There’s been a lot of news lately about increased traffic accidents involving foreign drivers in Japan, and that’s prompted some new rules and regulations regarding driving and getting your license. With the aging population, there is also an increase of accidents involving elderly drivers.

Let’s break down some of these confusing new rules and chat about our own experiences driving here and getting our license. We’re also got some listener stories and recent news stories. 

Got questions or want to share your story? Send us an email at conbinicultpod@gmail.com

Frankie - @franklinthewoman

Cheyenne - @lostwithlow

Words mentioned/useful words

Zainichi means “residing in Japan”, but the term has become synonymous with the ethnic Korean population in Japan.

運転免許 unten menkyo - driver’s license

田舎 inaka - countryside

初心者マーク shoshinsha mark - beginner mark (in this case for new drivers)

ウィンカー winkaa - turn signal 

Nikkei - Japanese person living abroad

原付 gentsuki - one word for moped or motorbike

まぶしい mabushii - bright (like the sun or the lights)

Kei car - small, lightweight vehicle that is cheaper and offers tax and insurance benefits, but in an accident I (Frankie) personally feel they are not the safest 

References/sources:

Foreign drivers in Japan to face tougher license conversion rules from October

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/10/japan/crime-legal/npa-drivers-license-conversion/#:~:text=The%20National%20Police%20Agency%20on,car%20accidents%20by%20such%20drivers

Guide: learning how to drive in Japan

https://mailmate.jp/blog/learning-how-to-drive-in-japan

Japan to bar foreign tourists from converting driver's licenses

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250710_07/#:~:text=An%20agency%20survey%20of%20license,%23Foreigners%20in%20Japan

Seniors Make Up Over 50 Pct of 2023 Traffic Deaths in Japan

https://sp.m.jiji.com/english/show/33754

Elderly driver who killed 2, injured 9 in 2019 dies in prison

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15524048

Two sisters, aged 5 and 7, killed in bus-car collision in Fukuoka

https://japantoday.com/category/national/two-sisters-aged-5-and-7-killed-in-bus-car-collision-in-fukuoka

Photo: https://www.reddit.com/r/japannews/comments/1ev561v/two_sisters_killed_fukuoka_car_accident/

Japanese Drivers Practical Test (Hiroshima) is kicking my ass! Any suggestions appreciated!

(r/Japan 12 years ago)

https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/xqyks/japanese_drivers_practical_test_hiroshima_is/

All cars in Japan to have systems preventing accidents from gas/brake pedal mistakes by 2028

https://japantoday.com/category/national/all-cars-in-japan-to-have-systems-preventing-accidents-from-gas-brake-pedal-mistakes-by-2028

Elderly driver’s panic: https://www.reddit.com/r/WTF/comments/154wtes/japan_elderly_drivers_panic/

2024 marks 3rd-lowest year on record for traffic deaths in Japan

https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15577054#:~:text=Special-,National%20Report,were%20either%20driving%20or%20walking.

Despite Law, Many in Japan Fail to Belt Up in the Back Seat

https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-data/h01596/#:~:text=Under%20road%20traffic%20law%2C%20it,importance%20of%20wearing%20a%20seatbelt.

Time stamps

00:00 Cheyenne is back

2:47 increased accidents involving foreign drivers

7:10 new regulations/rules for changing your license

11:10 converting your license in Japan/driving test

39:09 driving school

40:48 driving age

42:46 listener stories about driving/getting license

53:56 traffic accidents involving the elderly/ no seatbelt