Four things every Aussie needs to know before driving in Japan

From the narrow roads of the UK, winding mountain sides of Europe, to the chaotic and sensory overload driving experience in Thailand, being a passenger on local roads or getting behind the wheel yourself is one of the most interesting components of travelling.

It really gives you a window into the everyday lives of the locals.

When I visited Japan earlier this year – from its two busiest cities, Tokyo and Osaka, to the less populated countryside – I was immersed in the experience once again, taking away four key observations.

Given Tokyo is the world’s most populated city, there are a lot of vehicles on the roads. Despite this, in my nearly two weeks there (four in Japan overall), I did not see one traffic accident, near miss, or hear one horn beep.

Yes, sometimes it got busy, and the traffic moved slowly, yet somehow all the drivers on the roads were patient. They didn’t try and cut in or make illegal moves to get a couple of seconds ahead, they didn’t wave their hands or beep their horns in frustration; they actually did the opposite.

From our multiple taxi trips, tours and daily walks throughout Japan’s busiest cities, all I saw was courteous drivers allowing others to merge in, and the strict following of road rules without any red lights or stop signs being run.

Even the foot traffic was systematic. They always waited for the green person to flash before walking, even if there was no oncoming traffic to be seen.

When visiting other countries, you can sometimes drive a car using your Australian driver’s licence, including some states of the USA and New Zealand.

However, in Japan (and 98 per cent of countries), you must have an International Driver’s Permit (IDP).

The IDP is a translation of your domestic Australian licence card in nine languages, and it can be used to drive in Japan for up to a year. After this, you need to obtain a local Japanese licence.

The IDP is relatively cheap, costing only $53, plus postage, and is valid in most countries worldwide. It is valid for 12 months. P1 and P2 licences, as well as full licences, are eligible.

You must apply for an IDP through the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) or a recognised agent like the NRMA and RACV.

The most eye-opening part of Japanese roads for me was the cyclists.

Given the population of Tokyo and its other cities, many residents turn to cycling to get from A to B. To cater for this, there are specific bike parks and paths around the city, yet despite this, I found the system to be quite, as my daughter would say… ‘hectic’.

Cyclists could ride in any direction on footpaths, meaning as a pedestrian, sometimes you’d turn a corner and have to pull up abruptly, so you didn’t get run over. While some cyclists used their bells to provide a warning, most didn't, which made walking on some footpaths a bit daunting.

However, like the roads, never did I see an accident involving a bike; not with another bike, a pedestrian, or a vehicle. Somehow, although it looked chaotic, the system just seemed to flow.

Which is probably a good thing, because I think I saw one cyclist wearing a helmet the entire time I was in Japan. As a nation who are incredibly intelligent, savvy, and safe, I found this detail quite confusing.

Reading into it, I discovered that helmets are not a legal requirement in Japan like they are here in Australia. It is merely encouraged through their road safety act, and even this ‘encouragement’ was only implemented recently in 2023. Before this, it was recommended for riders 13 and under.

With one study finding that only 4% of Japanese cyclists wear helmets, and some of my eye-opening observations (including one mum riding with her pre-schooler in a second bike seat and an infant strapped to her back in a baby carrier, all three without helmets), it’s pretty evident that they don’t see the need.

Followed closely behind cyclists on the eye-opening front was the Japan Kart experience, or real-life Mario Kart driving that is offered in Tokyo and other Japanese cities like Osaka.

If you haven’t already seen this on social media or online, the specially designed go-karts drive on the road with traffic, with tourists dressed up as their favourite character (not limited to Mario Kart) behind the wheel. The tours are led by a guide who takes the drivers to well-known sights of the city.

While I saw these tours in action daily, the business of the roads in both Tokyo and Osaka made me glad to be an observer.

For those who like a bit of adrenaline, though, make sure you have your IDP, because you need this to participate.

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au