Driving in Japan for the Asian Games: Licence, IDP and Rental Checklist
Driving in Japan for the Asian Games in Nagoya: the 1949 Geneva IDP rule, age and licence conditions, credit card in the driver's name, and insurance basics.
Sep 5, 2026·✍️ olablog·⏱ 7 min read
Driving in Japan for the Asian Games in Nagoya: the 1949 Geneva IDP rule, age and licence conditions, credit card in the driver's name, and insurance basics.
Every Games period, a few visitors turn up at a Japanese rental counter with a licence that looks perfectly valid at home and get turned away. The rule is not complicated, but it is strict, and it catches people from countries whose permits follow a different convention.
If you are thinking of driving during or after the Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026, this is the checklist to run before you book anything. It covers the documents Japan accepts, the age and history conditions, the credit card rule that surprises families, and what to ask about insurance. It also explains when driving yourself is the wrong choice for Games week.
The one document that matters most
Japan recognises an International Driving Permit issued under the 1949 Geneva Convention. That is the specific wording to look for on the permit. Many countries issue IDPs under the 1968 Vienna Convention instead, and those are not accepted at a Japanese rental desk.
A small number of countries do not issue Geneva IDPs but have an arrangement where an approved official translation of the national licence is accepted instead. If your country is one of them, you must carry the original licence plus the approved translation, not a translation you had done yourself.
Two practical points:
- The IDP is only valid alongside your original home licence. Carry both, always.
- Get the IDP at home before departure. It cannot be issued in Japan.
Age and licence history
The rental conditions are straightforward:
| Condition | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Licence held for | At least one year |
| Documents at pickup | Original licence + Geneva IDP (or approved translation) + passport |
| Payment for deposit | Credit card in the driver's own name |
A licence issued eleven months ago fails the history test even if the driver is experienced elsewhere. If a group has two possible drivers, put forward the one with the longer record.
The credit card rule catches families
The deposit must be taken on a credit card in the name of the person driving. This sounds obvious until a family arrives and the parent with the card is not the parent with the IDP. Decide who is driving, then make sure that person also holds a credit card in their own name with enough headroom for the deposit.
Debit cards and cards in a spouse's or company's name are commonly refused for the deposit. Check with the rental provider in advance rather than at the counter.
Insurance: what to ask before you sign
Insurance details vary by provider and vehicle, and they are not something to guess at. Before you accept the car, ask three questions in plain terms:
- What damage to the car is covered, and what excess would I pay?
- What happens if the car is off the road for repair after an incident?
- Is roadside assistance included, and what number do I call?
Get the answers in writing on the rental agreement or the provider's terms page. If the desk cannot explain it clearly, that is a reason to pause.
Should you drive at all during the Games?
The organisers of the Asian Games are asking spectators to use public transport. Parking at venues is limited, and where it exists it may be a park-and-bus-ride arrangement some distance away rather than a bay at the stadium. Central Nagoya venues such as Paloma Mizuho Stadium, IG Arena and Vantelin Dome Nagoya are all served by subway or Meitetsu lines, and Kanayama and Nagoya Station are the two big interchanges.
Where a car does earn its place:
- Venues outside the city, such as Toyota Stadium (40 to 60 minutes from Nagoya by road, traffic-dependent), Okazaki (50 to 70 minutes) or Gamagori (60 to 80 minutes), when your group is staying somewhere with no direct rail link.
- Sightseeing days between sessions: Inuyama Castle, Ise Jingu, the Kiso Valley.
- The days after the closing ceremony on 4 October, when you leave the city altogether.
Even then, check the venue page for parking guidance before assuming you can drive to the gate.
Tolls, ETC and the left-hand side
Expressways around Aichi (Tomei, Shin-Tomei, Meishin, Isewangan, Higashi-Meihan) are toll roads. An ETC card lets you pass barriers without stopping; ask the rental provider whether one can be supplied. Without it, keep cash ready.
Japan drives on the left. If you come from a right-hand-traffic country, give yourself a quiet first hour outside the city centre rather than starting with Nagoya's downtown one-way system.
Your pre-departure checklist
Print this or save it to your phone:
- Geneva Convention IDP obtained at home (or approved translation for eligible countries)
- Original licence, held for over one year
- Passport
- Credit card in the driver's name, with room for the deposit
- Insurance questions answered and noted
- ETC card requested, or cash for tolls
- Pickup and return times confirmed
- Venue parking policy checked, or a decision made to use the train on session days
The alternative: let someone else drive
If any line in that checklist is uncertain, the simplest fix is a car with a professional driver. There is no licence check for passengers, no deposit hold, no toll barriers to work out, and the driver handles the drop-off arrangements at venues where private vehicles need pre-arranged access. Our private car with driver by the hour is booked in two-hour blocks with the tariff shown on the page, and for groups of more than seven a charter minibus or coach covers the same ground.
How to book with OlaChill
OlaChill arranges self-drive rentals for drivers who meet the licence and deposit conditions above; the full rules and the enquiry form are on the Japan car rental page. Tell us your dates, pickup city and the number of passengers and bags, and we reply within 24 hours.
FAQ
My country issues a Vienna Convention IDP. Can I still drive in Japan?
Not with that permit. Japan accepts the 1949 Geneva Convention IDP, and only a few specific countries have the alternative route of an approved licence translation. If neither applies to you, plan on a car with a driver.
Can my spouse pay the deposit if I am the driver?
No. The credit card for the deposit has to be in the driver's name. Decide who drives first, then confirm that person has a suitable card.
Is parking available at Asian Games venues?
Limited parking and park-and-bus-ride exist only at certain venues, and the organisers are steering spectators to public transport. Check the venue page for your session before deciding to drive.
How long does a rental pickup take?
Allow time for document checks and a walk-round of the vehicle. If the licence paperwork is not in order, there is no way to resolve it on the spot, which is why the checklist matters.
What if I only want a car for the day trips, not for the Games?
That is the most sensible plan. Use the train for sessions, then collect a car for Ise, the Kiso Valley or Takayama once your last event is over.
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