Drunk driving in Japan: penalties, visa and license consequences

Drunk driving in Japan is a crime from 0.15 mg of alcohol per liter of breath, and the heavier “drunk” offense (酒酔い運転) now has a numeric line of 0.5 mg/L, in force since 21 July 2026. As of October 2026, the driver can face up to 5 years in prison or a ¥1 million fine, plus license suspension or revocation. People who lend the car, serve the alcohol or ride along knowing can be punished too.

What is the drunk driving limit in Japan?

The Road Traffic Act (道路交通法) bans driving “after drinking” (酒気を帯びて), so there is no amount you can safely drink. Police split the offense into two levels:

• Driving over the limit (酒気帯び運転): breath alcohol of 0.15 mg/L or more, but below the drunk level.
• Drunk driving (酒酔い運転): breath alcohol of 0.5 mg/L or more (blood 1.0 mg/mL or more), or any state where alcohol means you may not be able to drive normally.

Before 21 July 2026, the drunk offense had no number: police judged whether you were visibly impaired. The change came from Act No. 52 of 2026 (令和8年法律第52号). You can still be charged with the drunk offense below 0.5 mg/L if you are judged unable to drive normally. The law covers cars, motorcycles and bicycles.

What are the penalties for drunk driving in Japan?

Tokyo police list these penalties and administrative actions (as of their July 2026 leaflet). Prison is now called 拘禁刑 (imprisonment), which replaced 懲役.

The police note that these license actions assume no earlier violations or points. The years in the table are the waiting period (欠格期間) before you can apply for a license again. These are criminal cases, not blue-ticket fines. See our traffic tickets and license points guide for how red tickets work.

Who else is liable besides the driver?

The Road Traffic Act also bans three other acts, each with its own penalty:

In practice, this means a friend who hands over keys, a host who keeps pouring for a guest with a car, and a coworker who asks for a lift home can all be charged. “I wasn’t driving” is not a defense for a passenger who knew.

What happens to my license?

If you hold a Japanese license, the public safety commission (公安委員会) decides the action. The law lets it revoke the license for drunk driving. Suspension can run up to 6 months. The table above shows the standard outcome for a first offense.

If you drive on an IDP or a converted foreign license, the same criminal penalties apply. Our IDP guide covers the 1-year limit, and our license renewal guide covers what a revoked license means later.

What does a conviction mean for my visa or permanent residency?

Here the sources are thin, so we state only what they say.

• The Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) permanent residency guideline, revised 24 February 2026, asks that you live lawfully and have not received a fine or prison sentence (罰金刑や拘禁刑).
• For visa renewal, the agency decides on the whole picture: your status of residence, need to stay and appropriateness. Its published refusal examples include a ¥300,000 fine in an unrelated case and suspended prison sentences for fraud, theft and drug offenses. None of the examples is about drunk driving.
• We found no official page that says drunk driving leads to deportation, or how many years a record counts against a renewal or a PR application.

What should I do if police stop me or I hit someone?

If you were drinking and had an accident, the usual accident duties still apply: stop, help the injured and call the police. See car accident in Japan: what to do. We did not find official guidance on interpreters or on how long a foreign driver can be held, so ask for an interpreter, a lawyer or your embassy if you do not understand what you are signing.

The simplest rule from the law: if you plan to drive, don’t drink, and don’t ask a driver who has been drinking to take you home.

More guides

• Traffic tickets and license points in Japan
• Car accident in Japan: what to do
• Bicycle rules in Japan
• Permanent residency in Japan: requirements
• Visa renewal in Japan