If you are looking to buy a camper in Japan, here are all the steps you need to watch for.
Can you buy a camper van as a foreigner in Japan?
You can buy a vehicle in Japan if you hold a residency card (work visa, working holiday visa, spouse visa, student visa, long-term resident visa).
What documents do I need to buy a vehicle in Japan?
The documents needed are:
- Valid residency card (在留カード, Zairyū Card): shows your legal status and registered address.
- Registered address in Japan (住民票, Jūminhyō): needed for registration documents
- Parking Certificate (車庫証明, Shako Shōmeisho): proof that you have a legal parking space for the car (usually within ~2 km of your address). This is one of the biggest hurdles.
- Valid driver’s license: Japanese license is best; an International Driving Permit (IDP) is allowed only for up to 1 year.
- Car insurance: compulsory automobile liability insurance (自賠責保険, Jibaiseki Hoken) is required before registration.
- Personal seal (inkan/hanko): often used instead of a signature in Japan, and some dealers require one.
- Japanese bank account: needed to pay for the car, parking, insurance, and other fees.
NOTE: The Parking Certificate implies that you rent a parking space or own a home that has parking space.
What are the costs of owning a vehicle in Japan?
Besides maintenance and gas, owning a car in Japan comes with several costs:
- Vehicle Tax (自動車税): a yearly tax ranging from ¥100,000 to ¥500,000 depending on the size of your vehicle.
- Mandatory Inspection (Shaken – every 2 years): This is a visit to the mechanic that will make sure your car complies with minimum safety requirements (used tires, braking, lights, etc.). The price ranges from ¥100,000 to ¥900,000 depending on the size of the vehicle, the fuel type used, and its age.
- Compulsory automobile liability insurance (Jibaiseki): ranges from ~¥20,000–¥35,000/year.
To this you can also add optional insurance to better cover damage that you could cause or to have roadside assistance.
NOTE: Shaken is a big two‑year bill and should be taken into account when buying a used car, depending on whether it's due soon or not.
Where to buy a camper van in Japan?
Getting your hands on your new home will require a lot of research. You'll first need to know exactly what you want (a kei car, normal car, van, RV, bus..): used or new? And how you want it: already converted or to convert it yourself.
NOTE: Compared to other countries, the preferred way to buy a used vehicle in Japan is through dealerships. There are very few transactions from person to person like in Europe or the USA.
