Getting your license in Japan is slightly different from the United States. In this article, we’re going to walk though the steps you’ll need to take to get your license and be more operational as you serve in Japan.
- Do you need a license?
- Is it difficult?
- What do I need?
- What is the process?
- Should I go to driving school?
- How much will it cost?
LINK: Japan Automobile Federation page on driving in Japan
Do you need a license?
Public transportation is very reliable and efficient in Japan. It might be more efficient to simply take the train if you live near a station.
However, not all of Japan is like Tokyo. Our first two year in Japan were in Niigata. We had trains and busses, but there aren’t as many. It is much quicker to move around the city by car.
You will also save some time if you have times to meet up with people in various parts of the city at different times of the day.
Even if you do not have to drive your first term in language school, I highly recommend that you get your license.
Is it difficult?
Don’t expect to just walk into the DMV in Japan and walk out with your license on the same day.
There are two ways you can get your license in Japan. The first way is to start from scratch with no prior license. This is what a normal Japanese person would have to do.
When starting from scratch, you have to prepare for a test that you MUST make pass with at least 90 percent. You have 50 minutes to answer the 90+ questions which are notoriously designed to trick you into answering incorrectly.
After the test, people then take the driving exam. The license center has its own driving course. For a regular license, people are required to MEMORIZE 4 different possible driving routes. On the day of the driving test, the course is announced and people are expected to drive the course.
However, if you have a license from the United States, you can get your license a different way.
In Niigata, the actual test for the involved a 10-question test that was overtly simple and the driving test. We were also only required to memorize 2 courses instead of 4.
What do I need?
This article is about getting your Japanese license the second way. Essentially, you are going to do what they call a Gaikoku Menkyo Kirikae（外国免許切替）or Gaimen-Kirikae （外面切替）for short.
As you probably know, Japan has many different prefectures. Steps outlined below are what we did to get our license in Niigata prefecture. Where you live and have your residency might differ slightly, so please be careful.
You will need the following to get started:
- Your US driver’s license (plus front and back copy)
- Your Passport (Plus copies of the picture page, date of entry page, and visa page)
- Official Translation of your US driver’s license
- Your Zairyu Card plus a front and back copy)
- Jyumin-Hyo with your nationality
- Picture (3cm high by 2.4 cm wide. Blank Background. Head shot)
Some cities now allow you to get your Jyumin-Hyo at a convenience store using your MyNumber card. If your town does not allow this, you will need to get your Jyumin-Hyo from city hall.
To get your US license translated, you will need to take it to a Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) office or mail it in. I dropped ours off and they got it back to us in just a few hours.
What is the process?
Paperwork inspection
Once you have your papers together, you will need to go through a paperwork inspection. You will have to get them inspected at the driver’s license office before they will let you take the test.
You will have to have had your license for over three months before coming to Japan. You also need to be able to prove that you were in the US for three months after you got your license. This is why they want to see your passport. This is to prevent Japanese people who get a license in the states while on a short tourist stay and exchanging for a Japanese license.
The license office in our city had a small window of time to be at the office to start the paperwork inspection (1:00pm~1:30pm). For each person in line, it took them about an hour, so I highly recommend that you arrive early. We happened to be 4th and 5th in line.
If you happen to have a license issued by the state of Maryland, you’re in luck. Once your paperwork passes the inspection, you can get your license. For the rest of you, keep reading on.
If you pass, they will give you some papers showing that you passed. It will also have an applicant number on it. You will need this paperwork so keep it safe.
Make test reservations
One you pass the paperwork inspection, you will then need to reserve a day to take the test. If they are full for the month, you might have to call at a later time when reservations open up for the following month. If you do, you will need to supply the applicant number found on the paperwork they gave you when you passed the inspection.
Take the test
You will show up on the day you reserved and take an eye exam and and the written exam (10 questions). Then you will move on to the driving test.
The instructor will tell you which course you will drive. You will get in the car, drive the course and come back. Then the instructor will tell you if you passed or failed.
If you have passed, you just have to wait a few more minutes and they will give you your license! At this point, they may ask you to surrender your international driver’s license (assuming you have one) so you won’t have two licenses.
Should I go to driving school?
Many people fail the driving test. Listen up.
There is a VERY specific way the examiner will expect you to drive. Here are some questions to consider.
- Where do you check on the car before you get in?
- How many times do you stop at a blind intersection?
- How many meters before a turn do you turn your blinker on? What about if there is a curve before the turn?
- What is the range of speeds they will allow on on a curve?
- Which crossroads do you check?
If you can’t answer those, then DO NOT take the driving test. You will fail.
Fortunately, there is a way you can learn the courses and how to drive them.
Next to the license center, there was a driving school. They helped people learn the courses and the instructor would assist people with driving technique for the test. However, don’t expect it to be cheap. We paid 5500 yen an hour.
If you let them know that you are doing a Gaimen-Kirikae, they should know how to help you. We went several times to learn the proper driving techniques that were expected. The driving school also used the actual test course for practice so it was very helpful.
Additionally, it seemed that the driving school had a relationship with the license center. I’m not sure how much influence the owner has there, but it seemed significant that he showed up and talked to the examiner on the day we said we were scheduled to take the test. The owner of the driving school said he has been in the business for 50 years. I’m sure he has some connections.
The driving school allowed one of us to ride in the back seat for free while the other was practicing. This helped with learning the course. We each spent 4 hours, but were there a total of 8 hours together. If you are married, I would recommend you trying to tag along since it will help you.
The instructors at the driving school will be able to tell you if you can pass or not before you go. It will be wise to ask them if they think you are ready.
How much will it cost?
Here is what it cost for each of us to get our license in Japan:
- License translation by JAF: 3,000 yen
- Driving School (4 hours): 22,000 yen (5,500 yen/hr)
- Photo: 800 (you can do this a lot cheaper if you plan ahead)
- Exam Fee: 2,550 yen
- License issue Fee 2,050 yen
Total: 30,400 yen (per person)
If you are a missionary serving in Japan and need some help, please reach out to me: james@reachingjapan.com
What has your experience been getting your license in Japan? I would love to hear about it in the comments.