Japanese Driving Test

Two Paths — Know Which Applies to You

Your path to a Japanese license depends on where your original license was issued. Countries with reciprocal agreements have a simpler conversion process. All others require a practical driving test at a government testing center.

• License conversion (reciprocal countries): Australia, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Switzerland, and about 20 others. Document submission + written test + simple practical check. No circuit test required. Cost: ¥3,000–5,000.
• Full practical test (all other countries, including USA): written test + circuit test at a government driving center (試験場). No exceptions. This guide covers this path.
• Note for Americans: US licenses are NOT eligible for direct conversion. You must take the full test.

What You Need Before You Start

• Valid foreign driver's license — must have been held for at least 3 months before arriving in Japan
• Official Japanese translation of your license — must be from JAF specifically. Cost: ¥3,000. Book appointment at nearest JAF office.
• Residence card (在留カード)
• Passport
• Residence certificate (住民票) — from ward office, get 2 copies
• 2–6 passport-sized photos
• Application fee (varies by prefecture)

The Written Test

The written test (学科試験) at the testing center covers Japanese traffic law. Available in English, Chinese, Portuguese, and several other languages at most major prefectural centers.

• Format: 10 questions, true/false format. Must pass with 7/10 or higher.
• Content: basic traffic rules, road signs, right-of-way. Not difficult if you study.
• Study material: available on the testing center's website and through apps like 運転免許 Lite
• Common traps: Japan-specific rules on pedestrian priority, speed limits near schools, and intersection behavior differ from most Western countries

The Circuit Test: What Is Actually Being Evaluated

This is where most foreigners fail — repeatedly. The practical test at a government driving center is conducted on a closed circuit, not public roads. The evaluator is watching for specific, scripted behaviors at each point in the circuit. Your general driving competence is largely irrelevant.

1. 01

   Exaggerated mirror checks

   Before every maneuver — lane change, turn, pulling away from stop — you must visibly turn your head and check mirrors. Not a glance. A deliberate, visible movement the evaluator can confirm.

2. 02

   Start of test ritual

   Before entering the car: visually check around the vehicle (walk around if directed). Before starting: adjust mirrors, confirm handbrake, fasten seatbelt. Evaluators watch this sequence.

3. 03

   Stop line precision

   Stop completely behind stop lines. Not 30cm before, not on the line. The front bumper should stop at the line. Any forward roll after braking is a deduction.

4. 04

   S-curve and crank course

   The S-curve and crank (right-angle course) are the primary failure points. Enter slowly, use reference points on the vehicle to align with the course markers. Touching a kerb is an instant fail.

5. 05

   Speed discipline

   Drive at the specified speed limits for each section — not slower. Driving 10 km/h in a 40 km/h zone is deducted as excessive caution. Maintain speed, brake smoothly.

6. 06

   Railroad crossing

   Stop, open your window (mandatory), look both ways, confirm it is clear, then cross. Skipping the window or looking sequence is an automatic fail at most centers.

Why You Will Probably Fail the First Time

The scoring system is opaque. Evaluators do not provide specific feedback at most centers. You receive a result — pass or fail — and nothing else. This is intentional; it prevents applicants from gaming the system without understanding the underlying skills.

Most foreigners fail the first attempt because they drive naturally rather than performing the scripted sequence of visible checks and rituals that Japanese driving education instills from day one. The solution is to learn the script.

• Take 2–4 lessons at a private driving school (自動車学校) that teaches specifically for the test, not general driving. Tell them you are preparing for the 試験場 test.
• Watch Japanese YouTube videos of the circuit test from the evaluator's perspective — search '一発試験 コツ'
• Arrive 30 minutes early to watch other candidates on the circuit before your turn
• Book your next attempt immediately after failing — waits at testing centers can be 2–4 weeks

Cost Summary

• JAF translation: ¥3,000
• Each test attempt: ¥2,400–3,800 (written + practical combined fee varies by prefecture)
• Private pre-test lessons: ¥8,000–15,000 per lesson (strongly recommended, 2–4 lessons)
• License issuance fee: ¥2,050
• Total realistic cost (3 attempts + 3 lessons): ¥60,000–100,000
• Total cost if you pass first attempt with good preparation: ¥30,000–50,000