Using non homeland driver's license and IDP in Japan

So I am a US Citizen, I have been living in Hong Kong now for 5 years. Being as I have no residence in the US, my license in the US has expired. I have been maintaining my license in Hong Kong, which I converted through Hong Kong's license exchange program.

Soon I will be moving to Japan, and I'm having a lot of difficulty deciphering what I can and can't do. Many references I am reading keep referring to the license as your "homeland"/"home country" license and IDP to determine validity. So essentially, would a license I obtained in Hong Kong, and an IDP I obtained in Hong Kong, despite not being a Hong Kong citizen, entitle me to being able to drive in Japan, and allow me to skip the training license and get a full license through the conversion program and test?

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Best Answer

would a license I obtained in Hong Kong, and an IDP I obtained in Hong Kong, despite not being a Hong Kong citizen, entitle me to being able to drive in Japan

Yes. (I'm in a similar situation; French citizen, US residence, US driving license + IDP, and had no issue to obtain the IDP with my US driving license via AAA and use it outside the US)

allow me to skip the training license and get a full license through the conversion program and test?

Some countries limit for how long one can drive without a local driving license. The max time for Japan is 1 year (mirror).

Regarding the Geneva conventions, see https://kart.st/en/drivers-license/hong-kong.html (mirror):

Japan is only affiliated with the 1949 Geneva Convention, and Hong Kong is also affiliated with the 1949 Geneva Convention.

Therefore, if Hong Kong issues a international driving permit (IDP) under the 1949 Geneva Convention in the proper format, it is valid to drive in Japan.

An international driving permit (IDP) which is not under the 1949 Geneva Convention in the proper format is not valid in Japan. Please confirm the international driving permit (IDP) is under the 1949 Geneva Convention in the proper format.

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Does Japan accept IDP?

IDP's must be obtained prior to arriving in Japan. They cannot be obtained in Japan. Note that IDP's are not intended to replace valid U.S. state licenses and should only be used as a supplement to a valid license. In other words, you must also have a valid U.S. state license in addition to an IDP to drive in Japan.

Which country driving Licence is valid in Japan?

Driving licenses issued by the authorities of Belgium, France, Germany, Monaco, Switzerland, and Taiwan are valid in Japan under the following conditions: 1. Your license is attached to a Japanese translation provided by the authorities that are stipulated by the applicable cabinet order.

Is Indian IDP valid in Japan?

Japan is only affiliated with the 1949 Geneva Convention, and India is also affiliated with the 1949 Geneva Convention. Therefore, if India issues a international driving permit (IDP) under the 1949 Geneva Convention in the proper format, it is valid to drive in Japan.

Is IDP valid in all countries?

The International Driving Permit (IDP) is recognized worldwide as a valuable document identifying motorists as legally-licensed drivers, in the country they are travelling.

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