Japanese Driving license

[gmb]

This may be an American perspective but its is my opinion. I have been attempting to get a Japanese driving license. It has been pure hell. I have passed the first test and the course test. I can not understand the course test in the lest. I had to remember two courses, take and pay for two private lessons, do it all perfect, dot all the I-s and cross all the t-s. It took several times to accomplish this feat and I do mean feat. To add I have been driving for many years in America and in Japan. Next I have to take another written test of 115 questions. The first time failing. The questions I got wrong where about motorcycle and trucks. I like to know what the Fu*k dose getting a car license have to do with the classification of trucks and the load capacity of a motorcycle. They give you the test in English but absolutely no information of what you have to do or what to expect in English. Even my Japanese friend who has help me fill out many ridiculous forms with ridiculous questions is pulling the hair out of her head. Thank God for her help. After all this bull (and I can go further) I still have more hell to go though. Maybe I am just stupid. I like to know am I the only one with such a dilemma?
P.S. The Japanese go though all of this as well and schooling. Why dose their driving suck and parking anywhere they feel is at their needs.

[FG Lurker]

Hehe! You're not going to be happy to hear this... If you were Canadian it would involve an eye test and a couple of hours of waiting. And then you get a *full* Japanese license, not the limited one where you have to have the stupid "new driver" sign on your car for a year.

The reason? Reciprocal agreements. Canada has one with Japan. So do many other countries. For whatever reason the US doesn't, so you get screwed. Complain to Uncle Sam about it. If enough people complain something might get done.

It literally took me 2 hours to get mine, start to finish. Hardest thing was getting my Canadian license translated into Japanese before I went to the license office.

[Neo-Rio]

It's easy for Australians as well... relatively speaking.
We drive on the same side as the Japanese.

I was going to get my licence but I was shot down at the last minute. I took a day off work, got my translations, and then raced like crazy to the licence centre.
I mean, I really had to race because the window was only open for an hour or so only twice a day. If I missed my literal "window of opportunity" (stupid pun intended) I'd have to come back tomorrow.

Anyway, I made it in time, but the drivers licence from my state simply didn't have the date of issue printed on it anywhere. Expirty date was there, but since date of issue wasn't.... my application was toast. Unless I wasted more time chasing up signatures regarding my licence's date of issue from the appropriate authrities back home, I wouldn't be getting it.

I said "F**k it"

[FG Lurker]

Anyway, I made it in time, but the drivers licence from my state simply didn't have the date of issue printed on it anywhere. Expirty date was there, but since date of issue wasn't.... my application was toast. Unless I wasted more time chasing up signatures regarding my licence's date of issue from the appropriate authrities back home, I wouldn't be getting it.

In fairness to the J-licensing authorities it is *very* clear that you must be able to prove that you had your license for at least 3 months in your home country before you came to Japan. If you can't show that then no go. JAF told me this, and it is written up well in many places on the net.

It's easy for Australians as well... relatively speaking.
We drive on the same side as the Japanese.

Us Canucks don't... And it took a bit of getting used to. The guy at the car dealer looked rather pale when I told him that I had never driven in Japan before! I'm sure he figured I'd total my nice new car in a matter of minutes.

[FG Lurker]

And here is the JAF information:

http://www.jaf.or.jp/e/switch.htm

Switching a foreign driver's license to a Japanese driver's license and requirements for the procedure

A driver's license issued by a foreign administrative office can be switched to a Japanese license (a process termed "Gaimen Kirikae" in Japanese) by applying to the Driver's License Center of the prefecture in which the applicant resides, provided the applicant fulfills the conditions outlined below:

1) The applicant's overseas driver's license must be valid (expired licenses cannot be transferred).
2) The applicant must be able to prove that he or she stayed in the country, where the license was issued, for at least three months after obtaining the license.

They don't list the various countries on that page, but the process is well documented.

[hiromino]

HI. i had a california driver's lisence for more than 3 years. i had JAF to translate it, went to SAMEZU(eye test, traffic test and driving test), paid some fee and got japanese lisence without problem. only problem I noticed from other GAIJINs was their driving skill.

well, the officer spoke only in japanese where all the GAIJINs had hard time understanding the test cource. thank god I am half Japanese...

conclusion; Japanese driving lisence system(as well as every other system) sucks. japanese, expect pure street racers, suck in driving.

waste of paper, waste of time, waste of money.
the way of living in Japan

[omae mona]

Next I have to take another written test of 115 questions. The first time failing. The questions I got wrong where about motorcycle and trucks. I like to know what the Fu*k dose getting a car license have to do with the classification of trucks and the load capacity of a motorcycle. They give you the test in English but absolutely no information of what you have to do or what to expect in English.

Have they changed the written test recently? In June, at Samezu (Tokyo), it was a computer-based test with, if I recall, around 10 questions. At least 2-3 of them were something like "there's an old lady standing in the middle of the street you're driving on. Do you run her over, or stop the car?". The remainder required a little pre-studying (handly English translation of rules of the road from JAF made this trivial). Nothing as obscure as "load capacity of a motorcycle", though. Did you accidentally sign up for a motorcycle license exam? Trust me, this test was WAY easier than, say, the California written exam. Either they've changed things over the last 6 months, or else I suspect you somehow got yourself signed up for the wrong exam.

Some Japanese comprehension skills are nice for the driving test, but not necessary. The examiner told our group *everything* you should and shouldn't do to pass the test. I was amazed at how generous he was with information. Then again, internet searches probably turn up 75% of the same tips, so I don't think you're at a huge disadvantage if you don't understand the Japanese.

By the way, the reason Americans don't have the "easy" version like Australians isn't because of driving on the right side of the road, from what I understand. I believe it's because each of the 50 U.S. states has its own driving rules, so the Japanese government decided it has to certify each state independently.

[Watcher]

I had to go through everything (kari menkyo and uten menkyo) because my Canadian license had expired. It took me one time on the first written, twice on the first driving, twice on the second written, and twice on the final driving. I did it all on the English written tests and Japanese language driving tests. Why did I fail so many times? Because you have to be absolutely perfect... right down to how you get out of the car. And why do you have to be absolutely perfect? Because... look who you are taking the tests with... all these guys who lost their licenses for one reason or another (generally speeding, I'm told).
Once you accept that fact it's really not hard to get your licence... and as to Japanese drivers being bad... well, the only comments out of me driving in Japan were "man, that truck is going crazy fast," while here in Vancouver I can;t drive for 5 minutes without cursing at some idiot or other.
OT... on top of all the trucks there are three lights. Generally they are green. Each truck has a different combo of lights on. Does anybody know what they mean? That always puzzled me.

[neotheo]

The 3 lights you always see above the truck cabs have to do with how fast they're going. I think 30km or less = 1 light, 60 km or less = 2 lights, and anything over = 3 lights. The government requires these systems for all trucks over 6 tons (at least I think it was 6 tons --- I may be wrong) :eeh:

[Big Booger]

I didn't even study a single thing. Took the written test, passed. Driving test passed.. got license. Left smiling.

Though I will say this I think it is extremely unfair to other asians. They are expected to take the test from what I hear in Japanese even though some of them may not speak a word of it.

And all the Asians except for 1 chinese guy (who took the manual shift test) failed. That guy on the manual shift amazed me... he was driving like a pro. I think they are harder on non-westerners... but that could just be a misconception on my part.

[FG Lurker]

By the way, the reason Americans don't have the "easy" version like Australians isn't because of driving on the right side of the road, from what I understand. I believe it's because each of the 50 U.S. states has its own driving rules, so the Japanese government decided it has to certify each state independently.

It's reciprocal.

Generally it is the government of the country that handles these things, but for whatever reason the US is different and Japan would have to negotiate separate agreements with 50 states. I don't know if they have said "fuck it" or if they are working their way through one state at a time.

This is also why different countries have slightly different requirements in Japan. NZ (I think!) drivers have to use the Japanese "new driver" mark. Canadian drivers don't. It all depends on the agreement negotiated.

[FG Lurker]

I had to go through everything (kari menkyo and uten menkyo) because my Canadian license had expired.

Unless you were in a huge rush to get your Japanese license, you didn't have to do that...

In BC anyway as long as your license was valid within the past 10 years (maybe it is 5 years?) you can get it re-issued without trouble or tests.

As long as you lived in Canada for 3 months after the original license issue date you can transfer your license.

The reason I know that you can have an expired license re-issued in Canada is because I ended up having to do it... I freaked when I noticed it had expired, thinking I would have to start at zero again with my Canadian license. Called motor vehicles and no problem.

[DJEB]

The trick to driving in Japan is learning not to stop for red lights if you don't happen to feel like it.

[Kanchou]

I didn't even study a single thing. Took the written test, passed. Driving test passed.. got license. Left smiling.

Though I will say this I think it is extremely unfair to other asians. They are expected to take the test from what I hear in Japanese even though some of them may not speak a word of it.

And all the Asians except for 1 chinese guy (who took the manual shift test) failed. That guy on the manual shift amazed me... he was driving like a pro. I think they are harder on non-westerners... but that could just be a misconception on my part.

I'm curious: what do you have to demonstrate that you can do in the manual test compared to the AT test?

I can drive a manual transmissions fine (not that I have any strong intention to get a Japanese license), but I wonder if they're really anal about things like how you work the clutch, how you start on the uphill, etc.

If I had a valid US drivers license (which I don't I have an expired drivers permit), and I passed the tests within a few tries, could I get a Japanese license for less than 15-20,000 yen? (but then what would I drive? heh)

I'm curious as to just how hard it would be for me.

Japanese drivers (besides street racers and professional drivers at least) definately suck from what I've seen. ALL of my friends who I ride with follow people way too close (if that person stopped suddenly, they would hit them, no doubt) and have far too small of a safety margin in their braking (I hate when people do that. My dad does it too.).

And the fact that I hear people slamming on their horns every few hours outside my dorm doesn't say much for them either (I'm always waiting to hear a crunch sound after that happens). I've seen 2-3 near-accidents in person as well. And I've been nearly run over by a large truck while crossing the street when the light that was still red (the cross-walk light was green) in Akihabara. People don't seem to pay attention when they pull out. I on the other hand am probably too conversative when I decide to pull out.

[FG Lurker]

I'm curious: what do you have to demonstrate that you can do in the manual test compared to the AT test?

I've not taken the test myself, but my understanding is that you do the same test for manual and automatic cars. The difference is that you drive a manual for the manual test, instead of an automatic.

As for the rest... Well it depends on how many times you have to take the test. Most people fail it at least once. Many fail 2 or 3 times before they finally get through it. Doing one or two practice lessons with a driving school helps a lot.

Doing the test takes a full day if you are in a large city. If you fail you come back two weeks later to do it again. When you factor in the cost of the test and the cost of the lost work time it is doubtful you could do it for 15,000 or 20,000yen.

[james]

about.. uh.. i think four years ago now. can't quite remember. i also had a simple time of it. despite being canadian i was told to put the "new driver" thingy on. don't recall if i bothered to or not.. my examiner said almost nothing and i thought he was out to flunk someone that day (a sunday no less). he did manage a chuckle though when he asked me how i got there and i told him i drove from about an hour away.

what *was* a pain in the ass was the first time i had to renew it a couple years ago. had to fill out some stupid form and convince the lady at the counter that i was in fact reading it and not just pretending. did the photo and eye test thing. then i had to go back a week later to fill out more forms, and then yet again after that to sit and watch some stupid video and listen to some lecture, all reminiscent of crap i'd done well over 10 years ago at the time. said lecture was at 10 a.m. on a weekday.. i suppose they assume people don't work. they loved me though, because i brought my five month old son to keep things from getting too quiet.

and the drivers here do suck. while drivers in ottawa are generally rude and somewhat aggressive (not as bad as you torontonians though) the drivers here are just unskilled, at best. no concept of right of way, stopping, when to pull out or what all those pretty lines painted on the road are for.

[Ketou]

I got my license with relative ease. Just the eye test and other stupid paper work.
Although, they were not sure whether or not they could give it to me at first. I had renewed my passport before coming and the stupid fucking dolts said that I needed proof that I had lived in my home countrty for more than three months!! After ranting and raving about how the fuck else could I get a license if I hadn't lived there for more than three months they relented. But! They would only give me a futsu license and they told me I had to put on newbie driver stickers even though my original license is for bus and truck too!
Of course I never have!

But you think getting a license is fun, wait till you try changing over the rego and getting new plates!!!

[Mike Oxlong]

and the drivers here do suck. while drivers in ottawa are generally rude and somewhat aggressive (not as bad as you torontonians though) the drivers here are just unskilled, at best. no concept of right of way, stopping, when to pull out or what all those pretty lines painted on the road are for.

Not to mention hardly ever bothering to signal a turn, racing up to red lights and slamming on the brakes at the last moment (no matter the weather conditions, pedestrians, how long ago the light went red...), swinging wide into the right lane before making a not-so-sharp left turn, complete inability to merge...

I'm sure I've left something out!

[Ketou]

Yea, the part where when your on a bicycle or scooter and they pass you only to do a sudden left turn.

[FG Lurker]

Not to mention hardly ever bothering to signal a turn, racing up to red lights and slamming on the brakes at the last moment (no matter the weather conditions, pedestrians, how long ago the light went red...), swinging wide into the right lane before making a not-so-sharp left turn, complete inability to merge...

I'm sure I've left something out!

There are some things I admire about Japanese drivers -- such as the ability to drive 60km/hr with only inches of clearance on either side of their cars. Or park in spaces so narrow you wonder how the hell the driver got out of the car...What, did he crawl out through the sunroof??

Merging ability here really is non-existent though. WTF is it with people who *brake* at the end of a merge lane!? And it drives me nuts when people are going to make a turn but don't get over into the turning lane. Instead they straddle the line between the turning lane and the main road. Maybe they are hoping someone will rear-end them so they can collect on insurance.

And on the expressways Japan has its share of fast-lane squatters. People who refuse to move over even though there is no other traffic on the road. HELLO!!! Is anyone home??? Maybe I should buy a huge white Benz and get the windows all tinted black... That seems to keep people out of your way pretty good.

Back to being positive though... I drive in Osaka rush our traffic most days. On a good weather day like today traffic tends to move very well. Overall I would say that regular drivers here handle high traffic volumes better than what I have seen in large cities at home. When it rains though everything goes to hell... People who don't drive regularly pile into their cars and drive to work on rainy days and they fuck things up royally. (Heh, so much for being positive.)

One thing I really do like about driving here is that most cars are very new. You never see some 20yo piece of shit Honda Civic billowing clouds of blue smoke out behind it. Thankfully diesel vehicles will become a lot rarer in a few years too. I think from 2007 you can't register them anymore. My lungs are thankful already.

[Mike Oxlong]

...Or park in spaces so narrow you wonder how the hell the driver got out of the car...What, did he crawl out through the sunroof??

No, they banged the shit outta the side of your car to get out! I've never had so many 'door dings' on my car as here in LaPan!

Merging ability here really is non-existent though. WTF is it with people who *brake* at the end of a merge lane!? And it drives me nuts when people are going to make a turn but don't get over into the turning lane. Instead they straddle the line between the turning lane and the main road. Maybe they are hoping someone will rear-end them so they can collect on insurance.

People don't believe they can make the corner, so they either staddle lanes like you mentioned, or swing out into your lane suddenly, just before they turn the corner! This in a country which produces cars with the tightest turning radius I've ever seen!!

And on the expressways Japan has its share of fast-lane squatters. People who refuse to move over even though there is no other traffic on the road. HELLO!!! Is anyone home??? Maybe I should buy a huge white Benz and get the windows all tinted black... That seems to keep people out of your way pretty good.

Got my fantasies of buying a used Cima with all the windows tinted, and watching people cower in fear!

One thing I really do like about driving here is that most cars are very new. You never see some 20yo piece of shit Honda Civic billowing clouds of blue smoke out behind it. Thankfully diesel vehicles will become a lot rarer in a few years too. I think from 2007 you can't register them anymore. My lungs are thankful already.

Transport & construction companies out in Central Japan (probably everywhere) mix pitch with the diesel to 'extend it', keeping their costs down and our pollution up...

[FG Lurker]

No, they banged the shit outta the side of your car to get out! I've never had so many 'door dings' on my car as here in LaPan!

I've not had much problem with that here actually. The B4 has a few scratches on it, but most of them were put there by my better half. Sigh... Shoulda bought a 5 speed!! (She only has a license for auto...)

People don't believe they can make the corner, so they either staddle lanes like you mentioned, or swing out into your lane suddenly, just before they turn the corner! This in a country which produces cars with the tightest turning radius I've ever seen!!

Yep, I know. You'd think that people would learn after awhile, but there is no shortage of "straddlers" out there. I'm thinking of buying a big-ass air horn and mounting it somehow under the hood... Give 'em a "get the fuck outta my way!" blast... Alas there isn't much space in the engine compartment.

Got my fantasies of buying a used Cima with all the windows tinted, and watching people cower in fear!

Hehe! Just about any car that is huge and white will do... Or black for that matter. I guess it is a fantasy I'll never experience though -- I really prefer small sports cars or mid-size sport-sedans with powerful engines.

Transport & construction companies out in Central Japan (probably everywhere) mix pitch with the diesel to 'extend it', keeping their costs down and our pollution up...

Noooo... Really? I've not heard anything about that before now. Do you have more info?

[GomiGirl]

Well this thread has inspired me to finally get my J-Drivers licence.

Couple of things that may go against the easy route of just showing my australian licence and walking away with a japanese one:

I have been in Japan for 5 years and although I have had my licence since I was 17, I let my licence expire last year. (I simply forgot as I never drive anymore)

It was renewed last year for another 5 years without a problem. I just explained that I had been living overseas. I hope the fact that I let it expire will not stop me from getting the Japanese licence the easy way.

But the Australian Embassy site has some great information for Australians in Japan.

Converting your Australian licence to a valid Japanese licence

I am sure that other embassies offer similar information sites.

[Taro Toporific]

Transport & construction companies out in Central Japan (probably everywhere) mix pitch with the diesel to 'extend it', keeping their costs down and our pollution up...

Noooo... Really? I've not heard anything about that before now. Do you have more info?

The gaijin reporter Peter Hadfield who writes for the New Scientist Magazine has said that the amount of toxic chemicals coming out of asphault paving is staggering here in japan. The Yakuza mixes toxic waste into asphault as well as diesel fuel and heating oils.

The Japanese are afraid of such Yakuza connections so nobody will do anything to stop it except of all people Satan-himself Gov. Ishihara.

[FG Lurker]

Well this thread has inspired me to finally get my J-Drivers licence.

Couple of things that may go against the easy route of just showing my australian licence and walking away with a japanese one:

I have been in Japan for 5 years and although I have had my licence since I was 17, I let my licence expire last year. (I simply forgot as I never drive anymore)

It was renewed last year for another 5 years without a problem. I just explained that I had been living overseas. I hope the fact that I let it expire will not stop me from getting the Japanese licence the easy way.

You'll need to get a letter from the license issuing authority that states the original issue date. I think even a faxed copy will do, but you're less likely to have problems if you get an original mailed to you. I had no problem getting this from ICBC in Canada -- just called and they sent it out.

Along with that you will need to be able to show when you arrived in Japan. I suggest taking your current passport and any previous expired passports that have Japan entry-stamps in them.

Otherwise things are pretty easy. I got to the Kadoma licensing centre in Osaka a bit after they opened in the morning and was finished everything by lunch.

[Edit: The page you linked to about Aussie license conversions looks good to me.]

[FG Lurker]

The gaijin reporter Peter Hadfield who writes for the New Scientist Magazine has said that the amount of toxic chemicals coming out of asphault paving is staggering here in japan. The Yakuza mixes toxic waste into asphault as well as diesel fuel and heating oils.

You're scaring me Taro...

Maybe I should commute to Osaka from Okayama every day! Just need to get a flying car and I'll be set. ]The Japanese are afraid of such Yakuza connections so nobody will do anything to stop it except of all people Satan-himself Gov. Ishihara.[/quote]
You mean he actually does some good? I never knew!

[gmb]

[Kanchou]

Hehe! Just about any car that is huge and white will do... Or black for that matter. I guess it is a fantasy I'll never experience though -- I really prefer small sports cars or mid-size sport-sedans with powerful engines.

Gratuitous Car Pictures!

[FG Lurker]

I love my B4.

Sadly it has a rather voracious appetite for premium gasoline.

[kaana]