How to get a driving license in Japan.

If you are looking to obtain or obtain a driving license in Japan, we will tell you about it in this publication.

Either because you don’t want to continue using trains or subways. And you want to start traveling the country on a more personal basis or for your job, you need a driver’s license.

If you want to drive in Japan we have good news: foreign residents can get behind the wheel immediately if they meet certain criteria.

Driving license valid in Japan

You can drive in Japan if you have one of these valid permits:

An International Driving Permit.
A driving license issued in Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan
A Japanese driving license.
Having a valid International Driving Permit (IDP) will allow you to drive a car in Japan, in accordance with Japanese laws. You must apply for and receive your PIC in your own country before arriving in Japan. Each country has its own process for obtaining a PIC, so be sure to check with the relevant local transportation authorities.

If you have a driving license from Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan, you can drive in Japan as long as you have a Japanese translation prepared by one of the following entities:

The licensing authority, or the embassy or consulate of the issuing country in Japan;
Taiwan-Japan Relations Association for Taiwanese licenses;
The Japan Automobile Federation
Another requirement is to reside in Japan for less than one year. In the next section, we will learn how to convert your foreign driving license into a Japanese driving license.

Conversion to a Japanese driving license

You can change your foreign driving license (not a PIC) to a Japanese license by applying at the Driver’s License Center of the police department of the prefecture where you live. But there are two requirements:

Your country’s driving license must be valid; You won’t be able to do it if it’s expired.
You will need to be able to prove that you stayed in the country issuing your driving license for at least three months after receiving it
Required documents
There are a series of documents necessary to transfer your foreign driving license to a Japanese one:

Application form
A passport-style photograph
Residence certificate (住民票 jyūminhyō)
Your National Health Insurance card
Your My Number card
Your foreign resident card
Your foreign driver’s license
A Japanese translation of your foreign driving license
Evidence that you have stayed in the country that issued your driving license for at least three months. For example, your passport with entry and exit date stamps
Get a Japanese translation
The Japanese translation of your license must be done by the Japan Automobile Federation or your foreign embassy.

The translation costs 4,000 yen and will take about two weeks.

If you are unable to apply online for any reason, you can do so by post.

Apply for your Japanese permit at the Driver’s License Center
The first thing you should keep in mind is that, if you do not speak Japanese fluently, it is better to have someone with you who is fluent in the language and help you translate.

Secondly, you may need to make an appointment first, so check by contacting your local centre.

You will have to pass an aptitude test, a knowledge test, and a driving skills test.

If your license was issued in the following countries:

Australia
Austria
Belgium
Britain
Canada
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Holland
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Monaco
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Slovenia
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Swiss
United States of America (States of Hawaii, Maryland, Virginia and Washington only),
Taiwan
then you will not need to take either the theory test or the driving test.

Those who have a driver’s license from the state of Indiana (United States) will not need to take the driving test, but will need to complete the theory test.

The exams
The aptitude test will test your vision, color vision, hearing and motor skills. They will also ask you some questions in Japanese about your driving experience, how you got your driving license, etc.

The theoretical exam will consist of 10 questions about traffic law in Japan. You need to get 7 right to pass. You can take the exam in Arabic, Bengali, Burmese, English, French, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Mandarin, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Turkish, Urdu and Vietnamese.

Once you pass the knowledge test, you can make an appointment to take the driving test. Please note that the next available date could be in a couple of weeks or months. This practical test will assess whether you drive safely, whether you can perform maneuvers accurately and, in general, what you do.

Getting a driving license in Japan involves a series of steps, which can vary depending on whether you are obtaining a new license or converting a foreign license. Here’s a detailed guide for both scenarios:

Obtaining a New Driving License in Japan

1. Age Requirements:
   • You must be at least 18 years old for a regular car license.
2. Driving Schools:
   • Enroll in a certified driving school. While it is not mandatory, it is highly recommended as it helps in passing the exams.
   • Complete both classroom and practical driving lessons. Courses typically last from a few weeks to a few months.
3. Learner’s Permit:
   • After completing the initial part of your driving course, you will take an exam to obtain a learner’s permit. This permit allows you to practice driving under supervision.
4. Final Examination:
   • Pass a written exam, which tests your knowledge of Japanese road signs, rules, and regulations.
   • Pass a practical driving test, which includes a skills test on a closed course and sometimes a test on public roads.
5. Medical Check:
   • Pass a vision test and sometimes a hearing test.
6. Applying for the License:
   • Submit all required documents, including your learner’s permit, test results, identification, and proof of residence.
   • Pay the necessary fees.

Converting a Foreign Driving License to a Japanese License

1. Eligibility:
   • You must have held your foreign license for at least three months in the issuing country before coming to Japan.
2. Translation:
   • Obtain an official Japanese translation of your foreign driving license from the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF).
3. Documentation:
   • Prepare the following documents:
     • Your foreign driving license
     • Official Japanese translation of the license
     • Passport
     • Residence Card (Zairyu Card)
     • Proof of residence (Juminhyo)
     • A recent photograph (3 cm x 2.4 cm)
4. Application:
   • Visit the local Driver’s License Center with all the required documents.
5. Written and Practical Tests:
   • Depending on the country of your foreign license, you may need to take a written and/or practical driving test. Some countries are exempt from these tests.
6. Medical Check:
   • Pass a vision test and sometimes a hearing test.
7. Issuance of Japanese License:
   • Once you pass all necessary tests, pay the required fees, and your Japanese driving license will be issued.

Tips for Success

• Study Japanese Road Signs and Rules: Familiarize yourself with Japanese traffic laws, road signs, and driving etiquette.
• Practice Driving: Gain as much driving experience as possible, especially if you are new to driving or the Japanese driving environment.
• Language Preparation: If you are not fluent in Japanese, consider bringing a translator or finding resources in your language to help with studying.

Following these steps carefully will help ensure that you successfully obtain or convert your driving license in Japan.