Gardner Lab

Here are some instructions on transferring a US driver's license to a Japanese license in Tokyo.

Here are some instructions on the paperwork you need. Note that if you are from some exempt countries like the UK you do not need to take the Driving test and the process for converting your license to a Japanese license is very simple. This site has practical information on transferring licesnses and this site has information on getting your driver's license from scratch in Japan. The necessary paperwork to start the process is basically as follows:

1. Valid US Driver's license
2. Translation of US Driver's license. You can get this done by mail through the Japan Automobile Federation. Basically they need a photocopy of your driver's license, a request form and the fee that you pay by sending them money through a registered post-office envelope (you do this at the post-office - 送金　sokin). At the same time, you should probably get a translated copy of "Rules of the Road", which you can also get by post - in this case you send a letter request for the book plus enough postage stamps (really!) to pay for the book and the return postage.
3. Passport
4. Old passports You need to prove that you have lived in the US for long enough to be eligible for the xfer process.
5. Old Driver's license Only if you recently renewed.
6. Gaijin card If you got it very recently and it still provisional (not a real card), you may also wish to bring a bill or lease or some other proof of residence.
7. Current photo 3cm x 2.4cm. It's a standard size - you can get one at any photobooth. They usually have a specific setting for driver's license photos (運転免許) which will print in this format. The photo is needed right at the beginning when you start your application.
8. 住民票 jyuminjyo This may be a new requirement - things have changed since this was first written, so check carefully what new documentation is needed.

For the written test, you need to go one of the driving test centers (運転免許試験場) - either 府中 (Fuchu) which can be reached from the 中央線 Chuo-sen from Shinjuku or 鮫洲 (Samezu) which is a few stops from Shinagawa station on the 京急 Keikyu line (or you can take a Saikyo/Rinkai to Shinagawa Seaside). Note that you cannot go to the Koto license center (I believe), and that the license centers are generally open from 8:30 to 3PM with a lunch break from 11:00 to 1PM! Probably best to get there first thing in the morning, I arrived around 9AM (there were only a handful of people xfering license the whole time I was there) and was there till after 11AM and things still seemed to be rolling, but they may not let new people in during lunch hours. I went to the Samezu center. When you get off at the station there are signs in Japanese for 運転免許試験場 - don't get confused by the shop near the station which eagerly tries to get people who want help passing the driver's test to come in. When you get to the test center you should probably ask at the front where to go - there is a specific window for transfering your license (免許切替 - menkyo kirikai) - it was at the very end of the hallway on the second floor. I believe that it can all be done in English if need be. Once you get there you will have to do the following:

1. Get a number and fill out brief questionnaire The questionnaire is in english and just asks you to certify (yes/no) whether you have had any traffic violoations in Japan and the like.
2. Present paperwork You need all the paperwork noted above. They will take it from you and start to fill out a form for you - no writing is required.
3. Wait I waited for about 1.5 hours while they checked out our forms - some high level security check I presume.
4. Eye test They will call you back and then tell you to get an eye test downstairs. You go to the designated door, wait in line and then do a very basic eye exam. Landolt C. You need to say whether it opens up/down/left/right. They then flash different color lights and you need to name the color (red, yellow, blue).
5. Pay fee You then go to another numbered window (they will have told you which one to goto) and pay the fee. 2400 yen for regular license.
6. Written exam Go back to the window you started at and they will invite you behind the closed door to a computer. You put on headphones and the exam is in English. One practice question and then 10 true or false questions. It is reasonably straight-forward, but you should probably read Rules of the Road before taking the exam (see above). You need to get 7 out of 10 right to pass. Check here for some online sample questions.
7. Schedule road test Next you go to the bottom floor, give them your paperwork and you get a card for making reservations. Hmm, I guess if you get a reservation card, they are assuming that you are going to have to do this several times. They will put you at a machine and then you reserve a time for your driving test. Apparently this can only be done at the Fuchu center. There were times available at 9AM or 12:30PM - you are supposed to arrive at least 15 minutes before your time. You may have to pay the 2200 Yen fee for the exam at this point as well. Once you have reserved they will seal a big envelope and remind you many times that the driver's test happens at a different center. Then they wish you good luck and you are done for the day. The whole thing took about 2.5 hours.

Arrive 15 minutes before your appointment time at the testing place. Fuchu testing center is about 25 minutes on the Chuo line from Shinjuku. There is usually a bus waiting when you get there which takes about 10 minutes from the station. They will give you detailed english language instructions on how to get there. Make sure to bring your passport, gaijin card, old driver's license, driver's license translation, appointment card, and appointment slip (some of these may be in the big envelope they gave you). You will need to pay 2200 Yen for the taking the exam. You will wait and then they will call your name in order of who goes in the test. Line up and march to the testing site. There will be some explanation before the test starts - nothing important. The first person gets in the driver's seat and the second person sits in the back with their bags and watches. So, best if you are not first since then you won't get too see the course before you drive it. The test can be very hard if you don't know what they are looking for. I've spelled out what I learned from taking a two hour driver's course (after failing miserably the first time) below. The course I took was from Kiki driving school which was a few stops from Shinjuku on the Keio line. It cost about 10,000 yen/hour and two is just enough to get the explanation and practice - actually I think my instructor gave me a bit extra time, so you may need to book three hours to have enough time to fully practice. They have their own practice course which is small but sufficient. If you call enough in advance you can also book the Fuchu driving course on the weekend or after hours and train on exactly the same course. Either way, I highly, highly recommend the course. You will almost certainly fail once, likely several times, and some have gone 10-15 times before passing. The driver's course people say that 90-95% people pass the first time after taking their course and I believe them. They tell you exactly what you need to know - there is even an unspoken point system for what violations will cost you (you get up to 30 points before failure, and little things like hitting the wind shield wiper instead of the blinker – yes, shamefully that happened to me – will cost you 20 points). Especially if you have never driven on the left, it is worth getting used to things, I found it surprisingly difficult to break habits. The car is the same as the one you drive on the actual course, they have some instructors that can speak english. I did mine the night before taking the exam, which I think was a good strategy. A fellow test comrade said they used Double oo Drive and said they were good too.

1. Get in car (1). Go around back, lean slightly (but obviously) down to check under back of car, walk to front and lean down to look under front of car. I have no idea what you are looking for, but this is part of vehicle inspection and makes them happy. The leaning down can be pretty perfunctory though, you don't need to get down on your knees and do a full bomb sweep or anything. Open door, but just half-way at first. Check left and then right for cars and then open the door all the way and get in. Close door. Put on seat belt. Adjust the seat and mirrors (you can turn the key to turn on the electrical system to adjust the mirrors - which have controls to the right below the steering column, or just wait till you have started the car - but, either way make a show of having adjusted everything even if it is already pretty good).
2. Start car The instructor will ask your name and will want to see your gaijin card (so make sure to have it ready). After they give it back you will be told you can start the engine when you are ready. Turn the key making sure your foot is on the brake. Shift into drive and then release break.
3. Drive to pole (2) You must signal to the right before you start driving. For this and all signaling you will do the following actions. Look in the right mirror. Flip the signal down for right (be careful here, the signal is on the right, make sure not to turn on the wiper which is really easy to do if you are used to driving on the right. If you do turn on the wiper it may not be the end for you, just calmly turn it off then turn on the signal correctly - a good tip is that you shouldn't ever have to take your left hand completely off the steering wheel except for at the beginning and end of the drive when you put the car in gear). Turn your head to the right to look in your blind spot. Note that it is not necessary to look in your left or center mirrors. Just the right mirrors. If you need to signal to the left, you do the opposite - left mirror, flip signal up for left and look over left shoulder. Note that you don't have to look completely backwards for the head turns, just basically out the passenger window. From here on out this procedure will be abbreviated LM-LS-LH or RM-RS-RH. Practice doing this all the time, even though it will feel rather ridiculous. Drive forward to the pole, pulling slightly away from the curb. Stop when you get to the pole.
4. Turn at stop sign (3) There are two routes that can be taken, either around to the left (solid black line) or around to the right (dashed black line). They only start out differently, but end up the same. I will just describe the left hand loop since it contains an extra obstacle. The instructor will tell you which way to turn at the stop sign. For a left hand turn, you do your LM-LS-LH even if the blinker will shut off as you make the turn to the stop sign - just turn it back on if it shuts off. Stop at the stop line. But watch how close you get. The front of the car should just obscure the white line - don't go any farther than this. Pull the car slightly to the left as you get to the stop line (be careful not to hit the curb, just slightly). Look left and look right (hereafter LL-LR), make sure there are no cars coming from the right (if you see anything remotely possibly coming, wait). Look over your left shoulder before you turn (this is supposedly to make sure that no moped has driven up next to you who you could turn off). Make sure not to start out by turning slightly to the right before going left (most people do this unconsciously). Make a fairly tight left turn and turn into the left hand lane. Note that the preceding procedure – LM-LS-LH, pull slightly to the left, LL-LR, only go if there are no cars coming, look left over shoulder again, then tight turn, remembering to only turn the handle left and avoid doing a slight shift to the right before going left – is the standard procedure for all turns. Do the same for right hand turns, but switch right for left. I will reiterate the sequence in the directions below, but it is always the same procedure. Always stay in the left hand lane (unless there is an obstacle, or you are preparing for a right hand turn) when there are two lanes. Drive towards the turn.
5. Curve (4) About 30 meters before the curve, drop your speed to 20km/h. They like it if you pump the brake gently to slow down until you are under 20km/h. This should make for a slightly but not ridiculously jerky ride. Once you have slowed down, put your foot back on the accelerator (they don't like it if you ride the brake through the whole curve).
6. Drive straight On the outer straight portions, you should try to get your speed up to about 30-35km/hr, but make sure to slow down to 20km/h or under starting 30m before and during curves. This is the only portion where they want to see you drive a bit faster.
7. Obstacle (5) You will almost immediately see an obstacle on the left. Slow down early when you see it. RM-RS-RH. When you get up close to it look over right shoulder and pull around it. Straighten the wheels so the blinker shuts off, then LM-LS-LH, then another quick look over left shoulder and pull back into the left lane. Straighten car and drive through next curve (remember to pump breaks down to 20km/h and then keep foot off brake and on accelerator during the turn).
8. Right hand turn (6) You will be told to make a right hand turn. Way before the turn do a RM-RS-RH. Check again over right shoulder and pull into the right lane. Keep slightly to the right of the lane. Drive to the turn. Check over right shoulder again, then turn right.
9. Enter crank (7) You will be immediately be told to take a right hand turn into a numbered lane. RM-RS-RH. Pull slightly to the right, but don't ever cross the center line. At the turn, look over right shoulder and pull in. Go very, very slowly.
10. Crank Basically two 90 degree turns. A good trick they teach at the driving school is to pull in slightly to the right and have your wheels straight. Now go slowly and watch your left hand mirror. When the left hand mirror is completely aligned with the corner of the curb (this seemed to me a little farther than I would normally go), stop then turn the wheels all the way to the left and go forward. Basically if you do this you will never hit the curb. Worked for me. Do the same trick going to the right. When you leave the crank, do a RM-RS-RH then LL-LR and pull to the right.
11. Obstacle (8) You will immediately have an obstacle in the road. RM-RS-RH and pull around. Straighten. LM-LS-LH and get back in left. You will be asked to do a left turn. LM-LS-LH. Pull slightly to the left. At the corner slow down and LL-LR. Turn, remember to stop if any cars are coming and don't start by turning the handle to the right.
12. Enter S-curve (9) LM-LS-LH. Pull to the left. This is a pretty hard turn, you may want to do the 90 degree crank trick here to avoid hitting the curb.
13. S-curve Take it slow. Don't hit any curbs. If you do, you may be able to stop. Back up and try again. At the end RM-RS-RH. Stop. LL-LR. Check over right shoulder. Turn. Immediately do a LM-LS-LH. LL-LR. Check over left shoulder. Take the turn tightly and drive into the left hand lane. Again, LM-LS-LH, pull slightly left.
14. Stop light (10) Stop at the stop light if it is yellow or red. Make sure that the white line just disappears under the hood. If you are the first car at the stop light and it turns green, you must LL-LR before going. Look over left shoulder. Drive in left lane - in the straight portion bring your speed up to 30 km/h.
15. Flashing yellow light (11) Slow down. LL-LR. You don't have to stop, you have the right of way. After the light, RM-RS-RH, pull into right lane. Stay slightly to the right.
16. Stop sign (12) Stop for at least 3 seconds. LL-LR. Look over right shoulder. Turn and pull into far left lane. Make sure not to put your wheel over the small triangle in the road. Drive straight. Slow down for the curve and keep your foot off the brake in the curve. LM-LS-LH. Pull to the left. Look over left shoulder. turn and head for the end. You will be told where to turn (back to where you came from). RM-RS-RH etc. If there are any cars parked there, you will be told to go around them slowly. Do the usual signaling business as if it is any other obstacle and go around.
17. Pull up to pole (1) You should pull the car slightly closer to the curb for the very end (30cm instead of the usually 50cm), but don't hit the curb. LM-LS-LH, slow down and stop before the pole. Put the car in park. Put on the brake. Turn off ignition.
18. Getting out of car Open the door half way, check for cars left and right and then full open and get out. Come around back of car and go to passenger side. You will get a pink slip if you passed. You will get a white slip if you failed. If you don't speak Japanese, you might ask them to write what you did wrong.
19. Finishing up If you got a white slip you will reschedule - usually the next open date will be two weeks or so away. If you want an earlier date, it may be possible to call every day and ask if there are cancellations. If you passed, you will pay 2050 yen and then expect to wait some time. My test was at 9:00 AM and it took till 1:30PM to get the final license.

Your first license will only be good for two years. One month before your birthday you will get a post-card in the mail which has instructions on how to renew. You need to renew in two months (i.e. the period for renewal is one month on either side of your birthday). You take the card, your license, residence card and 4000 JPY (you may need a jyuminhyo or other paperwork if you also changed address) to one of the testing centers (the card will tell you which ones you can go to - for advanced license renewals you may be able to go to a local police department, but that was not an option for a green license). I went to 鮫洲。As always, get there as early as you can - they open at 8:30. You have to fill out a small form with your name and DOB. You do not need to write your address if it is the same. On the back of the card you have to answer “いえ” to a bunch of questions (like have you fallen asleep w/out knowing it more than a few times and the like). Make sure to check them off - I x'd them and had to do it again! Sign your name. Go pay. Then they will make you set a security number (which is used later to check the info on your license). Get your eyes checked (same as when you got your license). Then you get a card (takes 15 minutes or so). Go upstairs and take a course. This will take 2 hours. It's dull. They won't ask you to take any exam or ask you any questions. Then leave the room and wait for your number to be called and get your license. Check the data with your security number and you are done.

Note that if you are out of the country you can renew when you are back even after the 2 month period, but you will probably need to show your passport and fill out some form. You need to do it within a month of coming back though, or you will lose your license. There is some grace period (six months?) where you will only need to do a written test, but outside of that you may need to start from scratch, ugh.