Learn how foreigners can obtain a driver’s license in Japan.

What kind of transportation do you use in your daily life and travel?

Japan is a country with well-developed public transportation systems, such as trains and buses that arrive and depart regularly.

However, have you ever felt inconvenienced by not having a car?
Especially in rural areas of Japan, supermarkets and hospitals are often concentrated only in front of train stations, so a car is a must if you live in the suburbs.

Also, a rental car is convenient to have for sightseeing in Japan.
It is great to be able to go not only to the city but also to places with abundant beautiful nature.

If you can drive a car in Japan, the range of jobs you can get, such as transportation work or sales, will be much wider.
There are many companies that require that you have a driver’s license as a condition of employment.

However, a driver’s license obtained overseas cannot be used in Japan due to differences in signs and rules. Therefore, if you want to drive a car in Japan, you will need a Japanese driver’s license.

In this issue, we will introduce the process of obtaining a Japanese driver’s license.

Requirements for Foreigners to Obtain a Driver’s License in Japan

*If you already have a license in your home country

・Visa or driver’s license must not have expired.

Reside in Japan and have a certificate of residence in Japan.

Have stayed in the country where you obtained your driver’s license for at least 3 months in total

The above are the conditions for converting your driver’s license to a driver’s license that can be used in Japan.

You will also be required to pass a knowledge check and a practical driving test to ensure that you can drive safely in Japan.
In some countries, you may be able to pass the knowledge check and practical test, so be sure to check in advance.

If you are applying for a driver’s license for the first time in Japan

To obtain a driver’s license in Japan, you must first be at least 18 years old.

You must have a visual acuity of 0.3 or better in one eye and 0.7 or better in both eyes with glasses or contact lenses.

Able to distinguish the difference between colors of traffic signals.

The applicant must be able to hear voices in daily conversation with hearing aids, and hear a 9-decibel horn at a distance of 10 meters.

A person with a prosthetic leg or hand may obtain a driver’s license as long as he/she does not have any disability that would interfere with driving.

These conditions must be met.
Once this is confirmed, go to a driving school.

Process to obtain a driver’s license at a driving school

At the driving school, you will first go through an orientation and a vision and hearing test.

If there are no problems, you will begin the first stage of “study training” and the first stage of “skill training.
In the first stage of skills training, students learn the basics by driving on the roads set up at the driving school.
There are 10 hours of study, 12 hours of technical skills for automatic transmission, and 14 hours for transmission.

Once you have taken all of these courses, you will take the final exam and the provisional license exam.

Those who pass will move on to the “second stage of the course” and “second stage of the technical training course.
In the second stage of the skills training, students learn by actually driving on the road.

Finally, you will take the graduation examination, and if you pass the examination, you will take the main license examination at the Driver’s License Center.
The test is only for the subject matter.

If you successfully pass all of these tests, you will receive a driver’s license.

How long does it take to attend driving school?

The average time for commuting to school is about 2 to 3 months.

If you stay and study at a driving school, you can obtain your driver’s license in 14 days if you are an early learner.

Can I take the exam in a foreign language?

In each prefecture, there are license centers that can handle exams in foreign languages.

The main languages are English, Chinese, and Portuguese, but depending on your prefecture, some languages may not be supported, so be sure to check in advance.

Conclusion

How was your experience?
Most Japanese drivers are well mannered and drive safely.

As for the license training and examinations, they are not very difficult, so you should work on them calmly one by one to acquire safe driving skills.

This is how to get a driver’s license in Japan.