{"id":19448,"date":"2018-05-18T12:12:02","date_gmt":"2018-05-18T11:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/?p=19448"},"modified":"2018-05-03T10:38:24","modified_gmt":"2018-05-03T09:38:24","slug":"japanese-drivers-license","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insidejapantours.com\/blog\/2018\/05\/18\/japanese-drivers-license\/","title":{"rendered":"Getting a Japanese driver\u2019s license as an American"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4>Like this post? Help us by sharing it!<\/h4><ul class=\"wpfai-list\"><li class=\"wpfai-list-item facebook\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F19448&amp;t=\" title=\"Facebook\" class=\"wpfai-facebook wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-facebook fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item twitter\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?text=&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F19448\" title=\"Twitter\" class=\"wpfai-twitter wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-twitter fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item pinterest\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F19448&amp;description=&amp;media=\" title=\"Pinterest\" class=\"wpfai-pinterest wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-pinterest fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item linkedin\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F19448&amp;title=\" title=\"Linked In\" class=\"wpfai-linkedin wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-linkedin fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item envelope\">\r\n      <a href=\"mailto:?subject=&amp;body=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F19448%20-%20\" title=\"E-Mail\" class=\"wpfai-envelope wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-envelope fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item stumbleupon\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stumbleupon.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F19448\" title=\"Stumble Upon\" class=\"wpfai-stumbleupon wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-stumbleupon fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><li class=\"wpfai-list-item reddit\">\r\n      <a href=\"http:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.insidejapantours.com%2Fblog%2Fwp-json%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fposts%2F19448\" title=\"Reddit\" class=\"wpfai-reddit wpfai-link wpfainw\">\r\n        <span class=\"fa-stack fa-lg\">\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-square fa-stack-2x\"><\/i>\r\n          <i class=\"fa fa-reddit fa-stack-1x fa-inverse\"><\/i>\r\n        <\/span>\r\n      <\/a>\r\n    <\/li><\/ul><p><strong>When tour leader, <a href=\"http:\/\/bit.ly\/IJTBrian\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Brian<\/a> moved to Japan from the US, he knew he&#8217;d need to take another driving test. But moving to the other side of the road was the least of his problems.<\/strong><br \/>\n<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Getting my driver\u2019s license was no easy task. Luckily, I already had my California driver\u2019s license. Otherwise, I would\u2019ve had to take a load of driving lessons and it would\u2019ve cost an arm and a leg as well. Still like most things in Japan, they you make you jump through hoops to get anything done. Go to this office and get this document, then go to that office and get that document, then come back, oh wait you forgot that one document. Ahhh!<\/p>\n<p>If you have a UK driving license, I\u2019ve heard it\u2019s a fairly simple process and test-taking is not needed. This could be because Japan and the UK drive on the same side of the road and driver\u2019s licenses are issued through the government in the UK. In America, we drive on the right side of the road and driver\u2019s licenses are issued through each state. Pretty difficult to make an agreement with 50 states with different driving laws, if you ask me. I think that\u2019s the real reason why Americans have to take a written and driving test.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-medium-plus-size wp-image-19451\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Brian-driving-510x680.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"510\" height=\"680\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Brian-driving-510x680.jpg 510w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Brian-driving-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Brian-driving-423x564.jpg 423w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Brian-driving.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Brian-driving-390x520.jpg 390w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The written test was in English and was very easy. The driving test though, was a whole other animal. Luckily, I had a couple friends who gave me fair warning beforehand. It took both of my friends (who I consider great drivers) 5 times each to pass the driving test.<\/p>\n<p>The problem is, in America you just get in the car and the road test examiner instructs you what to do. In Japan, the road test examiner instructs too, but there are more than a few things you expected to do without the examiner\u2019s instruction.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-half-width wp-image-19455\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-test-course-720x540.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-test-course-720x540.jpg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-test-course-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-test-course-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-test-course-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-test-course-564x423.jpg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-test-course-1200x900.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-test-course-900x675.jpg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-test-course-1440x1080.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-test-course-390x293.jpg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-test-course-780x585.jpg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-test-course-510x383.jpg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>For example, there is this whole process you have to do before you even get into the car: check under the front of the car, check under each wheel well, look left and right (as if there was traffic) before opening your car door and getting inside. Making a turn at a stop sign has a whole process too: turn your blinker on, once stopped check each mirror saying the word &#8220;Yosh!&#8221; (Ok!) to confirm you\u2019ve checked it, then turn around and check out the back window saying &#8220;Yosh!&#8221; once more.<\/p>\n<p>Ok, you\u2019re ready to make your turn now, but before you do you have to say out loud, \u201cI am making a left or right turn\u201d. Don\u2019t mess up the order either or you\u2019ll get points marked off.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to the help of my friends, and tons of horrors stories online of people failing for various reasons, I passed first try. Yay! Now, let me make something very clear. If you\u2019re just visiting Japan, you can get a temporary driver\u2019s license without having to take any tests, but if you live here and your driver\u2019s license is American, you\u2019ll have to do what I did.<\/p>\n<p>When it comes to actual driving in Japan, it\u2019s a joy. Japanese people are just as courteous and nice on the road as they are in person.<\/p>\n<p>Drive safe everyone!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-half-width wp-image-19454\" src=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-in-Japan-720x540.jpeg\" alt=\"\" width=\"720\" height=\"540\" srcset=\"https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-in-Japan-720x540.jpeg 720w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-in-Japan-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-in-Japan-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-in-Japan-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-in-Japan-564x423.jpeg 564w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-in-Japan-1200x900.jpeg 1200w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-in-Japan-900x675.jpeg 900w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-in-Japan-1440x1080.jpeg 1440w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-in-Japan-390x293.jpeg 390w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-in-Japan-780x585.jpeg 780w, https:\/\/insidejapan.ams3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Driving-in-Japan-510x383.jpeg 510w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/><\/p>\n<h4>Like this post? 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Help us by sharing it! When tour leader, Brian moved to Japan from the US, he knew he&#8217;d need to take another driving test. But moving to the other side of the road was the least of his problems. Like this post? 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