Getting a Japanese Driver's License

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Do you need a Japanese driver's license?

Many JETs come to Japan with an international driver's permit (IDP). This is the easiest way to be allowed to drive in Japan. However, this permit is ONLY valid for one year from the time you enter Japan. If you remain in Japan and still wish to drive, you must get a Japanese license. Don't wait until the last second to start the process. IF everything goes smoothly, it can take one month to get your license. Also, July tends to be a busy month for the licensing officials, which can further delay getting your license.

Requirements

These two conditions must be met for you to be eligible to convert your foreign license to a Japanese one:

You have a valid driver's license from your home country AND
you held a valid license for at least 3 months in your home country before coming to Japan.

Necessary materials:

Your valid foreign license (original and a copy)
Your IDP (if you have one)
Your passport (original)
Your Alien Registration Card (外国人登録証明書 gaikokujin tōroku shōmeisho) (original and one copy)
An officially sanctioned Japanese translation (日本語による翻訳文 nihongo ni yoru hon'yakubun) of your foreign license (see below)
A passport-style photograph taken within the last six months (hatless, facing front, approx. 3cm × 2.4cm). You can have the photo taken at the license center, probably for a fee.
Money

What if I don't have a valid license from my country?

If your license is simply expired, then renew it. You might have trouble with the "3 months driving in your home country" requirement, though.

If you never got a license in your home country, then you're stuck. You could go home, get your license, and spend 3 months driving before returning to Japan. Or you could go through the process of getting a Japanese license from scratch, which is very expensive and may not be possible in English.

What if my license doesn't note the date of issue?

Some places don't print the date of issue on licenses. In that case, you will need to provide written proof, in the form of a notarized letter or official driving record, of the date your license was issued. Contact the appropriate authorities in your country or state to request the necessary documentation.

Driver's License Centers

There are two license centers in Shimane, one in Matsue and another in Hamada.

Shimane Prefecture Driver's License Center (Matsue)
Japanese	島根県運転免許センター Shimane-ken unten menkyo sentā
Address	島根県松江市打出町250-1 250-1 Uchide-chō, Matsue-shi, Shimane-ken (map)
Phone	0852-36-7400
Web	http://www.pref.shimane.lg.jp

To get to the Matsue Driver's License Center:

Take the Unten menkyo sentā (kenmin kaikan keiyu) Ichibata bus from Matsue Station
Walk 10 minutes from Ichibata Railway's Asahigaoka Station

Shimane Prefecture Western Driver's License Center (Hamada)
Japanese	島根県西部運転免許センター Shimane-ken nishibu unten menkyo sentā
Address	島根県浜田市竹迫町2385-3 2385-3 Takezako-chō, Hamada-shi, Shimane-ken (map)
Phone	0855-23-7900
Web	http://www.pref.shimane.lg.jp

To get to the Hamada Driver's License Center:

Take the Nishibu unten menkyo sentā keiyu kenritsu daigaku Iwami Kōtsu bus from Hamada Station.

Types of Licenses

There are two types of Japanese driver's licenses that are relevant to JETs: one for automatic transmission cars and one for manual transmission cars.

If you do not have a manual transmission license, you cannot drive a manual car. However, those with a manual license are able to drive both manual and automatic cars.

The Procedure

The procedure for getting your Japanese license is actually described as "converting from a foreign license" (外国免許の切替え gaikoku menkyo no kirikae) in Japanese. In rough outline, you must:

Translate your foreign license
Register
Take the aptitude test
Take the written test
Take the driving test

Exempt countries

If you are lucky enough to be from any of the following exempt countries, you don't need to take the knowledge or skill tests:

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden

Translate your license

Japan Automobile Federation Shimane Branch
Japanese	日本自動車連盟島根支部 Nihon jidōsha renmei Shimane shibu
Address	島根県松江市東津田町1092-1 1092-1 Higashitsuda-chō, Matsue-shi, Shimane-ken (map)
Phone	0852-25-1123
Web	www.jaf.or.jp

You can't just translate your own license; you must get an official translation from either the Japanese embassy of your country, or from the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF). For most people, the JAF will be more convenient.

The JAF Shimane Office is located about 2km southeast of the JR Matsue station. You can drop in and get your translation on the same day for ¥3,000, or you can have your translation sent by mail.

To get your translation by mail:

Download, print, and fill out this form (PDF)
Make photocopies of your foreign license, both front and back
If your license is from a country that doesn't use a Roman alphabet (Arabic speaking countries, Korea, Russia, etc.), also make photocopies of your Alien Registration Card, front and back
Prepare exactly ¥3,290 in cash
- ¥3,000 translation fee and
- ¥290 shipping fee, as of 2008-6-26
Take the form, the copies, and the cash to the post office and send them all by registered cash mail (現金書留 genkin kakitome) to

〒690-0011
島根県松江市東津田町1092-1
JAF島根支部

Or in rōmaji:

JAF Shimane
1092-1 Higashitsuda-chō
Matsue-shi, Shimane-ken
690-0011

As of 2008-6-26, registered cash mail costs an additional ¥20 for the envelope and ¥560 for the service.

Your translation will be mailed to the address you wrote on the form in about one week.

Register

The Interview/Interrogation

Before they can "convert" your foreign license into a Japanese one they need to confirm that you really have a license and that the license you show them is not a fake. The will effectively assume your license is a fake and you need to convince them that it is a legitimate license. So, your first visit to the license center you will be interviewed. This can last two or more hours. They will go back and forth in their questioning, sometimes asking questions you have already answered. Don't get angry, it is a common interrogation method designed to trip people who are not telling the truth. Everyone must do the interview. They will not tell you if you have "passed" the interview for weeks. After you have "passed", then you must return to the license center for the other steps.

Some Interview Tips:

Print out the rules for getting a license in your home country/state/territory. That way, when they ask you various questions about getting a license back home, you have the answers.
Collect information regarding how you prepared for your original driving test (how many hours spent in a driving school, how much it cost) and what you had to do to get your license (what kind of road test, whether there was a vision test and/or a written test), what kind of licenses you've had (your first license, for example, may have had different restrictions than your current one), when your license was renewed, what the "class" of your license means (e.g., what kind of vehicles you are allowed to drive, and whether it's a different class from your original license), the meaning of any endorsements or restrictions on your license (e.g., you must wear corrective lenses), and so on. Be sure you can adequately explain why the period of time between the issuance date and the expiration date for your license is not the full period allowed by law (e.g., this might be the case if you had lost your license and purchased a replacement, thus pushing forward the Issue date without changing the expiration date).
Be prepared to explain your history of traveling to and from Japan, and the contents of your passports and visa stamps/stickers (present and past).
If you have any paper saying you passed a driving course/school, bring it to the interview. Have your family send it to you if it is in your home country.
If your Japanese skills are not excellent, bringing a translator would be a good idea. You may be able to get a translator free of charge via the Shimane International Center, which has branches in both Matsue and Hamada.
Don't make up answers. If you get caught not telling the truth, getting your license will turn into a massive headache that will last for several months.

The Written Test

In Shimane, the written test is fairly simple and can also be provided to you in English. One part of the test requires you to answer some simple questions, another part of the test asks you to examine some illustrations and answer questions about it.

The test in Hamada is 10 questions, 7 of which must be answered correctly to pass. The toughest part of the test is understanding the terrible English.

The Driving Test

People carrying licenses from countries not exempted from the driving test--including America, Brazil, China, South Africa and others--must take both the driving test and the written test.

The driving test is not so much a test of how well you can drive, but a test of how well you know Japanese laws. Needless to say, it is not an easy test to pass without preparation or experience. In fact, in previous years, many JETs had to take the driving test multiple times.

Here are some general tips:

The rules say that you are allowed to walk the course prior to having to drive it. Do so.
Drive slowly, but not too slowly, around 20-30 kph unless they tell you to go faster. In general, you can drive as slowly as you want.
Each course has S turns / crank turns, where you must drive on exceedingly narrow roads while continually turning the car. Go as slowly as you need to in order to navigate them successfully. Also, if you can't make the turn without falling off the edge, you may stop, back up, and try again. If you fall off the edge it is an automatic failure.
Be sure to stop BEFORE the white line. If you cannot see the white line from the driver's seat, you will lose points.
When making turns or changing lanes, exaggerate your movements or talk to yourself--anything to make it obvious to the proctor that you are checking your lanes. You have to show that you are looking out for those imaginary children on bikes and so on.
Signal SIX seconds before turning.
When making a turn, move to the side of the lane toward which you will be turning. So, move to the right side of the lane before you turn right, and left side of the lane prior to turning left. You are, according to Japanese law, supposed to keep a distance of about one meter between the edge of the road and the left side of the car. One reason for this is to make it unlikely that a bicyclist or motorcyclist will try to sneak in to your left as you turn left.
When turning left, keep a distance of no more than 1 meter between the edge of the road and the side of your car.
The Matsue course has a mock "construction site." To get around it, you must drive into the lane meant for oncoming traffic. You are expected to get back to the proper (left) lane as soon as possible.
Remember that dotted lines can be crossed, but you are not supposed to cross solid lines.
The Hamada and Mataue courses each have a spot with a wall that blocks your view (or is supposed to), at a T-intersection. You must honk your horn as a warning to those you can't see prior to making your turn.
If you can, take the manual transmission test. While this is strictly anecdotal, it has been noted that they proctors judge your more lightly.
Don't be afraid to ask questions about the test. In fact, it may help since it will show you are serious about their test.
Dress professionally and speak as much Japanese as possible, even if it's only "yoroshiku onegaishimasu": put yourself in their shoes. Be very respectful. Would you give a license in your home country to a person who didn't speak English, couldn't read it, and looked like they just stumbled out of bed? Japanese must go to driving school, which can cost around $4,000 US, and their driving test is at least double the length of the foreigner test, so in their eyes we are getting a Japanese license easier than Japanese can.
The following is a summary of tips that have been suggested in numerous forums as the proper procedure for beginning the test.

OUTSIDE
01 Look under the car to make sure there are no children hiding underneath.
INSIDE.
02 Get in the car.
03 Adjust seat.
04 Fasten seat belt.
05 Close and lock the door.
06 Look around quickly at the car's controls to familiarize yourself with the turn signal handle, gear changer, emergency brake, etc.
07 Activate (i.e., pull up) the emergency brake.
08 When you are ready to go, put your foot on the brake pedal.
ENGINE ON.
09 Start the car.
10 Adjust all three mirrors.
11 Put the car into Drive.
12 Release the emergency brake.
MOVE.
13 Use your turn signal to indicate that you will be moving forward.
14 Look in the mirror.
15 Release the brake and move straight forward to the street.
16 (Assuming you start the course pulled over to the left:) Signal a right turn.
17 Stop and look around to the left and right.
18 Turn into the lane of traffic to the right.

The Eye Test

At some point you are given an eye test. The Japanese style eye test has a tiny circle with a section missing. (Thus the tiny circle actually looks like a "C" turned in various directions. You are supposed to point or say what part of the circle is missing. For example, if the circle looks like a "C", you'd say "Migi" (right). Everyone must take the eye test. It only lasts a couple of minutes.

Photographs and a Map of the Matsue Driving Course

Click here.

Useful Web Resources

Overview on Japan's driving tests

Japan Window, a treasure trove of information on taking the driving test in Japan

"Why Do Americans [and other foreigners] Have to Take a Driving Test?"

US Embassy Statement on Japan's driving license regime (see halfway down the page)

Japanese Traffic signs