- Life in Japan
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For Japanese citizens, and for anyone who didn’t drive in their home country, getting a Driver’s License in Japan can be a long, daunting, and expensive task. For some jobs in Japan, a driving license is essential.
The minimum age for driving in Japan is 18 years old. Some earn their Japanese driving license by taking some basic courses and trying the driving test. Others take the longer and more expensive route of comprehensive courses, where graduation means that you automatically pass the Japan driving exam.
Japanese people usually go to driving schools and that takes several months of classroom and practical training and costs up to around 250,000 yen – the equivalent of over 1000 pounds or 2000 dollars.
Fortunately, if you have a valid driving license from your home country, you may be able to use it to change and convert your license to a Japanese driving license – without having to go to driving school, and sometimes without even taking the driving exam. Here’s how to get a driving license in Japan.
No matter where your driver’s license is from, there are a few steps that everyone needs to take for the Japanese driving license application process. Later, there are differences depending on the country.
If your driving license is from any of the following territories:
…then the points above are all that you need to do, in most cases.
If your country/state is not in the above list*, then you will need to take the two exams: the written test, and the driving test. Each prefecture in Japan has its own rules, so contact the licencing center directly.
*In certain cases, the written test may still be required even if you are exempt from the driving test.
Congratulations! You’ve received your Japanese driver’s license as a foreigner in Japan. Now there are some more things to keep in mind as you hit the road. Here are our tips for driving in Japan.
Just like your residence card, you will need to update your address on your Japanese driving license when you move. You can do this at driver’s license centers, but you can often get it done at your local police station (not kobans!).
It’s a good idea to read the Japanese book ‘Rules of the Road’ to pass your driving test.
Interested in living and working in Japan? Check out ALT jobs with Interac here.