The following information is based on the experience of a former Saga JET. This advice does not reflect the views of and is not officially endorsed by the Saga JET Programme, National AJET, or CLAIR.

Those who have to pass the practical driving test in order to convert their foreign licenses should be prepared for a long and sometimes frustrating process. First-time pass rates are low even for native Japanese people who try to go it alone without enrolling in driving school. There are many details that must be considered. A positive attitude and patience will go far towards minimizing cost, time spent at the drivers license center, and test failures.

Paperwork

The first challenge is to get your paperwork in order. If you have to return to the licensing center multiple times to correct paperwork errors, it will reflect poorly on you and may reduce your chances of passing the test.

1. License translation: visit your local branch of the Japan Automobile Federation for an official translation of your foreign driver’s license and related documents. This will cost around 3,000 yen. You can either visit the office and have it done the same day, or mail your documents and receive them back in about a week. Any paperwork out of the ordinary also needs to be translated, but not professionally; consider asking a friend or JTE to do the job for you and write their contact information down in case there’s a problem. More information can be found here.

Pre-driving center notes

• Remember to respect the employees and examiners. Making a good impression is paramount.
• Always show up early. Dress professionally to show you’re serious.
• Bring an interpreter, even if you don’t think you need one. Tell your interpreter you’re looking to be as “majime” as possible, and ask them to dress up, too. Consider asking SPIRA to book you an interpreter (unlike SPIRA’s medical interpreters, you will be required to compensate your interpreter for their time).
• Don’t get frustrated! If you show you’re upset, it will reflect poorly on you.

Schedule

You must go to the license center on two different days. On the first day, you turn in your paperwork and set up the test. On the second you review the paperwork and take your tests. You need an appointment for the second day. Appointments for those converting a foreign license are only available at 1 or 3 p.m., so you may not be able to get an appointment for a few days.

Day 1: First visit

10:30 a.m: Arrive at driving center with completed paperwork, resident card, international license, passport, foreign driver’s license (including translations) and interpreter.

10:30 to 10:45: Submit your completed paperwork (they will check to make sure everything is there, but they won’t review it yet). Schedule your test for the same week.

***Tip: consider having your interpreter ask the police officer where the driving school is to show them that you are going to take lessons.

10:45: Walk to the driving school and take an hour lesson (5000 yen). Your interpreter can ride in the back of your car. After your first lesson, schedule a second hour lesson for the hour before your actual test.

11 to noon: Driving lesson.

***Tip: consider having your interpreter respectfully tell the officer you’ve just taken a lesson, and ask for a map and permission for you to walk the test course. This is an effort to show the police officer how serious you are about passing the test.

Noon to 12:20 p.m: Walk the test course. Get a feel for it, because the driving school one is different, and the actual instructors will watch you as you walk. You can walk this course daily from noon to 1 p.m.

12:20: Go home.

Day 2: Test day (for a 1 p.m. test time)

10:45 a.m: Arrive.

11 to noon: Driving lesson at the driving school.

***Tip: don’t skip the second driving lesson. You will likely feel much more comfortable with the course, get even more feedback on possible mistakes, and it will again show how serious you are.

Noon to 12:30 p.m: Walk the driving center course with the driving instructor. You must request this and is a little unusual, so ask nicely.

12:30 to 12:50: Eat lunch/relax/meditate.

12:50 to 1: Show up early for appointment and wait.

1 to 3: Take the test.

The test

Basically the test is broken into four parts: paperwork, a vision test, written test (10 true-false questions, English tests are available), and the driving test. With patience you should have no problem with the first three. Stay relaxed, helpful and confident, even if you don’t feel that way.

You will have reviewed the driving test at the driving school a lot of times before you actually take the test, but basically, if you follow all of the specific rules that the driving school gives you and make sure to avoid catastrophic mistakes, you will be fine.

Catastrophic mistakes

• No seat belt
• Rolling backward when restarting on the incline
• Rolling through a stop sign or traffic light
• Driving off the road
• Using the brake on the turn
• Driving into oncoming traffic

There are lots of little things that can quickly become catastrophic, and lots of small things that you can do to make it easier on yourself. This is the reason for going to the driving school.

Costs

In total, the cost for issuing the driver’s license, the driving school and tolls to and from the driving center were slightly less than 20,000 yen. Not cheap, but the cost of taking the test four or five times is approximately the same (each time), and that doesn’t include the time missed from work and the added frustration.

Final thoughts

The whole process is expensive and bureaucratic, but if you want to drive it must be done. The worst mistake you can make is to give the police officer a reason to fail you. Be professional, thorough, prepared, and brown nose a little bit, and you should be able to pass the test on your first try, if not your second. Good luck!