Essential Documents for Riding a Motorcycle in Japan

Planning a motorcycle trip in Japan? Before you twist the throttle, make sure you’ve got the essentials: a valid motorcycle license from your home country, an International Driving Permit (IDP) under the 1949 Geneva Convention (or an official license translation if you're from countries like Germany or France), your passport, and motorcycle insurance. Japan takes driving laws seriously, so missing even one document could ruin your ride. Don’t get stuck explaining things to the police—check out our full guide to ride legally and stress-free.