Driving in Japan

　You can drive a car in Japan with a valid Maltese driving license and an International Driving Permit (IDP) issued abroad under the 1949 Geneva Convention on Road Traffic.
 
　An IDP is valid for one year from the date of issue, and the effective period of driving with the IDP is a maximum of one year from the date of entry into Japan. (For holders leaving and re-entering Japan, the validity is one year after re-entry.)
　If you are planning to live in Japan, you’ll need to switch to a Japanese license.
 
　Translation is required when you have a foreign license issued by certain countries that is valid in Japan without International Driving Permit, which is not the case for Maltese driving license. Therefore, you don’t need a Japanese translation of the Maltese driving license.
 
<Useful pages>

・JAF (Japan Automobile Federation)
https://english.jaf.or.jp/driving-in-japan/drive-in-japan/switch-to-japanese-license
*Please scroll down, click the "Other countries" button, then click the "Check procedures" button. You will find more information below. Scroll down to the section titled: 2.Drive with an International Driving Permit (issued under the Geneva Convention only)
 
・Transport Malta (Driving in a non-EU country) 
https://www.transport.gov.mt/Land/Driving/Driving-Licence/Driving-Abroad-784