Purchasing a Tesla in Japan is nothing like buying a traditional Japanese car. It’s app-driven, paper-heavy (ironically), and — for a foreigner — full of unique steps involving legal affidavits, registration bureaucracy, and even the infamous hanko (personal seal). Here’s my firsthand experience buying a Tesla Model Y in Tokyo, including how I traded in my Toyota Harrier and why the Tesla team impressed me more than any traditional dealer ever has.
🏢 Visiting Tesla Shinjuku for a Test Drive
It all started when I visited the Tesla showroom in Shinjuku. I wanted to see the cars in person and get a feel for their size — especially since my home garage has a narrow entrance.
I test drove both the Model Y Juniper (the latest version) and the Model 3. While both were impressive, I was leaning toward the Model Y for its size, latest operating system, ride comfort, ride height, and overall design.
What really surprised me was Tesla’s willingness to help me test the parking situation at home. A few days after my visit, a Tesla sales rep actually came to my house in person with a Model Y so I could practice parking in my garage. This was a critical step for me, and it sealed the deal.
📲 Placing the Order — On My iPhone
Right then and there, sitting inside the vehicle in my own driveway, I placed the order.
With the help of the sales rep, I used the Tesla mobile app on my iPhone, confirmed the configuration I wanted, and paid the ¥15,000 deposit using my credit card. That was it — no lengthy paperwork or over-the-top showroom upselling. Just tap, pay, done.
🔄 Trading In My Toyota Harrier
A few days later, I received an email from Tesla with a trade-in offer for my current car — a Toyota Harrier Z-class, leather seats, about 20,000 km over five years. It’s a very popular model in Japan, and I was curious to see what Tesla would offer.
To my surprise, Tesla offered a higher trade-in value than what Toyota’s own dealership had mentioned how much it would be sold at, which had previously undervalued my car and paired it with poor service. The Toyota sales rep, in fact, had suggested I consider a Crown (let’s just say… not the most youthful recommendation).
That moment solidified my decision. Tesla wasn’t just modern — they were respectful, professional, and efficient.
📄 The Paperwork Hurdle Begins
Here’s where the Japan-specific challenges kicked in.
To let Tesla take care of vehicle registration, number plate application, parking lot verification, and other government procedures, I had to fill out and mail a huge stack of documents, including:
- Affidavit forms giving Tesla the legal right to act on my behalf
- A copy of my house registry (juminhyo)
- Hanko certification from the local ward office
- Copies of my parking space registration where my in-laws owned the land itself
- A printed form bundling everything into one envelope
I had to send this whole package to Tesla’s registration processing address in Chiba.
Despite Tesla’s ultra-digital ordering system, the Japanese legal system still demands these traditional, paper-heavy steps — especially for vehicle ownership transfers.
📱 All Updates Through the Tesla App
What’s fascinating about the Tesla experience in Japan is how digitally disconnected the bureaucracy is — but how connected Tesla keeps you through the app.
Every update — from trade-in offer, spec confirmation, VIN assignment, registration progress, to delivery scheduling — came through the Tesla app, not via sales calls or dealership visits. It was seamless, efficient, and transparent.
Roughly six weeks after my order, I got a VIN update and then a scheduled delivery date. I was instructed to head to Tesla’s Delivery Center in Ariake, where I would pick up the vehicle.
🔁 Mid-Order Change: 0% Interest Campaign
Now here’s the twist.
In July, just after my May order, Tesla Japan announced a 0% interest campaign for new vehicle purchases. Naturally, I wanted in — but I had already ordered.
I reached out to Tesla, and to their credit, they offered a clever workaround:
“Cancel your existing order, forfeit the ¥15,000 deposit, and place a new order. We’ll reassign your original VIN and specs to the new order, so you won’t lose your car.”
Obviously 0% interest rate vs. 2.6% over 5 years is a huge difference in monthly payments for my car loan.
That level of process flexibility was unheard of in my previous car-buying experiences in Japan. Most traditional dealers would have shrugged and said, “Too late.”
🛠️ Summary of the Tesla Buying Process (Part 1)
| Step | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. | Visited Tesla Shinjuku showroom and test drove Model Y and 3 |
| 2. | Had a home parking test with a Model Y brought by sales rep |
| 3. | Ordered and paid deposit via Tesla mobile app (¥15,000) |
| 4. | Received trade-in offer for Toyota Harrier (higher than Toyota dealer) |
| 5. | Completed a document package with affidavit, hanko cert, and registry |
| 6. | Sent documents to Tesla registration office in Chiba |
| 7. | Monitored all updates and vehicle progress via mobile app |
| 8. | Re-ordered the vehicle to take advantage of 0% interest campaign |
📝 What’s Next: Delivery Day (Part 2)
In my next post, I’ll walk you through:
- Visiting the Tesla Delivery Center in Ariake
- Signing the final paperwork (which was surprisingly quick)
- Celebratory picture
- Driving off in my new Model Y — all within one hour
It was by far the smoothest car delivery I’ve ever experienced in Japan.
💬 Final Thoughts (for Part 1)
Buying a Tesla in Japan isn’t plug-and-play — there are plenty of bureaucratic hoops to jump through, especially for trade-ins and registrations. But compared to the slow, rigid, and sometimes patronizing experience I had with traditional Japanese dealerships, Tesla felt like a breath of fresh air.
Everything from the mobile-first purchase process to their in-person flexibility impressed me. Yes, there were extra steps, but the transparency and speed more than made up for it.