Yes. A Spanish driving licence is valid in Japan together with the international driving permit (permiso internacional de conducción) issued by Tráfico, the DGT. Spain has been a party to the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic since 1958, and that's the convention Japan recognises.
Can I drive on my Spanish card alone?
No. Japan has no arrangement that lets a Spanish licence be used on its own. The translation route that exists for Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco and Taiwan doesn't include Spain either. You need the permit.
Where do I get the permiso internacional?
From the DGT. Its online office (sede.dgt.gob.es) has the application steps and the current fee. The permit follows the 1949 Geneva model and is valid for one year, so there's no reason to get it long before the trip.
How long can I drive on it in Japan?
Up to one year from the day you arrive, or until the permit expires, whichever comes first. Carry the permit, your Spanish licence and your passport together; the passport shows the police your entry date.
What's different from driving in Spain?
Which side you drive on. Japan keeps left, and the steering wheel is on the right. It tends to feel fine on a quiet road and awkward at the first busy junction, so plan a gentle first hour. After that, it's details like paying tolls without an ETC card and Japan's speed limits, which are lower than on Spanish autovías.
Where would we suggest?
We live in Fukuoka, on Kyushu, and rent campervans there under the name VAN TRIP JAPAN. The note at the end of this page explains why we'd spend two weeks on the island.
Checked against the DGT's electronic office, the UN Treaty Collection and Japan's National Police Agency guidance in September 2026. Karen and Doko Shibagaki, Camjyo Inc., Fukuoka.
