and regional options
• CAA linked form — fee, photos, validity and categories
• JAF — recognised permits and driving periods