Yes. A Singapore driving licence is good for driving in Japan when you carry it with an International Driving Permit from the Automobile Association of Singapore. The AA is the organisation authorised to issue the permit in Singapore, and it issues it under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic, which is the convention Japan recognises.
How do I get the permit?
Apply to AA Singapore. The fee is S$20, and courier delivery costs S$7 more. One permit covers all the countries that recognise it, so there's no separate permit for Japan.
Why is a Singapore permit valid in Japan?
Singapore took over the 1949 convention in 1972, which the UN treaty records list as a succession. Japan has been a party since 1964. Both are on the same treaty, so the permit works.
How long does it last?
One year from the date of issue, according to AA Singapore. In Japan you can drive on it for up to a year from the day you land, but not past the permit's own expiry date. If your trip is late in the year, check the dates before you go.
What do I bring to the rental counter?
Your Singapore licence, the AA permit and your passport. The permit is only valid alongside the licence it was issued for.
What's new about driving in Japan?
Not the side of the road, since both countries keep left. The difference is mostly distance and terrain: mountain roads, long expressway stretches with tolls, and parking that works differently in cities. Our guide to Japanese parking signs and our explainer on tolls without an ETC card cover the parts that surprise people.
Where would we send you?
To Kyushu, naturally. We live in Fukuoka and rent campervans there under the name VAN TRIP JAPAN, and we've had guests from Singapore. The details are in the note at the end of this page.
Checked against AA Singapore's International Driving Permit page, the UN Treaty Collection and Japan's National Police Agency guidance in September 2026. Karen and Doko Shibagaki, Camjyo Inc., Fukuoka.
