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Is it fun going holiday to Japan?

I'm going to holiday in Japan. What are the law for drinking and driving etc?

  • I'm going to Kyoto, Japan, next year on holiday. I was wondering if anyone knew the consenting ages to; *Drinking *Driving *Smoking *Anything else related to the above. Also, if there is anything that I should be wary about (I already know about politeness etc. so really just anything that is accepted in the UK that I may not realise isn't accepted in JPN (except from taking a bike in the trash, I know that one) and accidently do it). Any help is grateful. Thank you!

  • Answer:

    Driving - 18 Drinking/Smoking - 20 Drinking and driving - Spend the night in jail and go through a REALLY long process of pictures, interrogation, physically retracing where you drove, etc. Don't drink and drive. They are Keystone cops, for sure, but if the catch you, they switch gears really quickly. How strict? Their idea is that if you drink one beer, you should wait 7 hours before driving. If you get caught and have alcohol in your system, a level that even doesn't qualify prosecution, they will STILL do not let you drive, and you have to call someone else to come drive you home. The drinking age has always baffled me. You can buy sake, beer, wine and whiskey from vending machines. Yet they have a drinking age. Go figure. NOTE: @ AYA at least the cops in Tokyo and Kansai give a squat about drinking and riding a bicycle. And my indication of one beer and waiting 7 hours pretty much says NO alcohol in your system. But they do have a limit, and if you are under it, you are not arrested, but simply told to contact someone else not having consumed alcohol to come and drive your car. NOTE: @ John Davidson. Sorry, but that doesn't always happen. There IS a legal limit where they don't prosecute, something very small. Get caught at that level, no charges, but you have to call someone to come and drive you home. I got caught in the highest level, but was charged with the lower level. Didn't even spend a night in jail. They wanted to, but I was on medication and given that they had to provide it, I couldn't bring it in myself, they simply called my doctor to confirm the fact, then set me loose. Other cases, it is a night in jail and then a full day of talking the next day. But there IS a limit so far as prosecution goes. Strict, but it exists. And the fines? They start at about $3000 and run on up. Once again, I have BEEN there, I have DONE that, and I have the freaking t-shirt. But I will tell you, they don't play once they stumble upon you. Total lack of enforcement except for the fall and spring campaigns, but if they catch you, watch out.

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Everyone has listed the law, but the actual situaiton on the ground ca be different. As far as driving, you will not need to drive. Even in Kyoto, the trains, busses and subways will get you where you want to go. So that means you can drink yourself into a mess and not have to worry about driving drunk. About drinking, you need to be this "high" to buy beer and chu hai from a vending machine. You need to act 20 years old if you want to drink beer. If you look and act old enough, you can order a drink. Especially gaijin, we all look older than we are. Well if you look and act 16, then that is a different story. If you drink and start blowing chunks all over the street, then the cops will detain you and find out your true age. The point is, you can enjoy the spirits of the rice wine, just as long as you know how to handle yourself.

wuzaracer

Drinking and smoking after 20 y.o. birthday. Driving after 18 y.o birithday with the official license. Sex industry after 18 y.o. birthday. Loto, Takara-Kuji or horse racing etc. gambling after 20 y.o. birthday. shotgun after 18 y.o. with the official license. (no hand gun( People usually don't care about Gaijin's age unless you are playing loud and dirty too much in Japan. Drugs strictly prohibited and illegal all age even grass or something like that in Japan anyway.

bluemoonmemory

Just a quick note regarding drinking and driving...it's not one BEER and then you can't legally drive, it's one SIP of ANY alcohol and you can't legally drive (or even ride a bicycle). So yeah, if you're thinking of driving yourself anywhere in Japan, don't have any alcohol at all to drink before you drive. It's just not worth the risk of getting caught.

Aya

20. 18 for cars and big motorcycles, 16 for the small motorcycles and mopeds. 20. You can't drive in Japan without an international driving permit. But there is no reason for you to worry about driving anyway. Traffic in the big cities of Japan is hell, and public transportation is extremely reliable.

Belie

I wouldn’t drive if I were you, Japan is like UK right hand drive. It’s not exactly easy to get used to. Beside the road is lot narrower than US, without knowing Japanese road signs are very challenging, hard to get a direction without speaking Japanese, the gas is very expensive...... Cab or the public transportation is the way to go. Have a fun and be safe!!

Buddha

Driving and Smoking is from 18 years old and drinking is from 20 years old. Japan has a zero tolerance level for drink driving which means a 0.0 blood alcohol level. I knew a guy who got caught drink driving as he had a few beers. He ended up in jail for several days then deported from the country. Not something you want to do!!

Japan Australia

Drinking and Smoking - 20 years old Driving - 18 years old (must have International Driver's Permit and your homecountry driver's license) Drinking and Driving = go to Jail. But I guess your question was phrased a bit wrong, I get your meaning lol.

Tokyo E

Smoking: You need a taspo card if you buy cigarette at vendor machine. But you can buy it at convenience store without taspo card.

Satoshi Ono

Smoking - 20 Drinking - 20 Driving - 18

JCrew

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