Guide to obtaining drivers license Japan

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Today I finally got my driver's license in Japan, everyone. It wasn't too difficult, but there are some points to note which I'll share in this article. Hopefully, you can find it helpful when learning to drive.

I'll write about my learning process.

Step 1: Decide if you need a driver's license.

I didn't have a driver's license in Vietnam and had never driven before. Back in university, there were some cars, but they were different: Currently in Japan, working in IT from home means driving to work isn't necessary. But for outings, the main reason I decided to learn to drive was to explore and visit all regions of Japan. So without further ado, I decided to put in the effort and learn.

Step 2: Research about getting a license in Japan

I searched on YouTube and some blogs to learn about how to study and take the driving test in Japan. Information I gathered included: choosing a school, costs, exam details, car prices, rental fees, etc. It didn't seem too difficult or expensive, so I decided to go ahead.

Step 3: Find a driving school

I found various types: some teach in Japanese, some in Vietnamese; there are residential courses, part-time courses, and those designated by the Public Safety Commission. Here's a general idea:

  • Formats:
    • Residential Course:
      • You concentrate continuously for about 2 weeks at the center. You'll need to arrange your work and take leave for those 2 weeks to focus solely on learning to drive.
    • Part-time Course:
      • You arrange study times in your free time, like evenings, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, etc. This method takes more time, usually 3-4 months, and in my case, due to personal reasons, it extended to 6 months.
  • Public Safety Commission Designated:
    • Designated Centers:
      • These are centers where you take the practical test and sometimes the theoretical test as well. They tend to be more expensive (around ~30 man), but passing the practical test is easier because it's graded by instructors at the center.
    • Non-Designated Centers:
      • You'll need to take both practical and theoretical tests at the police station or designated centers. It's usually cheaper (like the place I found teaching in Vietnamese at 17 man), but passing the practical test is harder because it's graded by the police (based on experience from some senpais, some people fail multiple times and get discouraged, so they switch to a designated center).

In my case, after consulting with some senpais and researching online, I decided to choose a center near home, designated by the Commission, and opted for the part-time course. This is the school I attended: Nagareyama Driving School

Reviews weren't that high, around 2.7/5*, which made me hesitate, but after reading some 5* reviews, I realized I could choose my instructor, so I didn't think it would be a big issue and decided to go ahead.

Step 4: Register at the school

Before registering, I checked the school's website to see what documents I needed to bring:

  • Residence certificate: This can be printed at the convenience store, I used my number
  • Proof of identity: My number or passport, or health insurance card
  • Seal
  • Glasses (for vision and hearing test)
  • Money (credit card or cash, check how much you need for the course on the website)
  • IC card (used to check in for driving practice)
  • 4 photos (you can take these at the school)
  • Registration form (you can write this at the school)

After preparing these documents, I went to register at the school. The procedure was quite simple; they have staff to guide and explain each course. I chose the suitable course and asked questions before registering. After registration and payment, they conducted a vision and hearing test (like a normal eye test, checking near and far vision and color perception). Once the test was okay, they scheduled my start date. With an appointment slip in hand, I headed back home.

Step 5: Opening Ceremony

On the day of the opening ceremony, I received a detailed introduction about the center. They distributed necessary textbooks. Then, we underwent a competency assessment test:

  • The assessment was quite thorough and lengthy, unlike anything I've seen before.
  • They handed out question papers and answer sheets, and within a specified time, we had to answer as many questions as possible.
  • The questions were like geometric puzzles, finding the odd one out, finding similarities between shapes, counting...
  • After the test, they returned the results and categorized us into groups such as safe group, easily distracted group, slow reaction group, etc., to help us understand our abilities. Once the procedures were complete, I headed home.

Step 6: Attending Classes

There are two types: theoretical and practical classes:

  • Theoretical classes:
    • You don't need to pre-book these. During registration, they provide you with a schedule, like the one below:
    • You actively choose suitable classes and study them in any order you prefer, completing each lesson.
  • Practical classes:
    • These require booking in advance. My center has an app where I can schedule and attend classes.

The learning and testing process is quite extensive. Here's a summary:

  • Phase 1: Karimen License (allows driving with a companion)

    1. Study 13 theoretical lessons concurrently with 12 practical sessions (totaling 21 lessons).
    2. After completing the theoretical lessons, you take an assessment test. If you pass, you proceed to the practical assessment; if you fail, you re-study the theoretical part. My center uses an app called Musasi for exam preparation.
    3. Upon passing the theoretical assessment, you proceed to the practical assessment. If you pass, you qualify for the official test; if you fail, you re-study and re-take the practical assessment.
    4. After passing the official practical assessment, you undergo a vision and hearing competency test.
    5. Upon passing the competency test, you take the Karimen test (50 theoretical questions).
    6. Passing the Karimen test grants you the Karimen license (which the center keeps) and you move on to Phase 2.

  • Phase 2: Honmen License (full driver's license)

    1. Study 16 theoretical lessons concurrently with 19 practical sessions (totaling 16 lessons).
    2. After completing the theoretical lessons, you take an assessment test. If you pass, you proceed to the practical assessment; if you fail, you re-study the theoretical part. Still using Musasi for exam preparation.
    3. Upon passing the theoretical assessment, you proceed to the practical assessment. If you pass, you qualify for the official practical test; if you fail, you re-study and re-take the practical assessment.
    4. After passing the official practical assessment, you graduate.
    5. At the graduation ceremony, you receive instructions for obtaining the official license at the examination center and receive a graduation certificate (valid for 1 year).

Step 7: Taking the Exam

After obtaining the graduation certificate from the driving school, I need to gather the necessary documents and go to the examination center to take the exam and obtain the license. Here are a few notes I found:

  • Take the exam in the province where you reside.
  • The theoretical exam consists of 95 questions to be completed in 50 minutes.
  • It's crucial to study thoroughly before the exam because some questions might not have been covered in class. I suggest practicing on various websites, such as:
  • Only proceed to the exam when you feel confident, scoring above 95, to avoid wasting time and money. In my case, each re-test costs 1,750 yen and requires taking a day off during the week. Once confident, prepare for the exam and go. After passing, there's another vision and hearing competency test. Here are a few additional notes: During the vision test, if you don't wear glasses or have slight nearsightedness, it's best not to wear glasses. If you wear glasses during the test, your license will indicate a requirement to wear glasses in the future. This means if you drive without glasses later, you'll be penalized. Although the procedure to remove this condition is simple and free, it requires an additional session to redo. Once you have your license, you can buy or rent a car and enjoy driving. Good luck to everyone