Getting a Driver's License

Steps to getting a Japanese driver's license

Application Process

The JAF is the only place in Mie whose translation the BMV will accept, and is open from 9:00-17:30, Monday to Friday (closed on public holidays). The license will cost about ¥3000 to translate.

Yokkaichi JAF

You can reach JAF by taking the bus from Kintetsu Yokkaichi. The bus stop is Shinsho [新正]. Bus # 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, and 41 should all stop at Shinsho. Exit the bus and walk towards the big AOKI building [same direction as traffic]. When you reach AOKI, cross the street - making a right. Walk down for about 5 minutes. JAF should be on your left side - with a big sign, can't miss it. You can also take the local train, one stop south of Kintetsu Yokkaichi, also called Shinsho. I've never taken it so can't give exact directions but just look for the big AOKI building and figure out your orientation from there.

You then take this, and head to the Mie Prefectural Driver's License Center (514-0821 Mie Prefecture, Tsu City Oaza, Tarumi 2566. Open 8:30-17:15) to start all the paperwork and booking your exams. The center is located 500m from the Kintetsu Minamigaoka station which is between Hisai and Tsushinmachi stations. Take the west exit (the sign mentions the license center), when you come out onto the street go left down the street (south) with the train tracks on your left. Walk for about 10 minutes, turn left at the second light into the center, and take the left fork to get to the entrance of the building.

You'll need to book an appointment with the Drivers License Centre before you show up - Ph: (059) 229-1212 Make sure to book well in advance. Depending on the time of year, you will have to wait up to a month before an appointment is available. This applies even if you are from a country that does not require the practical test.

Here's a cut and paste from the prefectural site as to what you'll need to bring with you.

For the translation: --- (1) Where to apply: JAF Regional Offices counters across the country (2) How to apply: Apply directly at the JAF counter, or mail your application to a JAF counter by registered mail for cash (Genkin Kakitome). (3) Required documents: A photocopy of the foreign driver’s license (original licenses cannot be accepted). (4) Application fees: ¥3,000 per license. Extra fee of ¥290 for return postage (delivery-recorded mail) when an application is made by mail.

• The Japanese translation will not be reissued in principle. The translation may be reissued only when it is deemed necessary under unavoidable circumstances. Reissues are carried out as a new application, therefore a ¥3,000 fee is charged. Please note that fees will not be refunded even if the application for Foreign License Exchange (Gaimen Kirikae) has been rejected.
• The period of validity of the Japanese translated version is the same as that of the original license.

Application has directions in English and can be filled out using Romaji. In fact, you can get the application at the JAF website or here JAF Application PDF

This is the general JAF website - JAF Website They also have practice permit tests and road sign rules. ---

At the Driving License Centre:

--- (1) Required items For details on what documents are required to be presented, inquire at the Driver’s License Center / Driver’s License Examination Center

(i) Driver’s License Application Form (available at the Examination Center) (ii) 1 Photograph (3cm high X 2.4cm wide). Can be taken at the application office for a fee. (iii) Certificate of Alien Registration (iv) Foreign Driver’s License (If expiration date is not stated, proof of expiration date is required) (v) Passport (with record of entry and departure from relevant countries) (vi) A Japanese translation of the foreign driver’s license Only translations made by the administrative agency that issued the license, by foreign embassy and consular offices in Japan, or by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) are accepted. (vii) Fees vary depending on the type of license.

(2) The process involved in a regular application (i) Make application for exchange, (ii) Suitability test, (iii) Check of one’s knowledge of the rules of the road, (iv) Driving skills test (Practical driving test on a course at the Driver’s License Examination Center), (v) Obtain a Japanese license

(3) People who hold a license from a country which is a member of the international treaty on exemption from driving knowledge and skills tests need take only the Suitability Test (Tekisei Shiken). However, a practical driving test is required for large two-wheel vehicles.

They ask some pretty strange questions, that you might not know the answers to if you don't check/refresh your memory beforehand. Things like: how many hours of driving school, how many questions were on the written section of your test, what was the exact date on which you got each level of your license(learners permit, full license, any graduation/probation dates), the make, model and displacement in ccs of the car you learned on.

The answers don't seem to matter much, there were a few questions I didn't know the answers to, the person just smiled and said "OK", but, it's probably better to prepare beforehand and have that kind of information available.

Also, note: You must prove that the license you obtained in your country (abroad) is valid (a license that is out of date cannot be exchanged), and prove that you stayed in the country where the license was obtained for more than 3 three months after obtaining the license.

Test Tips These are what helped me pass. The other instructions are course specific, and your course will be different.

1) Take careful note of the EXACT position of your car when you first get into it. The test proctor will park the car next to a curb with several evenly spaced color-coded poles sticking out from the ground. At the end of the test, you will be expected to return the car to that exact position - close to curb, but not touching it and BEHIND (but not too far behind) the line marked by one of the color poles. When you get out of the car at the end, the front bumper should be no more than the length of your test proctor's clipboard from the line of designated pole. I'm not kidding. The proctor will actually get out of the car and measure that distance with his/her clipboard at the end of the test. That being said, it is far better to be too far back than to make the much bigger blunder of overshooting the line...

2) When getting into and getting out of the car, make an obvious show of checking for oncoming traffic, even though you know perfectly well there is no oncoming traffic on the test course. The same goes for the entire test. Check constantly for oncoming traffic, even though there is none. After getting into the car, adjust your seat, check and adjust the mirrors and fasten your seat belt. When you prepare to leave the curb, remember to SIGNAL and CHECK for oncoming traffic. Also, after you first turn onto main part of the driving course, take it slow at first - there is a blind crossing immediately after you make that first left. Crane your neck and make a show of checking to make sure that no pedestrians are coming as you pass this crossing.

3) Take the curves (on the outside track of the test course) SLOWLY. This is how I got knocked out the first time and it's what ended up being the nail in the coffin for another guy who took his test for his second time on the same day that I did and drove an otherwise perfect test. The test proctor will deduct 15 POINTS for taking a curve too quickly - too quickly meaning the testing vehicle leans in any way whatsoever...which means that you should probably slow down to 5, 10 maybe 15 km/h at tops when you hit them. You encounter the curves a total of 4 times. Taking even just two of them too quickly will result in your failing the test (you need a minimum of 75 out of 100 points to pass).

4) KEEP LEFT. You will have points deducted if you do not keep your car as far away from the center line of the road as possible (without driving on the curb or grass). KEEP LEFT. A tip driving instructors usually give is to try to keep the driver side of your car (i.e., you) situated in the middle of your lane.

5) Always use "box turns": I don't know how you were taught to drive, but I was taught that when you make a turn, you should (while staying within your turn lane) drift a bit to the opposite direction of whichever way you are turning to give yourself room to take the turn smoothly. So if I were turning right in the US, I would signal, check my mirrors, and drift to the left hand portion of the right lane and make the turn in a smooth arc.

This is exactly the opposite of how you are supposed to drive in Japan. In Japan, the ideal turn is one in which you signal, check your mirrors, then drift over toward the side you are turning (in order to prevent anybody on a bike or moped from slipping in between you and your intended direction of travel thus causing a terrible accident). You then cut the wheel hard to make the turn (of course checking your mirrors and blind-spot once again just to make sure).

For me, it took a little while to get this Japanese turn to come naturally so this is probably what you are going to want to practice the most(failure to do it properly was one of the reasons my test proctor gave for failing the other folks who took the test with me).

6) Check your mirrors and blindspot in an exaggerated fashion...but don't be too slow about it (the proctor will deduct points if s/he feels you make your checks too slowly).

For a left hand turn, the order is like this: rearview mirror, swivel head to look at left side mirror, then swivel around to check blind spot. Drift over to the left hand side of the lane. Check to the right for oncoming traffic, then check side mirror and blind spot rapidly again. Turn left.

For a right hand turn, it's basically the same: rearview mirror, swivel head to look at right side mirror, then swivel around to check blind spot. Drift over to the right hand side of the lane. Check to the right and left for oncoming traffic very quickly (swiveling head to the right and left in an obvious fashion), check right blind spot again rapidly and then proceed to make turn (being sure not to drive over or pass the marker in the middle of the intersection indicating by where you must turn).

Basically, this is a performance for your driving test proctor. The checking (and definitely the head swiveling) may not be necessary and it may be very unrealistic, but form is everything when it comes to this test and if you don't take it seriously, the test proctor will be more than happy to fail you.

7) Come to a COMPLETE STOP shortly before the line for 'Tomare' signs and red lights. This is common sense, but most veteran drivers (myself included) seem to develop a nasty little habit of "rolling stops" that needs to be kept in check for this test. Stop completely and wait for a second or two so that you and your test proctor can sit and enjoy the sensation of being fully and completely at rest. "Rolling stops" or stopping over or past the line result in automatic failure for the test (A woman who was taking the test for her second time on the day I took the test got failed for this).