Get alien registration in Japan. Visit the municipal office and ask for an alien registration form. Fill it in and submit together with your passport and two passport photographs. Ask the municipal office about regulations regarding the size and position of your face within the passport photos.
Obtain a driver's license. Apply for an International Driving Permit if you intend to stay for a short time in Japan. Obtain details from the American Automobile Association or American Automobile Touring Alliance. Convert your U.S driver's license to a Japanese license if you intend to reside in Japan for the long term. Contact license bureaus in Japan for the application procedure.
Obtain a car park certificate. Contact the police station in the same municipality you obtained your alien registration for application for a car park certificate. The certificate proves you have parking space for your car, either at home or in a garage or a parking space close to your residence. Obtain a name stamp (Inkan) from the municipal offices.
Find a lease company. Perform an online search, get references from your contacts or look through the classifieds. Find out the lease terms and compare the rates. Choose a company that best matches your lease needs.
Get a car. Choose a car from the lease company you decide to work with. Most companies will allow you to choose a car. The rates of the lease will vary, depending on the car make you choose.
Pay for your lease once you have settled on the car type. The lease fee may include full insurance, registration and taxes, as well as options like GPS navigation systems.
