Posts Tagged ‘driving in japan’

You’ve submitted all the documents, passed the written test, and made an appointment for your driving test (if you haven’t, please read Driving in Japan Part 1 (Preparation and the written test). I wrote this section to try and offer the things that I learned while taking my driving test to obtain my Japanese drivers license. It took me two tries to pass the test and I will include my experiences with both test. First, let me start of by listing the process for those who pass.

1. Take the driving test
2. Pay 2,100 yen fee
3. Submit documents and register pin code (needed for future use)
4. Wait while they process your documents
5. Receive ticket and have your picture taken
6. Receive your drivers license

So let’s go through the process in a little more detail. I recommend that you arrive about 15 minutes early to go over the course and try to memorize it. Consider things like where you will stop, where you will turn, and so on.

At the designated time, they will open the doors and invite you to sit in a classroom setting where they break you into groups and tell you where to go depending on the type of test: manual or automatic and whether you are transfering from an international license or not. Once they call your group, they will ask you to write you name on a sheet of paper and tell you to go to a new room, one located in front of the driving area.

The drive instructor will come in explain which course you will be driving and things you want to pay attention to. It is VERY important to pay close attention to these things as they are the specific things they will be checking. Depending on the instructor, failure to do these things correctly could mean instant failure.

Before continuing on with the key points for the course, I would like to mention two things that made my first try much more difficult than the 2nd. The first was the instructor. The first instructor didn’t seem to like foreigners too much and spoke to us like children. Out of the 16 or so people he only passed 3, and only about 6 people in total were able to finish the entire course. He failed me at the first stop sign for not stopping long enough. The test itself is stressful, but that is amplified when you have someone screaming orders. The second instructor was completely different and treated everyone with respect. If you get a bad instructor, I would suggest setting your next appointment for a different day of the week.

The other is whether to choose an automatic or manual. I have almost always driven a manual, but had never driven a left handed one. That on top of thinking about all the other things made the test much more difficult. Most cars in Japan are automatic, so unless you have a specific reason for needing a manual, I recommend an automatic. So on to the driving course…

The driving test itself is actually pretty short and not too difficult, but there are a few points you must pay attention to when driving. Here is a Google map of Samezu Driving Course. The instructor will give all commands in Japanese, but they are very simple and even people speaking no Japanese can pass.

Unless you are the first person, you will have the chance to sit in the back seat, while the person ahead of you is driving. I recommend that you pretend you are driving the car and think about what you would be doing. When it is your turn, walk around the car and make sure there is nothing in front of the tires. Get in the car, adjust your seat, mirrors, and put on your seatbelt. Be very obvious about doing all of this and take your time. When you are finished, the instructor will ask you if you are ready and you can start the car. Before doing so make sure the emergency brake in engaged and that the car is in neutral (for manual) or parked (for automatic). When you are asked to go, lower the hand brake, and put the car in gear. Drive very slowly to the first stop sign.

The first stop sign is where I failed my first test. Be sure to make a complete stop and wait for about three to five seconds while looking both ways. Make a right turn into the far left lane and drive as smoothly as you can. Always error on the slow side. If you drive to slow they will tell you to speed up a little. If you drive to fast you will fail. You will drive once around the track (stay in the far left lane except for changing lanes to avoid the cone on the far side of the track) and on the second time they will ask you to speed up to about 45km. It is not important to actually reach this speed, but they want to see you control the car at a slightly higher speed and see you brake at the next corner. Just remember to accelerate and brake smoothly. You will make a left turn after the first corner and then need to merge tot he right lane to make a right turn. make the turn once the right arrow turns green (even if the others are all red) and stop before turning left. Make the left turn and then the next left towards the S-course.

The S-course is there to make sure you can navigate the car in narrow roadways. It is narrow, but is not too difficult if you just go slowly. If you think you will hit the curb, back up a little and go again. After finishing the S-course make a left turn and stop at the light if it is red. proceed to the stop sign and make a right turn (remember to stop for a decent amount of time). Pull back in the the original start point and your done. the instructor will let you know if you passed and give you any advice on errors you made.

If you passed, you wait in the room until everyone is finished. If you failed, you go the reservation counter and make a new appointment. Now it is basically a waiting game. One everyone is finished you will follow the instructor and he will submit your papers. Wait till your name is called and you will need to go to the “account” window to pay 2,100yen. Once you receive your stamp, go back to the international window and give them your paper. You will also need to create two pin codes for future renewals and identification. It will take them about an hour to do your paperwork and when finished they will give you a receipt.

Take the receipt to the picture room and get your picture taken. They will tell you to go to the waiting room and wait for your license. wait until the number on the sign gets to the number on your receipt and then ask for your license. If you take the morning test, the offices will close from 12:00-12:50 for lunch and you will get your card at about 1:00pm.

For those who passed congratulations. You won’t have to come back for 3 years until renewal. For those who didn’t pass, don’t worry about it. It takes many people several times to pass. I felt horrible after my first time, but I new what to expect and the different instructor made a huge difference.

Please feel free to comment on your own experiences or ask any questions you may have. Also, if you enjoyed the article please subscribe to my rss feed.

I have lived in Tokyo all together for about 3 years and though I love to drive I have never had a good enough reason to go through the somewhat painful process of getting a Japanese license. However, now that I have decided to Miyakojima (a small tropical island near Okinawa with no rail system), I finally have enough reason to go and get it. I am writing down my experiences and the things that I have learned to make it easier for those who have not yet obtained it.

Please note that this guide will apply for all foreigners who want to obtain their license in Japan, but will focus on the steps an American must go though. According to JapanDriversLicense.com (a company to help foreigners complete the application process and pass the tests), the following countries are not required to take either the written or the driving test to obtain their drivers license: Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, South Korea Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom.

Since driving licenses are decided at the state level in the US and each State has it’s own requirements, Foreigners holding a US drivers license or license not from one of the above countries are required to take both a written and driving test to obtain a Japanese license.

Notes

Before going through the steps I recommend you take the time to consider if you will really need to drive. The train systems are great in Tokyo and most of the large cities in Japan and driving or owning a car can be more of a pain than a benefit. Consider the following questions:

1. How long will I be in Japan? If it is less than a year, then I would recommend you get an international driving permit. Much easier to obtain and allows you to drive in Japan. This is not an option for people staying in Japan for more than one year.

2.Where will I live? If it’s Tokyo, Osaka, or another large city then a car is not necessary. If you live in the country then it might be more appropriate. To own a car in Tokyo, you must register a spot to park it, pay high prices for registration, gas is expensive, and roads are congested. Not to mention that the major highways have tolls.

3. Do I plan to travel? If you plan to travel in Japan then you may want a license. As you start visiting more remote locations of Japan such as Hokkaido or Okinawa you will definitely need a car. If this is the case then getting your driver’s license is just preparation for your trip.

4. Am I allowed to drive? When I was a student at Waseda University, we were not allowed to drive in Japan due to past problems. This may not only apply for students attending certain universities, but to employees at certain companies as well. I suggest you check with your school or employer.

Okay, so you’ve gone through the questions and decided you want to get your license in Japan. The first thing to do is prepare your documents.

Preparation

1. Translate your license- The first thing you will need to do is get your drivers license officially translated into Japanese . This is easily done by visiting a JAF (Japanese Automobile Federation) office. JAF is basically the AAA of Japan. You can find a list their offices here. You will need your drivers license, fill out an application form, and pay 3,000yen. I also recommend your take your alien registration card as well. Most of the time your license will be translated while you wait. It took about 30 minutes when I went. Very basic Japanese should get you by with no problem. if you are concerned then you might look at JapanDriversLicense.com. I believe helping non-Japanese speakers are their specialty.

2. Collect your documents- Before going to the driving center make sure you have all of your documents.

• Driver’s license
• Japanese translation of your drivers license
• Alien registration card
• Passport
• Copy of your driving record if you were in your home country for less than one year after your current license was issued. (You can still apply without this, however you will be given a beginners license. Meaning you must display a beginner’s sticker when driving and start out with less points)
• 2,400yen

3. Locate and visit your local driving license center- For those living in Tokyo and holding an American driver’s license or for anyone else that is required to take both the writing and driving test, can only apply at the Samezu or Fuchu centers. You can find contact info here. My local ward told me to go the the nearest on and I was told I could not apply there. Maps can be found here (Samezu, Fuchu).

4. Applying- Now is where the waiting starts. I chose the Samezu office which is located about 15 minutes by bus from Shinagawa station. Upon arrival let the information center know you want to change your license to a Japanese license and she can direct you to the correct place. this was counter 27 on the 2nd floor at Samezu. Go to that counter and let them know you want to apply for a Japanese license. They will give you a number and ask you to wait. Please note that these offices are only open from 8:30am-11:00am and 1pm-3:00pm. Arrive early at ether one of the sessions to cut down your wait.

5. Submitting your documents- They will eventually call your number and you will be asked to submit all the documents you have collected. Once they have everything they will ask you to wait once again. If everything checks out, they will call you and let you know the next steps you need to take. They give you back your application form along with a numbered list of things you need to do.

6. Getting your picture- There is a picture booth located on the first floor. Pay 600yen and use the English instructions if necessary. Once you receive the pictures, cut out a small one using the tools provided and stick it on the application form. There is a small yellow “peel off” to stick it on.

7. Checking your eye site- Located down the hall from the picture booth is room 1 where they test your eye site. Look through the lens and tell the lady which direction the open part of the circle is facing. They will also do a color test to make sure you are not color blind.

8. Pay your fee- Return to the 2nd floor at window 25 and pay 2,400yen. They will mark your application as paid.

9. Submit your completed application- Return to the original window and resubmit your application. After a short wait they will call your name and you will take a 10 question test on a computer. It is a yes/no test and very easy. I managed to score 10/10 so nothing to worry about. You can find a practice test here. If you pass the test you will be asked to make a reservation for your driving test.

10. Making a reservation-Go room 9 on the first floor and tell them you would like to make a reservation for your driving test. They will take your application and explain about the test day. They will also give you a card that you can use to make a reservation. Simply stick the card in the machine and choose the date and time. There are two possible times to take the test. 8:30am and 1:00pm. If you pass the test at 8:30am your license will be issued at 1:00pm. If you pass it at 1:00pm, your license will be issued at 4:00pm.

11. Take the driving test- You are asked to show up 5 minutes before the test time at the same room. Stay tuned for part two as I will be giving more information on the things I learned from the driving test.

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