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  Medical Insurance
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Driver's License・Medical Insurance

license
 Driver's License

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In order to drive a car in Japan, an International Driver's License or a Japanese Driver's License is necessary. If you can get an international driver's license which the member nation of the Geneva Convention agreement of 1949 publishes in your country.

The International Driver's license is valid in Japan for one year from the date of the holder's initial enter to Japan or the date of expiration, whichever comes first. Between the countries Japan has an agreement with, you could obtain a Japanese Drivers License if you have a valid driver's license of your country. You need to bring an official translation of the driver's license, and you must go through some tests on physical fitness for driving, test on traffic laws and actual driving tests sometimes.


 One of the following licenses is required for a foreigner to drive a car in Japan.  <PDF >  
 If you hold an 
 International
 driving permit
 (IDP)
 *1. If you hold a valid
 driver's license of
 Switzerland, Slovenia, 
 Germany, France,
 Belgium, Monaco or
 Taiwan.
     Drive with a Japanese Driver’s License

 
 If you hold a foreign
 country’s driver's
 license except*1


 If you do not hold a
 foreign country’s
 driver's license or 
 Japanese one.

 Please read No.1   Please read No.2  Please read No.3-1   Please read No.3-2
 


1 Drive with an IDP together with Foreign country’s driver’s license

・Only International Driving Permit issued by a member nation of Geneva Treaty concerning the traffic
 rules is valid in Japan 
・IDP is valid for one year from the date of issue or from your arrival date in Japan, whichever 
 shorter period.

※ We recommend you get an International driving permit before your departure of your home 
 country.

2 Drive with your country’s driver's license with an official translation to Japanese.

 ・Foreign driver's license issued in Switzerland, Estonia, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or
  Taiwan is valid in Japan. However, you must hold your country’s driver’s license with an official
  translation to Japanese from your foreign driver's license, as you drive. A translation of your
  foreign driver's license will be prepared by the embassy of your country or JAF(Japan Automobile
  Federation).
 ・It is valid for one year from your arrival date in Japan..

3 Drive with a Japanese Driver’s License

 3-1. If you hold a foreign country’s driver's license 
   → Exchange a Home country’s driver's license to Japanese one,”Gaimen Kirikae", Pleases read
    “Gaimen-kirikae”ya

 3-2. If you do not hold a foreign country’s driver's license. 
   → After learning a Japanese traffic regulation and driving skills, you need to a pass written test
    and driving skills test at Mito Driver’s License Center to get it.

 It is a important note, if you are going to drive a car in Japan (PDF) ya

More Detail:


Application form for Japanese Translation of foreign driver’s license(JAF) <English ya>

English written test :
 When you take the written examination in English, apply at the reception counter.   
 Please visit the Ibaraki Police website to see more information:
     http://www.pref.ibaraki.jp/kenkei/a03_license/info/english.html ya <Japanese/English>

Chinese written test :
 When you take the written examination in Chinese, apply at the reception counter.   
 Please visit the Ibaraki Police website to see more information:
     http://www.pref.ibaraki.jp/kenkei/a03_license/info/china.html ya <Japanese/English>



 Medical Insurance

  Cost for medical care is rather high. Coverage by medical insurance in your own country may or may not be sufficient to pay hospital bills in Japan. If you should be staying in Japan for more than one year, you are obligated to join the National Health Insurance Plan under government supervision. This insurance, however, covers only up to 70% for the head of household, 60% for the remaining family
members. if you can take care of the difference (30% or 40%) in some way, fine.
If not, or if you will not be staying in Japan for longer than one year, it is recommendable that you will also enroll in a private health insurance plan in Japan to take cate of the difference. If you want to use health insurance coverage of your country, make sure that it can fully cover the Japanese medical cost.
 updated: 2020-01-17
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