The paperwork, by where your licence was issued
Which document do you actually need to drive in Japan?
Japan does not accept every International Driving Permit, and six jurisdictions cannot use one at all. Here is what applies to you, and how long it takes to get.
See Tokyo go-kart dates on GetYourGuide ↗What each licence needs to drive in Japan — checked against JAF guidance, August 2026
| Where your licence was issued | What you need | Typical lead time |
|---|---|---|
| Australia, UK, Ireland, New Zealand | 1949 Geneva Convention IDP (booklet) | Days to a few weeks, before you fly |
| USA, Canada | 1949 Geneva Convention IDP (booklet) | Same-day to weeks, depending on issuer |
| Most EU countries (incl. Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Poland) | 1949 Geneva Convention IDP (booklet) | Days to a few weeks, before you fly |
| Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Monaco, Taiwan | JAF Japanese translation — an IDP is not accepted | About 2–3 business days at JAF, ¥6,600 |
| China, Indonesia, Mexico, Qatar, Saudi Arabia | Not permitted to drive in Japan on that licence | Not available |
Why a kart needs a driving licence at all
Tokyo's street karts are registered road vehicles, not amusement-park rides. You drive them on public roads, in traffic, alongside cars and buses. That means Japanese driving law applies to you in full — including the requirement to hold a licence Japan recognises, and to carry the documents that prove it.
The 1949 Geneva Convention, and why the format matters
Japan recognises International Driving Permits issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. This is the grey paper booklet. Permits issued under the later 1968 Vienna Convention are not recognised, and neither are card-format or app-based permits, however official they look. Your permit must be issued by the same authority that issued your domestic licence, which is why you cannot obtain a valid one after you have already arrived.
The six jurisdictions that use a JAF translation instead
Licences issued in Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan work differently. These drivers do not use an IDP for Japan at all — they need an official Japanese translation of their licence issued by the Japan Automobile Federation, carried alongside the original licence. JAF's published fee is ¥6,600 including consumption tax as of 1 July 2026, with an average processing time of two to three business days for these six.
If your country is not covered
Some countries are party to neither arrangement. Operators list China, Indonesia, Mexico, Qatar and Saudi Arabia among the examples of licences that cannot be used to drive in Japan. There is no workaround at the counter — the operator is not permitted to let you drive, and the booking will be lost. Check your own country's position before you pay for anything.
What to carry on the day
Bring three physical documents: your original domestic licence, your passport, and either your IDP booklet or your JAF translation. Photographs and scans on a phone are not accepted. Operators check these at the counter before the safety briefing, and drivers who cannot produce them are turned away without a refund.
How far ahead to start
Treat this as a pre-trip task with real lead time, not a holiday errand. Postal applications in some countries take weeks, and the JAF route adds its own processing days on top of postage. If your trip is close and the paperwork will not arrive in time, book something else — this is the one part of a Tokyo kart booking that nobody can fix for you on the day.
Still sorting your paperwork?
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