Enjoy driving in Tokyo！How to get a driver's license in Japan
１ How you as a foreigner can get a driver's license in Japan
You are required to have a driver's license to drive in Japan.
Not only for those who are in Japan just visiting, but also for people who come to Japan for work may have a job that requires driving. .
If you have a driver's license, you may even get more money in salary and a driver's license can also be used as an additional ID card, so why not consider getting a driver's license?
For those that do not have a driver's license from a foreign country, in order to obtain a driver's license in Japan means you will have to take and pass both the written test and the driving test at the driver's license test center in your area. There are also schools that offer driver training for those who want to get a driver's license quickly.
At Japanese driver's license schools, the cost for training varies depending on the course, but the average costs is around 300,000 yen. The most cost effective way to get a driver's license is to take the exam straight away without going through training.
However, because there are lots of specific traffic rules in Japan when compared to countries overseas, it can be extremely difficult to pass the test on your first or even second try, so it may be best to take drivers training course at a driving school.
Some driving schools have training support for foreigners, but the majority of them only do training in Japanese. That being said, even if the exams or teaching materials are in a language you can understand, the classes themselves are often conducted in Japanese. We recommended that you check what languages are supported before going to the driving school and how much teaching support is given to foreign students.
If you find it difficult to obtain a driver's license by going to a driving school in Japan, you can obtain a driver's license in your home country, then go through the procedure for switching it over to a Japanese driver's license.
２ How to switch over your license
If you have a driver's license in your home country and want to drive after moving to Japan, you will need an international driver's license that has been properly processed so that you can legally use it in Japan. Unfortunately, even if you have a license from outside of Japan, it is illegal to drive a car in Japan with your license as it is, so you need to follow the proper procedures to make it legal in Japan.
To start, whether it can be used as is depends on the country where you obtained your driver's license, but to be safe, you should assume that you cannot use your driver's license in Japan unless you process it by going through the proper procedures.
Even if you have a driver's license from another country, certain conditions must be met in order to switch it over to a driver's license that can be used in Japan.
l Your driver's license must be valid in the country it was issued.
l Show proof you have lived in the country your driver's license was obtained for more than 3 months.
l Show proof that you are a resident from the city in Japan that you want to change your license over to (proof of residence)
l Have a visa is valid
In order to switch over your driver's licenses in Japan, you will have to meet the conditions above and also present the necessary documentation, such as a resident card and passport.
In addition to this, your knowledge and skills will be checked when switching over your license from a license issued in a foreign country except for those from the following 28 countries: Iceland, Ireland, United States (only for those that hold licenses issued in Hawaii, Maryland and Washington), England, Italy, Australia, Austria, Netherlands, Canada, South Korea, Greece, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Slovenia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, New Zealand, Norway, Hungary, Finland, France, Belgium, Portugal, Monaco, Luxembourg and Taiwan, who are exempt from having to take the knowledge and skill check.
【Reference】https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/menkyo/menkyo/kokugai/index.html
Application for an international driver's license must be made in person and the expiration date for application is set at one year. If your international license is expired, you will be directed to visit a nearby driver's license test center. Note that an international driver's license will not be renewed like a regular Japanese driver's license, but will be re-issued.
３ What are some of the traffic rules unique to Japan？
Traffic rules are not the same around the world and vary from country to country, but if you fail to follow the rules established in that country, the risk of being involved in a traffic accident, being someone who violates the rules or becoming a victim increases. Since driving rules in foreign countries are not the same as in Japan, it may seem very difficult to get used to at first, so you need to be familiar with the traffic rules before driving.
In Japan, roads are often a lot narrower than in other countries. Merging points and road signs are often complex and difficult to understand, so we would like to introduce you to some of Japan's unique traffic rules that are the most confusing for visitors to Japan.
・One of the few countries in the world where people drive on the left side.
Although it is not unique to Japan, Japan is known as a minority in the world as a left-hand side driver country as well as the UK, Australia and India. In Japan, pedestrians usually walk on the right-hand side while bicycles and cars travel on the left-hand side. .
The majority of cars have right-hand side steering, and the difference in traffic rules comes down to getting used to the difference between traffic on the right-hand side vs traffic on the left-hand side, so it isn't a huge difference. It may be a bit confusing at first, but once you get used to it, you will be able to drive comfortably.
.・Parking on the streets is often prohibited
There are lots of places where parking is prohibited on Japanese roads. In some countries around the world, you can park on the shoulder of any road, but in Japan you may be fined for doing so, so pay attention to and check the signs around you. .
・Stop completely before passing over a railroad crossing
In Japan, it is a rule that even if the train crossing gates are raised at a railroad crossing, you have to stop temporarily, check that it is safe to continue on by looking on both the left and right before crossing over the railroad. Especially in Tokyo, where the railway network is well developed and there are lots of railroad crossings, be sure to make a temporary stop and pass over the tracks while checking carefully for trains and pedestrians.
・Flashing of hazard signals has another meaning
In Japan, there is a custom of flashing your hazard lights about two times to mean "thank you" when someone lets you merge in front of them. Of course, this is not a law but when driving in Japan, you will notice people will flash their hazard signals to you when merging from the side of the road or when merging lanes in traffic as a sing of thanks.
In Japan, traffic rules such as the use of child seats and seat belts, as well as severe drunk driving penalties have been established. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department website has a list of traffic rules that are easy to understand for foreigners so be sure to check them carefully. Obey the rules with regards to traffic lights and road signs and make sure to follow the instructions posted by the police to be a safe driver.
【Reference】https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.jp/kotsu/jikoboshi/torikumi/kotsu_joho/foreigner.html
４ In Conclusion
In this edition, we've shared some important knowledge with you about obtaining a driver's license for driving in Japan.
If you plan to move to or visit Japan, make sure that you prepare the necessary documentation and go through the proper procedures in advance so you can enjoy driving in Tokyo.
In particular, if you do not have a driver's license yet and feel like it will be hard to obtain one in Japan because of the language gap, we recommend you obtain a driver's license in your home country first, then switch it over to a Japanese driver's license.
We hope that you have the opportunity to enjoy driving safely and comfortably in Tokyo by using the information introduced in this article.
How you as a foreigner can get a driver's license in Japan
