Scooters are a very popular mode of transportation in Japan, and for good reason: The country has very congested roads, and many people live in densely populated urban areas. Here are some facts about scooter road rules in Japan.
Japanese drive on the left side of the road. On multiple-lane roads, two-wheeled vehicles such as scooters are required to keep to the extreme left lane (at the edge of the road), and driving between lanes is not allowed.
To obtain a scooter license as a foreigner in Japan, the prospective driver needs to be at least 16 years old and must bring five documents to the test center: alien registration card, existing driver's license from the country of origin, passport, a passport photograph and a translation of the country-of-origin license (which can be obtained from the Japan Automobile Federation in Okazaki, or the local consulate of the person's home country). A Japanese driver license will be issued at the test center after the person passes an eye test and confirms he has had at least three months of driving experience in his home country.
If the applicant's original license was issued from a country that follows right-hand-side driving, he must take a full driving test. It is recommended to take lessons from an instructor before taking the test.
Japan has a zero-level tolerance toward driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. If caught driving while intoxicated, a lengthy and thorough inquiry will determine if the license should be suspended or revoked entirely. If a drunken scooter driver causes an accident, his license will automatically be revoked (see Resources below).
Speed limits in residential areas for 50cc scooters must be within 30 kmh; all other scooters must be within the 50-kmh limit. On expressways the speed limit for scooters is between 70 and 80 kmh. Police patrols and hidden cameras keep an eye on scooters, especially on the expressways. If caught speeding, a driver will get a ticket that ranges between 15,000 and 20,000 yen, and, depending on the exceeded speed, may temporary lose her license.
Those who have an International Driving License (IDP) don't need a Japanese license to drive in Japan. The caveat is that the IDP is valid only for one year from the day the person enters Japan, and it must be carried in combination with a valid overseas license.
