Context:
In my home country, we have tiered levels for motorcycles, similar to the Japanese ones but not at an equal level. We are required to pass the lowest level first and wait a year, before going to the next tier. I currently can ride up to 400cc in my home country.
Home country: <= 200cc, <= 400cc, 400cc and above
Japan: <= 125cc, <= 400cc, 400cc and above
I got my <= 400cc license in my home country (27th March) and entered Japan (23rd June) as a student, with an IDP. I will only be here for a year so going to driving school here does not make economical sense.
I understand that there is a 3-month validity period needed if you want to convert, however, in the case of riding with my home country’s license + IDP, would the same apply?
Also, would shops stop me from buying a motorcycle if I have zairyuu + home country’s license + IDP?
3 comments
I think you should be good. I bought, and rode, a 900cc bike my first year here with an IDP + US license. Only converted my US license when the IDP expired.
You should be good to ride up to 400cc bikes in Japan.
>Also, would shops stop me from buying a motorcycle if I have zairyuu + home country’s license + IDP?
I believe you are legally allowed to own a motorcycle even without a license, but riding it is a different story obviously.
>I will only be here for a year so going to driving school here does not make economical sense.
You don’t need to go to driving school, you just have to go through a foreign license conversion. It consists of a 10 question test and a practical riding course. It’s a bit of a legal grey area, but it’s totally possible to convert your Class 2A license into a Class 2 equivalent in Japan.
I myself converted from a class 2B to a class 2A when I did my test. They just verify your license (with the translation from JAF) and ask what license do you wish to convert to. If you pass the handling test on a Class 2 equivalent bike, you’ll be legally allowed to ride any bike in Japan.
Of course, if you’re just gonna be staying here for a year, it might not be worth all that trouble… I took 4 tries before I managed to pass the practical handling test.
Edit: I just saw this
>I understand that there is a 3-month validity period needed if you want to convert, however, in the case of riding with my home country’s license + IDP, would the same apply?
You should pass this requirement, since they count it from the date of license issue. Given that you have a 2A, it must mean that you have already owned your 2B for at least 1 year. You just need to prove that you were in your home country for more than 3 months, either through passport stamps, tax or electricity bills, or educational transcripts.
Make sure to have your passport too when riding. IDP requires both original license and passport to be carried together.