Ocean view rentals in Ishigaki island
DRIVING LICENSE TRANSLATION SERVICE
To drive in Japan
◆ Our service in a few words
We are taking care of the driving license translation procedure for travelers holding a national license issued by one of these countries: Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium, Monaco, Taiwan. Once arrived in Japan, it will be very simple to print by yourself the translation in one of the following convenience stores: 7-Eleven, FamilyMart, LAWSON, MINISTOP, Poplar Group. Convenience stores are found absolutely everywhere in Japan (airport, train or metro stations, downtown...).
◆ The steps - from ordering to driving
1. You order your translation
2. We verify the information and send you the invoice (secured payment by credit card)
3. As soon as the invoice is paid, we start the translation procedure
4. As soon as it's ready we send your printing code
5. Print your official translation at a convenience store in Japan using the printing code
6. You can drive!
※ Please check (from page 2) how to print your translation at the convenience store
※ If you have issues while printing, we are here to help!
◆ 3 options service
- Option 1 (order in advance and pay the most competitive fee)
- Option 2 (Express for a last minute order)
- Option 3 (Urgent-same day to rescue persons in trouble)
※ We will send a secured link for a payment by credit card. Please make the payment as soon as possible, so we can start working on your translation. Without payment from you, no procedure will be initiated.
We accept
Self-printing at a convenience store
anywhere in Japan
OPTION 1
IN ADVANCE (at least 4 weekdays )
Get your reference number to print by yourself in a convenience store in Japan
Your translation request should be sent at least 4 weekdays in advance
Fee: 11000 YEN
(about 60 euros)
How to proceed?
Order your translation by using the contact form here
Your message should include:
1. The address where your stay in Japan (hotel name, full address, postcode and phone number / In case of a private address: first name, family name, full address, postcode and phone number)
2. The date of printing (an approximate date is fine if the exact date is not decided yet)
3. At which convenience store you will print
a. 7-Eleven
b. FamilyMart, LAWSON, MINI STOP, Poplar group
4. Upload separately 2 photos of your driving license in JPG format.
a. Front side
b. Back side
Check here to see how to take correctly the photos
IMPORTANT
We will answer within 24 hours and send the invoice by email. In case you don't receive any email/invoice, please check your spam mail box or contact us via WhatsApp.
OPTION 2
EXPRESS (1-3 weekdays)
Get your reference number to print by yourself in a convenience store in Japan
Your translation request should be sent at least 1 weekday in advance
Fee: 14000 YEN
(about 76 euros)
How to proceed?
+81(0)9076195975 (via WhatsApp)
Your message should include:
1. The address where your stay in Japan (hotel name, full address, postcode and phone number / In case of a private address: first name, family name, full address, postcode and phone number)
2. your email address (to send the invoice)
3. The date of printing
4. At which convenience store you will print
a. 7-Eleven
b. FamilyMart, LAWSON, MINI STOP, Poplar group
5. Send separately 2 photos of your driving license in JPG format.
a. Front side
b. Back side
Check here to see how to take correctly the photos
IMPORTANT
Please understand we are depending on JAF working hours (JAF is closed on the week-end and the national holidays)
For example a translation ordered on Friday night can not be ready before Monday. If Monday is a national holiday, this will be on Tuesday.
OPTION 3
URGENT (same day*)
Get your reference number to print by yourself in a convenience store in Japan
Your translation request should be sent at least before 15:00.
Fee: 17000 YEN
(about 92 euros)
How to proceed?
+81(0)9076195975 (Priority number)
+81(0)9038447989 (Or this number if you don't get an answer)
Please first get in touch with us. Your next message should include:
1. The address where your stay in Japan (hotel name, full address, postcode and phone number / In case of a private address: first name, family name, full address, postcode and phone number)
2. your email address (to send the invoice)
3. At which convenience store you will print
a. 7-Eleven
b. FamilyMart, LAWSON, MINI STOP, Poplar group
4. Send separately 2 photos of your driving license in JPG format.
a. Front side
b. Back side
Check here to see how to take correctly the photos
IMPORTANT
Please understand we are depending on JAF working hours (JAF is closed on the week-end and the national holidays)
* The translation printing code can be ready in under two hours, assuming smooth progress. We will do our best but please be aware that JAF can possibly decline our urgent request if it's too late. In this case you would get the translation the next weekday before noon. We would pay you back the fee difference between the URGENT and EXPRESS option.
Notice to our rental house/apartment guests
Guests staying at our vacation house can print by themselves the translation directly at the FamilyMart convenience store located inside Ishigaki airport. (International Terminal, 1F)
Travelers from which countries need an official JAF translation to drive in Japan?
Travelers with a driving license issued in Belgium, Germany, France, Switzerland, Monaco and Taiwan need an official Japanese translation of their national driving license.
I have an international driving permit (IDP) issued in one of the countries listed above. Do I still need to get it translated?
Yes, because an international driving permit issued in one of these countries is not valid in Japan.
Which organisation delivers the official translation?
JAF (Japanese Automobile Federation) does it. It's the only organization authorized to issue the translation
※ While driving in Japan, your national driving license + the original JAF translation are both needed.
If one document is missing, you won't be able to hire a car in Japan.
※ An international driving license from Belgium, Germany, France, Switzerland, Monaco and Taiwan is not valid in Japan.
※ A digital copy or a photo of the translation is not valid. You must have the original paper translation from JAF, otherwise you won't be able to hire a car in Japan. The translation printed by yourself at the convenience store printer is the official document.
※ The same applies to hire a low CC motorbike (Over 50cc), as for a car, your national driving license + the JAF translation are both necessary.
※ The validity of the translation is the same as the one specified on your driving license. From the date of entry in Japan, it is possible to drive for a period up to 1 year. And 1 year again each time you will travel to Japan.
※ If you loose the document, you will have to do the procedure all over again from the beginning. You can not print twice.
※ Please check (from page 2) how to print your translation at the convenience store
※ Be careful about websites offering the same service at an overpriced rate. They usually show photos with experts in languages and translation, which is misleading. We all work as intermediaries or third parties between JAF and the customers in order to make the procedure smoother and faster. Such skills are useless.