Once you get used to driving on the left side of the road, driving in Japan is both easy and rewarding. As long as you remember the many small things that make driving in Japan different.
1. “Driving In Japan” by Wisterian Watertree
Getting on the road in Japan means behaving differently than you would in your home country. So many things are different, from the stop signs to the rule that you have to stop in front of the railroad crossings.
It is a comprehensive overview of driving in Japan, from what will happen on the road during all the five seasons, to how to drive in the mountains, at night, and in the incredibly congested cities.
Yes, I know, I wrote it. Why don’t you read it? Get it here. It will be helpful if you are planning to drive in Japan.
If you are planning to rent a car in Japan, even if it is only for a couple of days, you will find this book helpful. Read the table of content on this page, and get the book here.
2: Japan Automobile Federation: Rules Of The Road
This is the kind of book you buy when you realize that you have to do some serious study to pass your Japanese drivers license test.
Hardly necessary if you are planning to rent a car and drive around for a couple of days, if you have your country license and International Drivers Permit (IDP).
3: Nichol Morales: Grab Your Japanese Drivers License
You can take the theory test for the Japanese drivers license in English, and this is a list of questions and answers you need to pass it. But not more. There is no context and no driving information.
4: Luce Cutter: Gentsuki Driver’s Test Reviwer
This book is the same as the other book, questions and answers and nothing more. Useful if you plan to get a drivers license but not if you already have a license from your own country.
5: Travel Japan: Michi no Eki Roadside Stations In Japan
There are three of these books, but they are more like catalogs than books you want to read. And nowadays, you can get the same information from Google Maps, Navitime or other map applications. It is hard to see why you would need this type of directory, unless you plan your trip by visiting “michi no eki”.
If you want a book about driving in Japan that is fun to read, interesting, and full of practical advice, you should honestly get “Driving In Japan” by Wisterian Watertree. You can read the table of contents here, and if you want to get the book, this link lets you get it from your favorite ebook and physical book stores.
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