Can a Japanese driver's license be used in China?

Can't use it. Holding an overseas motor vehicle driver's license needs to be changed to a Chinese motor vehicle driver's license before it can be used in China. You are not allowed to drive on the roads in China with a Japanese driver's license.

regulations for the application and use of motor vehicle driving license

Article 17? Holders of military or armed police motor vehicle driver's licenses, or holders of overseas motor vehicle driver's licenses, which meet the application conditions stipulated in these Provisions, may apply for corresponding motor vehicle driver's licenses for quasi-driving models.

Article 22? When applying for a motor vehicle driver's license, an overseas motor vehicle driver's license holder shall fill in an application form and submit the following documents and vouchers:

(1) the identity certificate of the applicant;

(2) A physical condition certificate issued by a medical institution at or above the county level. If the application belongs to foreign embassies and consulates in China personnel or personnel of representative offices of international organizations in China, it shall be implemented in accordance with the principle of diplomatic reciprocity;

(3) Motor vehicle driver's license. If it is not expressed in Chinese, a Chinese translation shall also be issued.

If the applicant is a mainland resident, the applicant's passport or mainland resident's travel permit to Hong Kong and Macao and mainland resident's travel permit to Taiwan shall also be submitted.

Extended data

regulations for the application and use of motor vehicle driving license

Thirteenth any of the following circumstances, shall not apply for a motor vehicle driver's license:

(a) suffering from organic heart disease, epilepsy, Meniere's disease, dizziness, hysteria, paralysis agitans, psychosis, dementia and other nervous system diseases that affect physical activity and hinder safe driving;

(2) It has been less than three years since taking or injecting drugs, or it has been less than three years since the compulsory isolation and detoxification measures were lifted, or it has been addicted to psychotropic drugs for a long time;

(3) Escaping after causing a traffic accident constitutes a crime;

(4) Having a serious traffic accident after drinking alcohol or driving a motor vehicle while drunk, which constitutes a crime;

(five) drunk driving a motor vehicle or driving a motor vehicle after drinking alcohol, and the motor vehicle driver's license has been revoked according to law for less than five years;

(six) drunk driving, operating motor vehicles, motor vehicle driving license has been revoked according to law for less than ten years;

(seven) the motor vehicle driver's license has been revoked according to law for less than two years due to other circumstances;

(eight) the driver's license has been revoked according to law for less than three years;

(9) Other circumstances stipulated by laws and administrative regulations.

Whoever drives a motor vehicle without obtaining a motor vehicle driver's license and commits one of the acts in items 5 to 7 of the first paragraph shall not apply for a motor vehicle driver's license within the prescribed time limit.

Yueyang Municipal People's Government-Provisions on the Application and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving License