Getting a Drivers Licence in Japan is no easy task, unless you're from the few lucky countries including England, Canada, NZ and Australia that can switch licences with a bit of paperwork and an hour or 2. Even in that case, for changing your licence you need a translation of your home licence and note that application time is from 1pm to 2pm ONLY. They'll tell you to wait if you dont come at the right time.
Click here if you're from a country that doesn't need to take the drivers test.

This site however, is mainly for the rest of us who have to take the eye test, written test and driver's test. It's a guide for foreigners or gaijin who are living in Utsunomiya and who want to get a Japanese driver's licence.

This page is a guide for where to apply, how to get there, what time to get there and what you can expect when you get there. Since the whole Kanuma Driving Centre is Japanese, its a real challenge the first time to know where to go in the building unless you read Japanese quite well.

You'll also find some driving test tips - common mistakes people have been failed on and a map of the course you'll likely be taking.

Getting Started:

A few weeks before you go to the centre, you? have to get your Driver's Licence translated from your native language? into Japanese. This can be easily done through JAF - the Japanese Auto Federation. JAF has it's own website explaining the process so click here to see... The JAF Homepage in English.

Also, you have to prove (via passport) that you stayed in the country your licence was issued for more than 3 months. This is to stop people skipping over to Australia to get a bogus licence then coming back to Japan to convert it. (honestly. who's gonna do that?)

If you're from a lucky country, you still have to get the translation by the way.

It would also be a good idea to take an hour or 2 at a driving school before you take the driving test. Click here to find out about Driving schools.

Once you have your translation, it's time to assemble "What you need" as far as documents you will need to apply.