Japanese driver’s license

[DougP]

Ok I've been brushing up on my road signs and rules etc. But am still a little confused on the steps, processes, cost etc of obtaining my japanese driver's license. I had a SOFA driver's permit for over 5 years but I hear that doesn't mean squat and I'll still have to take the writen and road test. Has anyone out there done this before? How long does it take and what are the costs etc? Have any tips?:)

[Asshat]

You will need to take all of the tests. You will fail the driving test at least three times. I believe that is mandatory. In the end, you will be forced to do the ugly gaijin thing and get in the face of the tester. But don't do it until you have failed enough times to prove without a shadow of a doubt your inferiority as a gaijin.

For steps and processes, recommend you get with she who holds the gaijin torokusho over your head. Heck, that's why you put up with this s5it isn't it. :)

[dk]

I'm currently in the process of getting mine. 0/4 on the driving test so far and I have another one on Friday. I'll post more about it as soon as I pass the stupid thing...

And it won't be pretty.

The paperwork is a pain in the butt, but it's nothing compared to the waste of time that is the driving test. You could do the written test braindead and blindfolded without even knowing the questions and would probably pass...

[DougP]

Hope I don't have to fail it three times :) My wife got it on her first go.
I used to know another American who had a japanese license but he got it quite some time ago when it wasn't required for Americans to take any of the tests. If only I was Canadian.

[DougP]

I'm currently in the process of getting mine. 0/4 on the driving test so far and I have another one on Friday. I'll post more about it as soon as I pass the stupid thing...

And it won't be pretty.

Wow so is it hard to read or do they fail you on purpose?

[dk]

They fail you for stupid stuff.

[DoctorP]

If you had gone down before your SOFA license expired, you could have just switched it over. You pretty much just have to drive anal. Do that and you will be ok...oh, and don't drive angry at all, they don't like that!

[DougP]

darn missed that window.

[dk]

Here's what I've been failed for so far.

Test 1: Not using the side mirrors or looking over my shoulder (BS) and not veering to the side of the lane before turning. Yes, you have to do the veer. Yes, it is retarded and nobody actually does this on the road because it limits your turning angle and because it is retarded.

Test 2: Same as above. I was furious. Waste of two hours.

Test 3: Rounded the corners too fast. You need to go 20km or less. Screw driving naturally, YOU NEED TO GO 20KM OR LESS. Also, didn't use turning signals soon enough (I'll give him that much, but it didn't feel natural to use my turning signal when I couldn't even see the turn)

Test 4: Did EVERYTHING perfectly according to the tester except I didn't look over my shoulders (BS).

On my last test (#4) the teacher kept saying that it was so sad that he couldn't pass me and even patted me on the back (about bit his arm off) and that I'd very likely pass next time if I could just fix that one thing.

One piece of advice: say everything out loud. Say, "Rearview, Side View, Shoulder, Swerve, Turn". Say everything out loud not just for the tester, but because it'll make you make a conscious effort at everything.

Exaggerate every action.

And resist the urge to tear your paperwork up after the third test. I came so close to throwing my paperwork at the desk clerk on a few occasions and after test #3 I was pissed off to the point I think I could very well have hurt someone. On test #2, I straight up called the tester a liar and a thief.

Be prepared to blow about 2.5 hours and Y4000 every two weeks until you pass. Tests are usually at 1pm, so you will most likely be missing a lot of work.

[DougP]

Also read I have to go to JFA and get my state side license translated and then go to the police station after that... wtf?

[socalheart]

If the Japanese driving test is so difficult to pass, why are 99% of them such horrible effing drivers?! :cursing:

My mom's husband failed the test a few times as well, even after taking the driving course. My mom was lucky that she received hers a long time ago, because she just had to "switch" (not literally) her US license to get a Japanese one.

Ganbatte! :thumbup:

[dk]

You have to do a lot before you can even get to the test.

I think it would be truth to say that getting a Japanese driver's license is even more of a pain in the butt than getting your immigration paperwork out of the way.

[dk]

If the Japanese driving test is so difficult to pass, why are 99% of them such horrible effing drivers?! :cursing:
That's what I'm saying. I've given my wife such a hard time every time she drives me home from the DMV...

Sweetie, that was a stop sign.
Well, that's optional.
No, that's a stop sign.

[DougP]

its looking that way. My immigration stuff is just about done with. My Gaikokujin torokusho should be finished by next friday. What a PITA this is huh?

[dk]

LOL @ you for making me google PITA...

Yes, this is definitely a PITA.

[dk]

They pay like $3000 to go to driving school then pretty much "get" a license LOL
Kind of rediculous isn't it. I think it cost me like $7 in the states to get a license...

[dk]

Ohio. Is my memory failing me? I could have swore it was dirt cheap.

Best $7 I ever spent. That kid was a genius with photoshop!!!

j/k j/k

[DoctorP]

Mine was only $14.

[DougP]

Jiminy Christmas! They want me to bring someone who is fluently bilingual with me when I go take the test(s) which are only on wed. The one day my wife obviously can't get off this month :( So far I'm figuring 3000 for my state side license translation and 2,400 for the test... My guess there will several other hidden costs somewhere. God its like no matter what you want to do you have to go to this town office and get this something-seki or something-shomesho and they never give you more than one copy. Gotta keep throwing yen into the soba-ticket type vending machine... *resumes breathing* ok rant off. oh well maybe next month.

[dk]

I feel ya man. I'm right there with you on this. The system sucks. As soon as I'm done, I'd like to blow this wide open with a big discussion on everything that sucks about this system knowing full well that it will most likely never change. People need a place to rant about this stuff. It is the biggest PITA I have run into so far living in Japan.

For the test, it's like Y2,400 to make a reservation, and then when you show up for the test you pay another Y1,200 (I think... my memory sucks) for a stamp to take the test. It comes somewhere close to Y4,000 per test if my memory is correct.

I suck at details...

[Muku]

If you had gone down before your SOFA license expired, you could have just switched it over. You pretty much just have to drive anal. Do that and you will be ok...oh, and don't drive angry at all, they don't like that!
I would really love some more information about that one. There was a time here in Okinawa and Japan where Americans could just get their license translated and then changed over.

However because all 50 states have different rules and regulations regarding drivers licenses Americans are now required to take both the written and driving portions of the test.

I didnt I got my well before the law changed:D:thumbup:

Sorry guys I really feel for ya, the testing people can be anal, big time anal.

[DougP]

The guy at the testing place just told me that if I had gone down there with my SOFA license a month before I got out they would have changed it over. Now I'm sure there are other catches. Nothing is that easy over here.

[DoctorP]

I got my Japanese license about 6 years ago? Went down 2 weeks before I got out, took all of my paperwork, had my stateside license translated and they took all of it. Just had to sit through the one hour video. Pretty easy, except the driving around looking for all of the places!

[dk]

I finally passed it this morning... 1/5...

Probably drove my worst today and they still passed me, which really makes me think that it's seriously all about failing you a certain number of times.

I have to go back in two hours and watch a video and then I finally get my dang Japanese license. I started this process in June...

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

It's all about reciprocal agreements. If your home country has one with Japan, it will be a straight paperwork transfer. If not, you are stuck going through the 3-ring circus routine. Japanese moving to your country have the same privilege, or pain, depending on what agreement's in place.

In this case, the system is as fair as possible.

[Muku]

It's all about reciprocal agreements. If your home country has one with Japan, it will be a straight paperwork transfer. If not, you are stuck going through the 3-ring circus routine. Japanese moving to your country have the same privilege, or pain, depending on what agreement's in place.

In this case, the system is as fair as possible.
Like I wrote the US as a nation would be unable to have a reciprocal agreement with Japan because all 50 states have different rules and regulations regarding the issuance of drivers licenses.

So the majority of Americans just have to grin and bear it, or dont drive.:D

[Muku]

I finally passed it this morning... 1/5...



Now you HAVE to drive around for the next year with one of those green and yellow triangle stickers on your car that shows you are a newbie driver:eek::eek::eek::eek:.

Do us all a favor and warn us before you decide to take a drive somewhere please:-|:-|:rolleyes:

Oh joking aside here; congratulations!:thumbup1:

[dk]

I've been driving on Okinawa for about 8 or 9 years by now. You'll get no warning. :p

Today I'm finally legit. I never realized it was against the law to drive with an international license until recently. I knew it was frowned upon, but not that it was against the law. So feels good to finally have this sorted out.

[Muku]

I've been driving on Okinawa for about 8 or 9 years by now. You'll get no warning. :p

Today I'm finally legit. I never realized it was against the law to drive with an international license until recently. I knew it was frowned upon, but not that it was against the law. So feels good to finally have this sorted out.

You are really lucky, if you had been caught the fine would have been major money.

Either way congratulations!

[OCanadaOurHomeAndNativeLand]

Like I wrote the US as a nation would be unable to have a reciprocal agreement with Japan because all 50 states have different rules and regulations regarding the issuance of drivers licenses.

So the majority of Americans just have to grin and bear it, or dont drive.:D
Canada has different rules & regs in all 10 provinces and 3 territories, but they managed to finish an agreement with Japan a few years back. Canadians who wanted a driver's license before that had to do the written and track test before. Now, just a quick paperwork transfer. The US could manage something if the will was there politically.

[Muku]

Canada has different rules & regs in all 10 provinces and 3 territories, but they managed to finish an agreement with Japan a few years back. Canadians who wanted a driver's license before that had to do the written and track test before. Now, just a quick paperwork transfer. The US could manage something if the will was there politically.
Oh well...My explaination is from the guys at the license center, personally it never affected me, I never had to go through the hoops that people like dk had to go through.

Thanks for sharing this.

[soldave]

I thought it was that if the country had recorded accident rates comparable to that of Japan then the agreement was that you could just transfer your licence over. The US as a whole has slightly higher accident rates and so you have to take the test after a year of having an international driving licence, even though some states may be well under this level.

Of course, I could just be talking complete rubbish. Mr Alzheimer has a lot to answer for...

[Muku]

I thought it was that if the country had recorded accident rates comparable to that of Japan then the agreement was that you could just transfer your licence over. The US as a whole has slightly higher accident rates and so you have to take the test after a year of having an international driving licence, even though some states may be well under this level.

Of course, I could just be talking complete rubbish. Mr Alzheimer has a lot to answer for...

You know you got me interested in finding out. I did a bit of research and came up with this answer from the following website it is from the US Embassy here in Japan.

Why Do Americans Have to Take a Driving Test?
(http://tokyo.usembassy.gov/e/acs/tacs-drive.html)

Why Do Americans Have to Take a Driving Test?
The Embassy spoke with the Superindendent of the License Division, Traffic Bureau, of the National Police Agency (NPA) to learn that prior to June 2002, Japanese law had allowed foreigners bearing international driver licenses to drive indefinitely in Japan.

As of June 2002, however, foreigners are only able to drive on an international driver license for up to 12 months, then have to have applied for and received a Japanese driver license. Long term foreign residents in Japan who attempt to avoid taking a driving test by continually renewing their international driver license abroad every 12 months will now be required to prove that they obtained the international permit at least three months before re-entering Japan. Tourists and others coming to Japan for short stays may drive with an international license obtained at any time before their arrival into the country.

The driver test consists of hearing, eyesight, written and practical/road test components. Citizens of 21 countries, not including the United States, are exempt from taking everything but the eye test. Some of these countries met the exemption requirement because the NPA examined their domestic traffic safety record and determined that it was at least as good as Japan's. Other nations exempt Japanese license holders from a driving test.

Canada received approval on February 1, 2003 after a lengthy (3-4 years) review. Canada had to submit responses to a lengthy questionnaire, regarding each of the country's 13 provinces and territories. In order for the U.S. to be exempt from the driver test requirement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must instruct the Japanese Embassy in Washington to contact each of the 50 states and provide them with a questionnaire. Once the 50 individual questionnaires are collected, they will be translated into Japanese and studied by the National Police Agency. In addition to individual state safety records and procedures for acquiring a license, the National Police Agency will be looking closely to see if each of the 50 individual states exempt holders of valid Japanese licenses from taking state road and written tests.

We shared with the NPA statistics which showed that the United States had a risk value much lower than that of Japan's with respect to fatalities as a share of vehicle kilometers traveled. We were told that the Japanese police still needed to see the safety records of each individual state. The Police are also concerned to see if each of the 50 individual states exempt holders of valid Japanese licenses from taking state road and written tests (many do not).

The total number of people applying for Japanese licenses who already had U.S. state driver licenses in 2001 was 5,698. Of these, 4,821 were Japanese citizens returning from work, study or tourism travel in the United States, and only 879 were Americans or third country nationals. The first-time pass rate for Americans was slightly higher than the 35 percent pass rate for Japanese returnees, but not much. On the other hand, for those who take the regular test, they have to go through an intensive (and expensive) driver education program. The first time pass rate for this group, even with the harder test, is 90 to 100 percent.


So it appears that I was given wrong information, Sorry if I confused or mislead anyone that was not my intent.:o

Soldave your information seems to be right on the mark, thanks for sharing!

[Muku]

Switching an Overseas License to a Japanese Driver's License. (http://www.jaf.or.jp/e/switch.htm)

This link seems to hold all the pertinent information needed to anyone wanting to change their license over to a Japanese one.

Good information here.:thumbup:

[Bones]

Ok, here's an update.

Last Friday, we went down to Naha for try number 3.

I was told that I had waited too long, and would have to start the process over again.

Last Monday, I had new pictures taken, my Florida license translated, and we went to the testing center to verify that I had all of the documentation needed to take the test again. Everything was in order.

This morning we went back to the testing center, waited 30 minutes for the paperwork to be looked over again, paid my 2400 yen, passed my eye test, waited 90 minutes to take the 10 question written test. Aced it. Aced the 50 question test earlier as well, but it took a lot less time for the 10 question test. About three minutes I think, compared to 25 minutes previously.

One of the first things I noticed, that in the right corner of the answer sheet was a blurb telling me that this test would be good for 6 months. I took the 50 question test in November, of last year. Also, the person who examined my paperwork this morning was not the same person as before.

So we went downstairs, and our daughter went back to station 9, and asked about why I had to take the test again, since I had taken it only three months ago?

We sat down for about 15 minutes, and were then told that they couldn't find my old paperwork. Some of the secretaries working there remembered me, as did the handicapped individual manning one of the desks, who had examined my paperwork earlier, and who had also told us that our paperwork had expired.

The daughter went ballistic, but I caught her in time before she got her hands on the guy. Made a lot of new friends today.

But I'll have to face the dreaded course again March 7, at 08:30. They had promised us a full review of why our paperwork was lost, and a full refund of any of the money we had spent during this second round. Will that get me my license? Probably not, but it sure was fun watching the daughter blow up. :thumbup1:

NBTP