Buying a Car in Japan as a Foreigner: Complete Guide (2025)
In most of Japan’s major cities, you don’t need a car. But if you’re in a rural area, a suburb, or just prefer the convenience, owning a car in Japan is very doable as a foreigner. Do You Need a Car? You probably don’t if you’re in: Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, Fukuoka, Kyoto Any city with good train coverage You probably do if you’re in: Rural towns with limited bus service Suburbs where the nearest station is 30+ minutes away Areas with harsh winters (Hokkaido, Tohoku, etc.) Requirements Before You Buy 1. Japanese Driver’s License You need one of: ...