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How to Get a Japanese Driver's License | Tips, Advice & Total Costs
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How to Get a Japanese Driver's License | Tips, Advice & Total Costs



How can you get your driver’s license in Japan?
This video will go into detail about my experience getting my Japanese driver’s license.

It is oriented towards people who are transferring their licence from their home country to a Japanese one. This is known as Gaimen Kirikae (外免切替)

It was a long process that took me about 2 months in total, between all of the paperwork preparation, translation, various applications, driving school practice, and the driving test practical exam (which I failed on my first time..)

This tutorial is very long and detailed, so here are some timestamp links to the main talking points.
00:55 Why am I getting a license?
02:15 International license?
02:45 Switching to a Japanese license (外面切替)
Part 1
04:13 1.1 – Required documents
07:30 1.2 – Submitting documents + application
09:45 1.3 – Vision test & knowledge test
12:10 Blessed & cursed countries
Part 2
13:25 2.1 Practical exam scheduling + info
17:00 2.2 Driving school practice
20:14 2.3 Practical exam test day
Why I failed / How I passed
28:06 Total costs and time

My driving license application was done in Aichi prefecture (Nagoya), which is famous for having a low passing rate for the practical exam driving test (only 20%). One of the guys I met on the driving test day was on his 5th attempt (which he failed).. I was pretty happy to pass on my 2nd attempt, and even though I had to spend almost $400 + use some paid leave, I’m excited for the new opportunities having a driving license in Japan will bring.

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#driverslicence #drivinginjapan #japaneselicense

32 Comments

  1. Two Wheel Cruise

    This video is very long, and I tried to go into as much detail as possible. Check the video description for the table of contents and timestamp links to each main section.

  2. S. Stallone

    I just showed a copy of my prior military base driver license plus a record of my clean Japanese Liability insurance and they gave it up to me like candy. No written test, no driving test. Just an Eye exam. 🙂

  3. michael carr

    You can print a residency certificate from the copy machine at Family Mart or Lawson. Both are open 24 hours. You might need a "my number" card however. If you have that, saves a trip to the city office.

  7. دارك اير الكسندر

    I know this is kinda off subject but why would you get five dislikes about how you got your drivers license?
    Also, I agree that right now I have access to the bus and trains plus just walking to and from places here in Japan.

  10. Utopia Chaser

    I know it's been a year, but Great video anyway. Very informative, but there was one thing u forgot to mention. Which is during documents submission. Despite all of your documents are in order, but If you're not comfortable with your Japanese language, then it is recommended to bring an interpreter, or a friend with excellent Japanese level. Because the police or the staff at the counter will ask you couple of question such as "did u go to a driving school in your home country?" or "how long have u been driving in your home country?" etc. If you can't answer his or her question properly in Japanese, and they're not convinced with your answer, it's an automatic fail, and you can't apply in that driving center again (I think).

  11. Anthony Garcia

    This was super helpful! I'm moving to Osaka from LA early next year when the visa restrictions lift and need this when visiting my soon-to-be mother in law in Shimane. Appreciate the extremely detailed video! Subscribed.

  15. UnoBark

    I had a pretty similar experience. I took the test in Osaka and failed the first time for "not checking the traffic" when the signal is green. But i've gotta say the driving school did a good job in my only two practices since I've never driven on the right side of the car… Anyway, the Japanese drivers license system is not to allowing people without the driving school "education" to pass easily.

  23. GAMER BOY JUMAN

    I don't have any experience about driving, so first i want to practice my driving with pay some cost and for written exam i want to prepare it with myself,,, can it be possible????
    Plzzz Answer 🙏🙏🙏

  24. Dragon Toothless

    Now, if you are from the UK, Canada (each of the 10 provinces and 3 territories), or from one of the following US states (Hawaii, Maryland, Washington State), the process gets easier as you only need to exchange your license. There is no knowledge or driving test as all of those places have reciprocal agreements with Japan that allow residents of one to do a simple exchange for the other's license. You will, of course, still need to prove at least 3 months' of driving in that place prior to your application with Japan, but it does reduce the workload a little.

  25. Yin Aung

    Please can you give us pdf book for driving license writing test .?I want to take a test from my license to japanese license. Please.Can I? お願いいたします

  26. ///M

    So helpful! I passed the test today, and luckily, I only did it once!
    Thank you for the tips!

  31. futsuu

    4:38 Just a warning: In Osaka Prefecture, I was denied the ability to transfer a valid US drivers license because I renewed it while living in Japan. The police officer in charge of document inspection said that because it was issued while I was living in Japan, I could not prove that I had driven abroad (despite presenting multiple copies of past driving licenses). So if you renew your license while living here, you might lock yourself out of the process all together.

    That was two years ago, and I am going back tomorrow with all my documents to try again and maybe get a less unreasonable document clerk. Wish me luck.

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