STEP 1.
Questions:
Do you have a valid (as in still good to this date) drivers license in your home country?
If you answered no. You have two options. A: Go back to your home country and get a license, or go back and get your license renewed. This might be easier or cheaper than starting from scratch in Japan. If you don’t have a license at all anywhere then you will have to invest hundreds of thousands of yen and many many days of your time to getting a license the same way Japanese people do. And if you don’t speak Japanese, then it’s going to be very very difficult for you do go this route, even if you are willing to spend the money and time.
If you answered YES: What country are you from?
If you are from western Europe (UK, Germany, France, Italy, Holland, etc. ) You only need to take a vision test and written test. If you’re from just about anywhere else (USA, Canada, Australia, etc.), you have to take an actual physical skills test as well (behind the wheel test).
Did you have your license in your home country for at least 3 months before you came to Japan? Yes? Good, i hope so… because if you didn’t, Japan won’t accept it… so go home for three months and try again. If you renewed your current license just before coming to Japan, and your license doesn’t have a date of first issue written on it, then send home for the old copy of your license if you have it, or find a way to get some kind of official documentation saying when your first license was issued.
Do you want to drive a motorcycle in Japan? Yes? The whole procedure except for the physical skills test is the same. You can also do both cycle and regular car, but most likely not on the same day. Whichever you want to do first is your choice. Failing one will NOT leave you ineligible for the other, so don’t worry. Your foreign license (IF you are allowed to ride a motorcycle with it in your home country) will translate to a medium sized cycle license (二輪車中型 )and you can ride any bike up to 400cc. Later you can take another test or go to school for the large size bikes (大型二輪車）. If you couldn’t ride anything over 50cc’s legally in your home country, you still will not be able to in Japan either. In that case, you’ll have to do things the hard way.
STEP 2:
Ok… you’ve got your valid license that you had for more than three months before you came to Japan… Now go get it translated at the Japan Automobile Federation (the Japanese version of AAA). You’ll need 3000 yen, your license, a copy of your license, a copy of your “alien registration card” (外国人登録証明書）, and a filled out application form. The fastest way is to go to any JAF office and get this done, it should only take about an hour at most. You can also do it by mail (information is on the linked site above). Once you have the translated form, make another copy for yourself (for safe keeping)… this form is good as long as your license is.
STEP 3: Prepare your documents
Go to the drivers license center for your prefecture (some prefectures have more than one) Here is a list of all the drivers license centers in Japan listed by prefecture. This list is in Japanese… just look for the name of your prefecture (you can read at least that can’t you?) Very likely there is an English page with some information for you. The hours for my center were very strange. For application to get your license changed over in Chiba-ken, you have to go in between 8:30-9 or 1-1:30 to turn in your papers. “Papers??? You didn’t say anything about papers!!”, you say… ah hah! But I will…
The first time you go to the center, you don’t have to go at the time the foreign liscense exchange (外免切り替え） window is open. You just need to go and pick up the drivers license application form (運転免許申請書). If you do this on the day you plan on applying, you might not have time to fill it out, so I suggest getting out of work early some day (or even going on a Sunday, many centers are open on Sundays, and someone at the general information desk should be able to help you get the application form.)
When you finally go to apply, you will need:
1. your filled out application form (運転免許申請書)
2. two appropriate sized pictures of yourself (any standard picture booth will have a drivers license option… most likely the drivers license center has a booth outside or inside as well.) These pictures do not actually go on your license. These are pasted to your application so everyone knows whose application is whose. Your license picture is taken after you have passed all necessary tests.
3. your translation from JAF
4. your foreign license and a copy(and any old expired ones you might have… these prove your experience and they will trust you more)
5. your alien registration card and a copy
6. your passport and a copy(and any previous passports you’ve had since you’ve been able to drive… not really important, they didn’t ask me for any… so if you don’t have your old passport just tell them this is your first one)
7. approximately 10,000 yen (you shouldn’t need it all) for fees… and maybe lunch (if you take the test the same day you apply (lucky you) then it will take literally all day.
8. And last but not least… APPROPRIATE ATTIRE! Much of this proceedure (especially the skills test) is based on how the tester feels about you. Japan is very much about presentation, so go looking professional and it will help. Also, wear shoes that are safe for driving. Closed toe, lace-up shoes. No high heels, no sandals, no slip-ons… they won’t even let you in the car. Bring sunglasses if its a bright day, if they look at you funny just explain that your gaijin eyes are sensitive to bright light (Asian eyes aren’t nearly as sensitive, thats why no one except yakuza and yankee girls wear sunglasses…just for the look, not the effect). So maybe you should go with a conservative pair if you have them.
*For Motorcyclists: You will need a helmet, leather riding gloves, long pants, a long sturdy jacket, and preferrably riding boots. If you don’t have boots, any safe sturdy thick soled shoes should be ok. (I wear a size 32cm in Japan so theres obviously nothing I could do for boots). Notes about the helmet: Full face or 3/4 are preferred. I never saw anyone on the course with less than a 3/4 helmet. Be sure your helmet is clean and doesn’t have too many scratches. Light solid colors are preferred to sporty looks or black helmets. Again, this is about appearance and presentation. They don’t want to give licenses to bosozoku, so don’t wear your leather pants and tough looking harley davidson jacket full with tassles. Look obedient, look subdued, look dorky if at all possible because it will help them think that you will be a safe rider.
Note: if you’re a lucky person from western europe, this doesn’t matter. But for the rest of us who have to take the skills test, do NOT underestimate number 8. MANY foreigners walk into the drivers license center feeling like they deserve something. Thinking that the test will be a breeze. The truth is, yes… its an easy test. But don’t think that way and don’t look that way. A conservative appearance and a polite manner go a LONG WAY to getting you things faster in this country. Simple things like “arigatou” and “onegaishimasu” could mean the difference between you passing and failing. You are at the whim of a potentially cranky test giver and a system that is not designed in your favor. When foreigners fail the skills test, its normally (by my observations) that they really aren’t as good at driving as they think they are/should be, or they just gave the test giver a bad vibe, or they made small mistakes because of lack of experience driving on the wrong side of the road on a really small strange testing course. Almost everyone fails their first time for one of these reasons (or just for posterity… who knows). So don’t get your hopes up about the first time.
STEP 4: Turn in the documents
Go to the appropriate place at the appropriate time (or a few minutes earlier so you can get in line and get organized) and hand in your documents. They will ask you questions like “Do you/Did you ever have a Japanese license?” There are health questions about if you’ve ever had seizures, ever fallen asleep at a strange time/place unexpectedly (narcolepsy), and things like that. Just say no to all those and you should be fine.
They will then hand the forms back to you and tell you to go buy some stamps equalling a certain amount of money. You might be able to get these stamps before hand and skip this step if you know how much you need… Once you have the stamps affixed to your application form to prove you’ve paid the appropriate fees then hand your forms and papers back in at the window.
Once they’ve gone through all your forms and double and triple checked that you’re not a criminal and that you’ve paid all your taxes (or whatever it is that takes them so long) they will They will take you (and everyone else) one by one into a smaller room to take a very short (usually 10 questions long) very easy (any sane person should pass it) written test. Questions on the test are things like: “It’s ok to drive after I’ve had just a little bit of alcohol to drink. True or False” Just err on the side of extreme safety and caution and you’ll be fine. You only need 60 or 70% to pass anyway. The questions will most likely be written in Japanese and (bad) English. If the English is supremely bad, ask for the Japanese version and maybe that will help you understand.
It shouldn’t take them too long to figure the results… that you passed of course. Next is a vision test. Just point (or say) which side of the circle the open space is on.
The written and vision test order may be reversed.
Once you pass both of these tests, you will most likely have to schedule for the physical skills test. (If you want to take your motorcycle skills test first, now would be time time to tell someone) You might get lucky and be able to take your skills test the same day, but its unlikely. Most likely you will be shown a schedule of days that are open for test taking, maybe the next day, maybe a month from then depending on how busy the drivers license center is.
STEP 5: The Skills Test
Somewhere along the whole proceedure in step 4, just before you get to step 5, or while you schedule your test, you will have a choice between having a manual transmission or automatic transmission (this choice is also on the motorcycle test as many new Japanese “super scooters” have automatic transmissions) If you choose automatic you will be limited to automatics ONLY, so choose carefully. (I chose auto for the car, and manual for the bike because my wife can’t drive a manual car, and there aren’t any manual transmission cars in Japan that I would want to buy anyway…. but bikes are of course a different story).
Before you take the test (on the day you schedule the test) you will be given a map of the course. (I think I didn’t get the motorcycle course map until the day of the test, however…) You will also be given an explaination of the course in Japanese (or English if you are lucky). Ask any questions you want to here even if it seems like a stupid question it can’t hurt, right? If you are not taking your test the same day you first applied, take some time to go outside and take a look at the course. For Chiba-ken, you are allowed to walk the course before testing starts (before 8am) and between testing sessions (about noon to 1pm). I highly suggest this as it will help you visualize things you have to do. You may also go to the course on days you are not scheduled to test and watch others testing. The car and truck course is a little too big (and filled with trees) for you to be able to see much, but the motorcycle course should be small enough for you to watch the whole thing.
The course itself: I will try my best to upload images of the course I used soon. Of course every prefecture’s testing course will be slightly different, but there are a few things that are standard:
Before you start, The test giver will explain the course to you again one more time in detail. If there are many foreigners, there will be a specific tester for you and he or she will explain your specific course in front of everyone. For the motorcycle course you will most likely be approached individually. Either way, your course is different than the course that Japanese people have to take.
For the 4 wheeled vehicles:
The car will be a simple (most likely white) four door Japanese make sedan. Approach the car and check all the lights, check the tires, check under the car for homeless people and stray cats. (Not many people do this, but its worth the potential points and safe-person image that you will recieve)
You will have to get your car up to 40kph on one stretch of road.
You will have to effectively use your blinkers and check your mirrors and turn your head to check blind spots to manuver around a fake construction area.
There are stop signs. Stop BEFORE the white line for 3 seconds. Passing the white line or stopping on the white line is considered an AUTOMATIC FAIL (do not pass Go, do not collect your license). You won’t even be allowed to finish the rest of the course for practice. This is how I failed my first try.
There is an S curve. Pretty easy, just don’t hit the curbs, you should be fine.
There is a “crank” corner. Two opposite 90 degree turns on a tight one lane road. Go slow, use your mirrors. Hitting the curb here is also an AUTOMATIC FAIL. You are allowed to put your car in reverse up to 3 times if you feel you need it (I did it twice). But, each time you do this, points are deducted from your overall score.
You will make a right turn through a large 4 lane 4 direction intersection. Use your common sense and turn from the rightmost lane going your direction into the rightmost lane going your direction. Cross the intersection just inside of the center mark (there may be a little diamond in the middle of the interesection to guide you… stay to the right of this). The course that is drawn out on your map is only a rough line, don’t follow it exactly. (my map had me turning right from the leftmost lane into the leftmost lane… thats a no no.) As soon as you are done turning… use the turn signal, look with your own eyes, and change back to the “safe” leftmost lane.
Blind corners: just go nice and slow. Crane your neck over the steering wheel and creep forward. No honking or anything necessary.
Crosswalks: slow down and look both ways for imaginary people.
Always check for imaginary people and vehicles… turn your head very obviously so that they know you’re looking. If you have long hair, putting it up in a pony-tail might be helpful.
Many people I talk to don’t pass the first time (or second or third)… most of the foreigners who don’t pass are simply people who really truly don’t have a lot of driving experience in Japan or otherwise. The test really is easy, so don’t give up hope! I passed my 2nd time. The first time I was way too nervous. I was also the first person to go that day, so I never got to watch anyone else drive. Normally you get to ride in the back of the car and observe the person before you, but I didn’t have that luxury. I paid too much attention to the imaginary cars and stopped after the white line for the stop sign. When the test is over, if you failed (or even if you passed) the test giver might give you some advice. If he or she notices that you speak Japanese anyway. If you failed, ask questions and get tips for next time and you’ll be sure to pass.
If you do have to retry, you will need two new pictures, and new stamps, and of course you will have to reschedule for another test in a week or months time. Beware that your application has an expiration date. Probably of about 6 months, so don’t put it off or you’ll have to start all over from scratch again.
For you two-wheelers (motorcyclists)
The bike will most likely be a 400cc Honda scooter if you do automatic. And a 400cc Honda CBR if you do the manual route. Everywhere that I have read in English and Japanese they always use Hondas. (The 大型 class bike is a 600cc CBR if I’m not mistaken). You cannot use your own bike, sorry.
Approach the bike with your helmet and gloves on. Look the bike over for problems… everything look ok?
First you will do a simple once around the course at normal speed. The test has not yet begun. Mount the bike in this order… from the left side grip the handle bars and the seat or cargo area… balance the bike and put up the stand. Climb on and start the bike. Look up to the observation tower and wait for the signal that you can go. Your motorcycle will have a loudspeaker on it that will let you hear instructions from the tower, but they can’t hear anything you say.
Put the bike in gear, be real obvious about your head movements (checking for traffic right and left) and then take a spin around the course in the manner that they explain to you.
Once you get back to the starting line again and you’ve gotten a feel for how the bike handles and dismount (I believe you can leave the engine running, just put it in the neutral gear of course, but pay attention to the Japanese testers to see what they did and follow suit).
When they give you the signal you can climb back on and start the real test.
Many pieces of the course are similar to the cage (car) course but slightly different.
Stop signs: you must put both feet down (your front brake is more than enough to keep you stopped at a light) and come to a full stop.
There is a straightaway where you must get the bike up to 40kph and then do a quick stop. If you don’t get up to 40kph you fail. There are 3 small lights on the bike one that turns on once you’ve reached 40kph and two that let the testers know which brake you are using (you should always use both). You must not begin to stop before the designated line, and you must not lock your wheels.
There is the 一本橋 (plank bridge). It is a metal board about as wide as an A4/Letter sheet of paper and probably a good 10 to 20 meters long and raised off the pavment about 2 cm. You must stop before this “bridge” and line yourself up. Then proceed to ride along the top of it as slowly as possible without falling off. Setting your foot down or having your tires fall from the beam are automatic failures. Normally you would be timed and have to finish this test in OVER a certain amount of seconds. But in the foreign license exchange version you can go as fast as you want (within reason of course).
There is a slalom. Normal testers must finish UNDER a certain amount of seconds, but again you get a break here too. You get to use as much time as you want to manuver around the cones. Just don’t put your foot down… and don’t hit the cones.
The “crank” curve for motorcycles is very similar to that for cars. Only you don’t get to back up if you think you’ll hit the curb. For the bike test, the inside of the curb is additionally lined with cones that you may not hit. Ride slow, balance, make the turns don’t put your foot down, don’t hit anything. The bikes have crash guards on them that make them slightly wider than a normal bike of the same model, so be careful about that.
Blind corners… lean forward and creep your bike to a point where you can see.
The normal testers will also be subject to a rail road crossing test (stand up on the pegs and go over), and stopping and starting on a hill. But you are exempt from these tests as well.
If you get lost on the course and don’t remember where to go next (you have to memorize the order) its OK. Pull over to the left side of the road (or stay where you are if you are already stopped at a stop sign) and raise your left hand. Someone will come over the loudspeaker on the bike and tell you where to go next. Just point and nod for confirmation. This does NOT count against you (nor should it because the course is really freaking confusing).
Some prefectures may let you practice on the course for a fee. Chiba, however, does not. I hear that Saitama may. There are motorcycle safety practice courses in some places. I’ve seen one along either Sobu or Keio line. I’ll pay better attention to where it is next time I pass it and post it here.
The motorcycle test is very easy. I hadn’t ridden in over a year and I had never ridden a sporty bike like the CBR so I was kind of shaky. I also got lost once and had to get directions on the course, but I still passed.
Most of the other people testing on the cycle course are highschool kids trying to get the license for the smaller scooters (the only vehicle they can drive before they are 18… 16yr olds and up can get the 50cc license) or people on their 3rd, 4th, 5th…10th try for the 一発試験 (one punch test) for the big class bikes (大型). So you won’t see many other people passing the exam with you.
Step 6: Picture Time!
Congratulations! You passed! Now you get to wait for a VERY LONG TIME. What are you waiting for? I don’t know! You’ll wait… someone will direct you to a new window… You’ll probably have to buy a few more stamps… you’ll wait… you’ll get your license picture taken… you’ll wait… for about an hour… and then finally you’ll get your license. Depending on the country you are from and how long you’ve had your license in your home country you will be told that you have to use a beginners magnet or sticker on your car. (the green and yellow arrow looking thing). If the expiration line on your license is green, you are considered a new and inexperienced driver. If its blue, you are normal and don’t need the beginner’s sticker.
Motorcyclists: Someone will explain to you (if you understand Japanese) that you are allowed to have a passenger on any normal roads. However, you may not have a passenger on the tollways (AKA 高速道路) until you have at least 3 years of riding experience. (Up until very recently, 2004 or 5 maybe, you could not have a passenger on the tollways at all. Kind of defeats the purpose of having a touring bike if you can’t bring your girlfriend, right?) Also, even though you can ride tandem on the tollways in most prefectures you still CANNOT RIDE TANDEM ON THE TOLLWAYS IN TOKYO. They say that the reason is because its too crowded (those cages can’t stop as fast as you… so I understand that point), and because there are too many fast curves (what? a bike can corner way better than some stupid Kei truck!… but oh well… those are the laws.)
Your riding experience in your home country should transfer over, but funny things may happen. I’ve had my motorcycle license since I was 18. But, my license says I still have a little less than a year to wait till I can take a passenger on the tollways… I don’t own a bike yet, so I didn’t care so I didn’t argue. But if you bring it up to them, they might fix if for you if it happens. Just say that you’ve been riding for X many years, blah blah blah… something good might happen. Japanese people hate confrontation about that kind of stuff, so its worth a try. (but be prepared to wait for an hour again for them to re-print your license).
Important extras to note:
Your Japanese license expires a month after your birthday in under three years from the date you aquired it. The expiration date is not dependent upon the day you pass your test. For best results, then, it would be ideal to apply and test as soon after your birthday as possible to get the full 3 years. After you have been a “safe driver” (meaning no accidents… so if you don’t ever drive, this is REAL easy) for 3 years, you will be upgraded to a gold license thats good for 5 years.
International licenses: The Japanese government noticed that many foreigners were abusing the International License system and so somewhere at the beginning of this century (sometime after 2001 I think anyway…) they have set many limitations on the International License. What you read on your International License won’t necessarily fly in Japan.
First: your international license is good for one year from the day you set foot in Japan. Backdating your international license will only fool a police officer who doesn’t check your passport or alien registration card. Using an international license if you’ve been a resident of Japan for over a year IS AN OFFENSE. You can and will be fined and possibly it will be difficult for you to get a real license in the future. Going back to your home country once a year and getting a new license does NOT cut it. If you’ve lived here a year, too bad, so sad, get a real license and stop risking it.
Second: to the motorcyclists. Your international license may have some sort of maximum weight allowance for bikes you are allowed to ride in a foreign country… regardless of what that piece of paper says, in Japan you are limited to bikes 400cc and under. Sorry. (Don’t try and argue about the Geneva convention, or the fact that what is written on your license is law… because it doesn’t matter. Thats the way it is in Japan. ) And if an intelligent police officer stops you, they will know this and fine you for riding a bike thats too big, and then you won’t be able to ride it home to boot. Crimes of ignorance are still punishable here and in the USA where I come from. However…this is only word of mouth (but from a very reliable and trustworth source of mine). So, if you want me to find the hard facts I am willing to do some research in Japanese (run down to the Koban and ask) if you want me to… just leave a comment.