For foreign travelers, to drive in Japan, must have a valid driver's license or permit. A valid driver's license or permit to drive in Japan does not depend on the driver's Nationality. It depends on which country the driver's license is issued from and which country the driver resides in. Japan is affiliated with the Geneva Convention, therefore the international driver's permit issued in the US is valid from 1 year from the date is has been issued. The Geneva Convention states that any country affiliated and any territory of the affiliated country is valid to issue an international driver's permit under the act. This web page consists all the countries affiliated under the Geneva Convention. Regarding the territories of the affiliated countries, please proceed to the consistent web page. Please note that even though a certain country is affiliated with the Geneva Convention, if the international driver's permit is not issued according to the Geneva Convention, it is not valid.