Driving Under the Influence

Getting a Japanese Drivers License

By: Hikaru Wajima and Mac Bickmore

Getting a Japanese drivers license is quite an experience. The number one rule (like always) is be patient. This guide is based on my experiences which differ a bit from others.

By now, most of you who drive (or have an International Drivers Permit) know that the IDP is only good for one year from the time of entry into the country. And that if you plan on staying in Japan, you have to get a Japanese drivers license. The good thing is that (assuming that you’ve had your license for at least 3 months prior to coming to Japan) you don’t have to go through the same process as a Japanese citizen.

Plan on having the process take 2 separate days. Don’t plan on those 2 days being close to each other. It doesn’t seem to be the most efficient process, but that’s what working with a bureaucracy is about. So don’t let yourself get frustrated.

Visit Number 1

Your first visit is just paperwork. You need to bring several required documents:

1) A Japanese translation of your state’s license

2) Passport

3) Alien Resident Card

4) Proof of having driven in your home country for more than 90 days

5) Passport size photo(there is a do-it-yourself machine at the site)

License Translation: The translation of your license must be an official one. I had mine done with JAF (Japan Automobile Federation) in Wakayama City. It costs 3000 yen plus postage (mailing cash requires a special envelope and additional feels).

Proof of Driving: You need to prove that you driven in the US for more than 90 days. It is best to get your state driving record from your state’s DMV. This is what they really want. They asked up front and first for my country’s driving record. The people at the Wakayama DMV didn’t seem to understand that each state had independent regulations. Without this document it took the Wakayama office nearly 2 weeks to decide to accept the fact that I have driven for more than 90 days in the US. They based this on entry stamps in my passport. If I had had my driving record I probably wouldn’t have had to wait 2 weeks to accept my paperwork. So basically get your state’s driving record and bring it with you on your first visit.

Setting up the first appointment: My supervisor called and scheduled my first appointment. The officer made copies everything and then proceeded to ask me questions about them for awhile. If your Japanese isn’t too good, you’ll probably want to go with someone to help you out. My supervisor helped me a ton in trying to negotiate with the Wakayama DMV that I had have driven in the US for more than 90 days.

After he decided that everything was in order, he sent me on my way and said that they would call to schedule a day for testing.

About 2 weeks later, I had my supervisor call to schedule my second appointment since I had a day off in lieu of a sports day. My supervisor explained to me that they normally won’t let you request a day so if I happened to not pass the tests, I would have to go whenever the center could schedule me in.

Visit Number 2:

Your second visit is all tests. You need to bring a bunch of money to pay for each test too. Payment works pay buying ‘stamps’ first. You need to pay for the written test, driving test, and vision test. If you pass all the tests you then need to pay more to get your paperwork processed and receive your license. So they will tell how much you’ll need. You’ll then need to go to the far window and buy all the stamps and then bring them back to the main office before you take any of the tests.

Written Test:

The written test is 10 maru/batsu questions long. You can miss up to three questions. I felt like seven of the questions were pretty easy. The other three were a little more difficult and for me a little confusing. I’ve read on the internet that the “Rules of the Road” (published by JAF) is helpful, but I never did get a chance to get a copy. Maybe it would have helped on those 3 questions. Each question is a card with a picture with a T/F question at the bottom. An officer will hold a card up one at a time.

Vision test:

Before taking the driving test the will test your driving. I think you have to test at least a 7 to be able to drive. You’ll have to look into a machine and say what colors are on and in which direction some things are pointing. It is it too hard at all. If you usually wear contacts be sure to bring your glasses with you. I usually wear contacts and they asked me to take them out and take the test. With out my contacts I was able to pass the visual requirement to drive a small motorbike but not a normal car.

Driving Test

Your driving test should be in the afternoon (right after lunch), but sometimes you might have to take in the morning. If you do manage to get an afternoon appointment show up before lunch and check in and get the course diagram. During lunch go outside to the ‘closed driving course’ and WALK THROUGH THE COURSE (with map in hand). I walked through the course twice to be sure that I knew what to expect. As it turned out, that was a good thing since he didn’t give me any instructions (where to turn) during the test. But you can ask before you make a turn. Each turn has a number before it on a pole. The course map is also numbered so you can match everything up. Even if you don’t get a copy of the route, walk through the course so you get a feel for the width of some of the sections (especially the “S” turn and the “crank” turn).

Driving points:

• Try and make ‘wide and tight’ turns. Start by going wide and then coming back in tight. Touching a curb is an automatic fail.

• Go slow, really slow, so slow it is driving yourself nuts. The course is really small and there are some points were you have to turn again right away while coming out of another turn.

• Before crossing the railroad tracks, roll down the driver side window and ‘look and listen’ for a train. Also pretend to turn the radio down.

• Always, always, turn into the FAR LEFT LANE. If the road has two lanes going in the same direction, turn in to the farthest lane, NOT the nearest lane. In the US you are suppose to turn ‘curb to curb’ not so in Japan.

• When turning left you must check for BICYCLERS/MOTOBIKES by checking your passenger mirror and looking over your left shoulder.

• If turning left, align your car to the left side of the lane before turning, same with turning right, align yourself to the right side of the lane before the turn.

• Always use the turn signal. Even for passing the parked car at the end of the course.

I’m not sure how my tester scored my test. I thought that I had made quite a few mistakes (forgetting to look in my rear view mirror, possibly speeding on one section, etc), but I ended up passing. He told me that I was a safe driver and was wondering who taught me how to drive for the test.

I ended up taking the test for manual transmission cars. I couldn’t decide early on and from what I understood, he offered me the option to retake the test on an automatic transmission if I failed the first time.

Future visits and failing:

Most people fail the first test so don’t get discouraged about it. After the test ask what you did wrong and what you should improve on. They will be happy to tell you. Afterwards you can go back to their main office and set up your next appointment. You’ll have to wait about a week until you can take the test again. THEY WILL NOT LET YOU TAKE THE TEST TWICE IN ONE DAY.

The course is changed every month. It alternates between two different routes on the same closed course an ‘A Course’ and a ‘B Course.’ So if you fail at the end the month you then have to retake the test using a different course route.

Once you finish the test, you’ll get some more paperwork. Since he had more tests to administer, the officer had a woman in the office help me through the rest of the process.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

Q: Do I really need to get a Japanese license? Can’t I just get another IDP?

A: Yes, you must get a Japanese license. It’s illegal to drive with an IDP after being in the country for over a year. The maximum penalty for driving without a license is 300,000 yen. (Yes, one month’s pay.)

Q: Do I have to go to Wakayama City to get my license?

A: From what I’ve been told, you can possibly process your paperwork in Shingu or Tanabe; but the written and driving tests must be done at Wakayama City. Also, the center in Tanabe is not open as often, so that can also be an obstacle.

National JAF Site (in English) http://www.jaf.or.jp/e/index_e.htm
Map to Wakayama JAF http://www.jaf.or.jp/profile/general/office/map/5-6.htm

TEL 073-321-5355

Q: How much will it cost to get a license?

A: Expect to pay at least 8350 yen. You’ll have more if you need to take the test more than once. Also, travel costs to/from the center. Here’s how my costs broke down.

JAF translation of license 3000

Application 2400

Driving Test 1200

License 1750

Getting to/from the Drivers License Center

- From JR Wakayama take the Nankai line to koutsucentamae (こうつうセンターまえ)

5 stations from JR Wakayama

- When going back to JR Wakayama, make sure you get on the right train. (Should be the train going towards the LEFT when looking at the tracks from the platform.)