4. Driving Motorbikes

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To legally ride a motorcycle (including a moped) in Japan, you must have:

1. A Driver’s License
2. Compulsory Liability Insurance (Jibaiseki Hoken)

Please be especially cautious when using an international driver’s permit (IDP). There have been many cases where students were riding a motorcycle with an invalid IDP and were arrested by the police for driving without a license.
Driving without a license is strictly prohibited and will result in disciplinary action from the university.

Driver’s License

In order to drive, you must hold a license that is legally valid in Japan. Driving without a valid license can result in up to 3 years of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to 500,000 yen.
International students wishing to drive a motorcycle in Japan, must obtain a valid license through one of the following methods:

1. Obtain a Japanese driver’s license: Contact: Oita Prefecture Driver’s License Center TEL: 097-528-3000
For details, visit the Oita Prefectural Driver's License Center webpage
2. Convert your home country’s license to a Japanese license
3. Obtain an International Driving Permit (must be issued under the Geneva Convention)
4. Hold a valid driver’s license from one of the following countries or regions: Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco, or Taiwan
With a valid driver’s license from a country or region listed above, you may drive in Japan as long as you carry both your license and an official Japanese translation issued by a recognized authority.

Note: The validity period and conditions are the same as those for international driving permits.

Vehicle Insurance

1. Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance (CAL)

Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance provides minimum coverage for death or bodily injury to victims in the event of a motorcycle accident. It is illegal to operate a motorcycle without enrolling in CAL. You must always carry your insurance certificate with you while driving.

Penalties

Failure to carry your CAL Insurance certificate while driving will result in a fine of up to 300,000 yen.
Driving without enrolling in CAL will result in a fine of up to 500,000 yen.

2. Voluntary Insurance

To commute to campus by motorcycle, APU requires students to enroll in voluntary insurance (bodily injury liability: unlimited, property damage liability: minimum two million yen, passenger liability: minimum two million yen). While compulsory liability insurance offers coverage to injuries sustained by third parties, it does not cover third party property damage (e.g. automobiles, motorbikes, or other damage). Additionally, health insurance does not cover expenses for medical treatment required as a result of an accident. For this reason, students commuting to APU are required to purchase voluntary insurance to cover property damage or personal injury as a result of a traffic accident.

For Compulsory Automobile Liability Insurance and Voluntary Insurance Enrollment Procedures, head to: Creotech Co., Ltd.

Receiving a Motorcycle from a Friend or Acquaintance

Before accepting a motorcycle from someone, ensure that the vehicle has already been officially registered as non-operational or that the ownership has been properly transferred to your name. Even if the bike is inexpensive or free, do not accept the motorcycle if the paperwork is incomplete.
Also, be sure to check if the insurance is still valid. Likewise, when you choose to transfer your motorbike to another person, be sure to follow the proper procedures before transferring ownership.

Commuting by Motorcycle

Students who wish to commute to APU by motorcycle must complete the required registration procedures in advance. This also applies to AP House residents who wish to park their motorcycle in the AP House parking lot. If an unregistered motorcycle is found parked on campus, security will put a lock on the vehicle. Additionally, parking an unregistered motorcycle near the university (such as the Beppu-wan Service Area parking lot, around AP House, etc.) may result in serious disciplinary action, including suspension.

1. Motorbike Registration (PDF)

Step1.
Check the documents needed to register your motorbike and begin getting them in order.

Step2.
Bring the documents to the Creotech Office to register your motorbike.

Creotech Business Hours:
10：00-16：30
Place: Building A, 2nd floor
(Excluding periods when the office is closed for summer and winter break, weekends, and national holidays.)
TEL: +81-977-78-1158

2. Expiration Date (PDF)

Expiration Date
Motorbike Registration Seal
Parking

3. Accident Prone Locations in Beppu City

The Oita Prefecture Police Department has compiled a map (Japanese only) that shows the location of serious accidents that have occurred in the past. Before you begin driving or riding a bike, be sure to check the map to familiarize yourself with some areas that potentially could be dangerous to avoid getting into an accident yourself.

Note:

Since its establishment, APU has prohibited commuting to campus by large vehicles, to prevent worsening traffic and an increase in traffic accidents in the surrounding areas.
For similar reasons, three-wheeled motorcycles are also not permitted, due to concerns about their potential impact on traffic during commuting hours, and safety risks, especially with models that do not legally require the use of a helmet.
Please note that only two-wheeled motorcycles are permitted to be registered for commuting purposes.