It’s Thursday night. You’re flying to Japan tomorrow, and there’s a rental car waiting for you on Saturday morning. You open the booking confirmation to check where the shuttle leaves from. Then you spot a line you’d skimmed past when you booked: Japanese translation of driving licence.

Suddenly, the question is whether you’ll actually have the paperwork in time to collect the car.

The date that matters is when you pick up the car

Start by checking the Japan Automobile Federation’s guidance for the country that issued your licence. If you do need a Japanese translation, look at your itinerary again. Landing on Friday and picking up a car on Saturday is a very different situation from landing on Friday and spending three nights in Tokyo first.

If your pickup is the next morning, call the rental branch while there’s still time to change the booking. Ask whether they can move it back and how long they’ll hold the car if you arrive late. Depending on where you’re staying, taking the train to your first stop and collecting the car later might save you from spending your first morning in Japan watching your inbox.

Leave time for one more stop

If you’re ordering a translation at short notice, DriveJapan’s express option has an estimated turnaround of one to two business days. Have clear photos of both sides of your licence ready when you order. A blurry photo is easy to miss on your phone, so zoom in before you upload it.

Once your print code arrives, build a 7-Eleven stop into your route to the rental branch. If you’re taking an airport shuttle, check whether you can get to the store before you board. Then put the printed translation with your original driving licence so both are ready at the desk.

If you’re still planning your trip, make the licence check when you book the car. It’s a much easier thing to sort out then than on a Thursday night with your suitcase open.