Buying a Car in Japan on a Tourist Visa | Our Real Experience!

We recently bought a car in Japan while on a tourist visa, an experience we're excited to share with you. This video covers the car dealership process and offers practical car buying tips for navigating this unique situation. Join us as we show you our new car and our life in rural Japan. 🚗 Buying a Car in Japan on a Tourist Visa — Yes, It’s Actually Possible Most people believe that you cannot buy a car in Japan without residency. We believed it too. No residency card. No long-term visa. Just a tourist visa, a traditional Japanese house in rural Japan, and a lot of unanswered questions. But it turns out that owning a car in Japan on a tourist visa isn’t as impossible as everyone says — and in this video, we share what actually happened when we tried to do it ourselves. This isn’t a step-by-step guide or advice. It’s simply our real experience buying and registering a car in Japan without residency, something we were told repeatedly couldn’t be done. 🚙 Why We Needed a Car in Japan If you’ve spent any time in rural Japan, you’ll already know this — public transport is limited, buses are infrequent, and daily life without a car can be frustrating. We own a traditional Japanese house (kominka / akiya) in the countryside, and without a car: Visiting the house regularly was difficult Buying materials was inconvenient Exploring the region wasn’t realistic Everyday life felt restricted So the question became unavoidable: 👉 Can you buy a car in Japan on a tourist visa? 👉 Can a foreigner own a car in Japan without residency? The answers online were confusing, contradictory, and often vague. 😲 What We Learned About Buying a Car in Japan as a Tourist What surprised us most wasn’t just that it was possible — but how many conditions and exceptions exist that almost no one talks about. In this video, we share: Buying a car in Japan without residency Owning a car in Japan on a tourist visa Why having a fixed address in Japan matters The documents we were actually asked for If you’re searching for: Buying a car in Japan as a foreigner Buying a car in Japan without a residence card Tourist visa car ownership Japan Owning a car in rural Japan …this video is based on real experience, not theory. ⚠️ Quick Note (Keeping It Real) This is just our experience. Rules, processes, and expectations can vary depending on location and circumstances — so think of this as a real-life example, not a guarantee. 🇯🇵 Life in Rural Japan Is Different A lot of content about Japan focuses on Tokyo and major cities. But rural Japan works differently — and having a car can completely change what’s possible. If you’re: Considering buying a house in Japan Restoring an akiya or kominka Spending extended time outside big cities Visiting Japan regularly on tourist visas Understanding how car ownership in Japan actually works can make a huge difference. 👋 About Us We’re restoring a traditional Japanese house in rural Japan and sharing what life is really like — the good, the confusing, and the unexpected. If you’re interested in: Life in rural Japan Buying property in Japan Akiya and kominka restoration Long-term travel in Japan You might want to stick around :)