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Part 2 – Getting your license – At the traffic center

So you’ve gotten your translation and you’re ready to go get a license? This tutorial is intended to answer whatever questions you may have concerning the process from a step-by-step breakdown of the procedure to a driving test guide test that contains exactly what to do, and when and where to do it. Please note that, while I believe that the driving test guide is extremely accurate, most of the procedure part was written from my memory of what happened a year ago so the exact sequence of events may not be entirely correct. However, all the steps are there, they just might not be in the correct order. Please email me at scott@japan-guide.com if you have any suggestions or changes, and I will make updates.

How long does it take?
The time required to get your license entirely depends on what country your foreign license was issued in. Some countries are exempt from the driving test. These countries are: France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, The UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Korea. If you hold a license from any of these countries then you can expect to transfer your license to a Japanese one in 1 day.

If you hold a license from a country not on this list (this mostly affects Americans) then you are required to take the driving test, and can expect to take between 2 days and 6+ months to get your license depending on how many times you fail. This is because every time that you fail you have to make an appointment for a new test, which is almost always at least a month from when you sign up. Also, you can only sign up for one appointment at a time and it needs to be done in person.

Why do Americans have to take a driving test?
The reason some countries are exempt from taking the driving test in Japan is because the Ministry of Traffic analyzed those countries driving records and licensing procedures and they were found to be equivalent or better than Japan’s. They then made reciprocal licensing agreements with those countries. Canada was recently approved after what I hear was a 5-10 year long study of Canada’s driving records. This is unlikely to happen anytime soon for Americans for two reasons. First there are 50 states (compared to Canada’s 13 provinces and territories) which all have different licensing procedures that would have to be analyzed. Second, and more importantly, there would have to be reciprocal agreements with each individual state to allow Japanese-citizen residents equal treatment. As it stands, Japan is pretty generous allowing 1 year of driving on an international permit compared to some states, such as California, that only allow you to drive for 10 days before you have to get a license.

Where do I go?
Everything is done at the Gunma Traffic Bureau located on Route 17 in Maebashi. From Takasaki, drive toward Maebashi on Route 17. Continue past the Maebashi Expressway entrance. In a few minutes you will see a Yamada Denki on your right. The Gunma Traffic Bureau is 1 or 2 signals past Yamada Denki on the right. There is a sign in English and Japanese. I believe that the closest train station is the Shin-Maebashi station. I don’t know directions from there, so I would suggest taking a taxi. The name of the center in Japanese is Gunma Ken Sougou Koutsuu Sentaa. In Kanji it’s: 群馬県総合交通センター.

What is the procedure?
I have broken down the test procedure into three parts:
1. Paperwork
2. Driving Test
3. Getting the License

People who have to take the driving test do all three parts. Test exempt people skip part 2.

Step 1 – Paperwork:
Note: if you are missing any of your paperwork at this point then don’t bother going as they will not process you.

What to bring:
1. Valid driver’s license
2. Passport
3. Alien registration card
4. 3 x 2.4 cm passport picture – there’s a photo booth near the café on the 2nd floor. Note: this picture isn’t used on your final license.
5. 1 Japanese translation of your license obtained through JAF
6. Copies:
a. 1 A4 size of your driver’s license – front and back on the same page
b. 1 A4 size of your IDP – leave the original in the car as there are rumors of them not returning your IDP.
c. 2 copies (1 A4 and 1B5 size) of your alien registration card – front and back on the same page.
d. 1 A4 size of your passport’s picture page
e. 1 A4 size of your passport’s visa page and any other stamped pages in your passport.
7. Application fee: ¥2400 the first time and each time you need to retake the test.

*** I’m not sure about the specifics of this part – needs revising ***
Take all of the above to desk 7 on the second floor of the traffic bureau. To get there, follow the red line on the floor from the entrance, up the stairs on the left, and down the hall into the big waiting room. Tell them it’s your first time (hajimete) and sign in on the clipboard. You have to write your name and country in katakana and circle either AT or MT for automatic or manual transmission. Circle AT unless you plan on driving a manual. An MT license allows you to drive an automatic but not vice-a-versa.

They will go over all your paper work to make sure everything is in order. This includes checking all your visas and entry/exit stamps to reconstruct your travel history. This is mainly to check and make sure that you were in the country that issued your license for at least 3 months with the license valid.

Next, they will give you an application and send you to desk 2 to pay the ¥ 2400 application fee. They guy will affix a bunch of stamps to your application that are essentially your receipt of payment.

When you return the application to desk 7 they will give you a black plastic disc with a number on it. This is your id number until you are ready to take the written test. They will use this number to call you up when they are done processing your paperwork.

After they call you up they will give you back all your paperwork and you will go across the room and get in line for your physical test. You will have a vision test and a test of your physical ability.

For the vision test you will look into a machine and have to spot different colors and directions as they are lit up. The colors you need to know are red (akai), yellow (kiiro), and blue/green (aoi/midori). It doesn’t matter if you say blue or green for the (obviously) green light. For the directions they show you pictures of circles with a gap in them pointing in an obvious direction. The gaps point either up, down, left, or right, and look similar to this: ∪∩, but look more like the letter c. For those of you with hopeless Japanese (me included) up is “ue”, down is “shita”, left is “hidari”, and right is “migi.”

For the physical test you have to put out your hands and squat. There might be some other stuff, but I can’t remember what it is right now. Someone please let me know.

Take your forms back to desk 7 and you will be given a form (in English) where you have to declare if you have been arrested, or if you are physically or mentally unfit for driving, and anything else that would make you ineligible for a driver’s license. Initial the one at the bottom that says you are none of the above, and then I think you sign the bottom. You also have to fold it in half for some reason before you give it back to them.

*** End section of questionable order ***

At this point they will take your black number and give you a blue number badge. Now you just wait for the written test. It will be held in the Dai-ni room which is a small room to the left of the desks (as you face them). It should begin about 3:00-3:20.
Don’t worry about the test, it is very easy and can be taken in English. It does have some annoying translations but they are not as bad as some think. Also, the pictures with each question are very helpful in understanding the situation they are describing. It’s 10 questions and you need a 70% to pass. You should be able to finish the test in less than 15 minutes. See the rumor section below for some interesting theories about the written test.

If you pass you will be given all your paperwork and a copy of the test route. It’s always the same route. Go out the door, turn left, and go though the double doors, down the enclosed walkway/hall, to the waiting room over the course and wait there. Around 4:00 the instructors will come into the room and go down the steps. They will call out numbers that correspond to your blue badge. You will be separated into 4 or so groups. Go with the instructor that calls your name. You will be test in the order you are called and only 2 testers are in the car at one time. If you are not first or on deck you will be shown to a set of chairs where you should wait for your turn.

Step 2 – Driving Test:
Important: Wear close-toed shoes or you cannot take the test. Wearing sandals is an auto-fail. I’m not sure if heels are ok, so be on the safe side and don’t wear them.

Myths:
There are a lot of myths out there about the driving test, and doing some of these things will probably do no more than annoy the instructor. But in a test where your score is heavily influenced by the mood of your instructor why take the chance. I asked a driving instructor about these to see what’s true and what’s not.

1. Before you get in the car you should walk around it checking to see if it’s safe. Kick the tires, and check in front, back, and underneath for small children.

This isn’t necessary and it just seems to make the instructors more impatient than they already are.

2. Drive as slow as you possibly can. The slower the better.

Except for turns, the 50 kph zone, and the sharp 90 degree turn areas your speed should be about 30 kph. In reality, there isn’t a lot of time spent at 30 kph but that is the preferred cruising speed.

3. Signal like crazy. Your blinker should never stop blinking.

There are specific places that you should signal. Chances are if you signal like crazy then you’ll hit those times, but it isn’t necessary. If you only signal at the specific places then it shows that you have been trained for the test which may increase your chances of passing.

4. Check brake every time you slow down. i.e. tap the break briefly before you will brake as a signal to other drivers that you are about to slow down.

This isn’t necessary except for when you slow down from the 50 kph zone. However, it’s more progressive braking than check braking as you will slow a little each time rather than all at once.

5. You must be able to speak Japanese and say all the polite phrases that Japanese people use.

You need elementary Japanese for the driving test. Left, right, wait, and over there are probably all you need to know. The instructors generally don’t give you instructions, but some will tell you where to go next. It’s usually a bad sign if the instructor is trying to teach you how to drive during your test.

Technique:
1. Holding and turning the wheel

The proper position to hold the wheel is at 10 and 2. If you don’t know what this means then imagine the steering wheel as the face of a clock. Put your left hand where the 10 would be and your right hand where the 2 would be. In theory, the proper procedure for turning is to always keep your hand on the wheel. You shuffle your hands and your arm never cross. For example, if you want to turn left you move the wheel with your left hand while keeping your right hand in place. Then you move the wheel with your right hand while bring your left back to starting position. Coming out of a turn is the exact opposite. In practice, crossing your arms is ok and letting the wheel slide through your hands when coming out of the turns won’t hurt your score. It’s better to drive smoothly in a way that you are comfortable with than to try to do it the recommended way and throw off the rest of your game, especially since it won’t affect your score if you don’t do it the Japanese way.

2. Drive to the left of the lane

Most of the time during the test, with the exception of making right turns or the 50 kph zone, you should drive toward the left side of the lane within 30 cm of the line that marks the shoulder. A good way to gauge the proper distance from the line is to drive so that it appears as if the shoulder line is in the center of your dashboard. This same trick can be used using the curb instead of the shoulder line to determine when you are the proper distance from the curb for left hand turns.

3. Stopping at a light or stop sign

There are 3 times that you may need to stop (numbers 22, 27, and 33 on the map). When you stop you should be about 1 m from the line. To gauge the proper distance from the stop line, stop the car so that it appears as if the stop line is coming out of your right side mirror.

4. Making turns

When you make a turn the procedure is to signal, look, and pull to side of the lane that you want to turn before you make your turn. For example, if you want to turn left you first signal left, then look over your left shoulder, and pull to the left side of the lane. You want to be on the shoulder and about 30 cm from the curb. Then you can make your turn. It is the same for right turns except you will be about 30 cm from the center line instead of the curb.

5. Other cars

Do not turn in front of oncoming traffic or try to cross traffic if there are any cars that have even the remotest chance of hitting. It’s always better to wait until you are sure it is safe to go or when the instructor tells you to go.

Driving Test Guide:
Read it, study it, know it and you will have a good shot of passing in (dare I say) 1 or 2 tries.

Note: This guide is accurate as of 3/06. The map is the actual map of the driving course that they give you before you take the test. I interviewed 2 different driving instructors at the Takasaki Driving School for the contents. And in February I went to the Gunma Traffic Bureau and observed the tests to make sure that they were the same. Again, please email me if you think that there is something that needs to be changed.

Download it as a pdf below.

Detailed description:
1. When you get into the car check all these things in this order:
a. Adjust the seat.
b. Adjust the center mirror.
c. Adjust the left mirror. It may be on the outside of the car or out of your reach. Don’t really worry about it; just make a show of checking it.
d. Adjust the right mirror. Same as above.
e. Put on your seat belt.
f. Put the car in drive. Your foot should be on the brake.
g. Release the emergency brake.
h. Check the center mirror. Be obvious about it and look with your whole head and not just your eyes. Apparently, the reason for this step is to check for approaching bicycles.
i. Check your left mirror.
j. Check your right mirror.
k. Look over your right shoulder.
l. Turn on your right signal.
m. Pull out and go.
2. Drive to the left of the lane and check your center mirror. From here go about 30 kph.
3. Turn on your right signal. Check your right mirror and look over your shoulder. You want to gradually move into the right lane.
4. At this point you should be in the right lane and passing the car (represented by road barriers). You don’t want to have more than a 1 m gap when you pass. Also, there is no need to slow down.
5. As soon as you pass the car you should put on your left signal. Then check your left mirror and look over your left shoulder and merge back into the left lane.
6. Slow down to 20 kph before the turn. Stay to the left of the lane throughout the turn. Accelerate out of the turn to 30 kph.
7. Slow down to 20 again and check for cross traffic. Look right, then left, and right again, and proceed through the intersection at 20 kph.
8. Maintain your 20 kph and look right to check that the upcoming turn is clear.
9. Just like number 6. Enter at 20 kph, stay to the left, and accelerate out of the turn. At this point you will start accelerating and continue to 45-50 kph.
10. Drive in the center of the lane from here until the next turn.
11. You must get to 50 kph by here. Do not go over 50 kph, and maintain your speed till 12.
12. Check your center mirror and then slow to 40 kph. This is the “check braking” time. You will decrease your speed in 3 small steps instead of one big step.
13. Check your center mirror and slow to 30 kph.
14. Check your center mirror and slow to 20 kph.
15. Signal right. Look over your right shoulder. Drive in the right of the lane. These steps are done not for the right hand turn you are entering, but for the right hand turn you will be making at the next intersection.
16. Slow to 10-15 kph. You will probably have to turn your right signal back on. Look over your right shoulder and make the turn.
17. Drive to the right of the lane and turn on your right signal. Watch out for oncoming traffic. Defer to other cars unless the instructor tells you to go. Oncoming traffic has the right of way in your upcoming turn.
18. Pull into the left of the lane and slow down to almost a stop here. Turn on your left signal, check your center mirror, and look over your left shoulder before you turn. You are looking for bicycles. In the upcoming 90 degree turns its best to go through very slowly. Approach the first turn from the left side of the lane, and the second turn from the right side of the lane. Do not hit any of the barriers, it’s an auto fail. It’s ok if your tires touch the curb but it they rise up at all it’s an auto fail, so do not touch them at all. Also, it’s apparently ok to back up in here if you need to, but everyone I’ve seen do this has auto failed. It might have been unrelated to backing up.

This section is the hardest part of the test, but it really isn’t that difficult. Just be careful, take your time, and you’ll be fine.
19. Signal left and look over your left should here. Again, you’re checking for bicycles.
20. Pull into the right side of the lane. Signal right and look over your right shoulder before making the turn. This next section is much easier than the first. Just go through slowly. You can just let the engine idle and it’ll carry you through.
21. Signal left here, look right for cross traffic, and look over your left shoulder for bicycles.
22. Coming out of your turn from 21, pull into the right side of the right lane and turn on your right turn signal. Look left and right for cross traffic. Do not enter the intersection if there are cars coming. It is always better to wait if you are not sure you can make it. Also, do not enter the intersection if the light is yellow. The rule is that you must finish crossing the intersection before the light turns red. Otherwise you are considered to have run the red light. When it is safe to go then make your turn. Aim to have your left wheel touch the center diamond in the intersection.
23. Coming out of your turn you should drive to the left of the lane and accelerate to 30 kph.
24. Look left and right for cross traffic.
25. Slow down to 5 kph and creep up to the blind corner. Peer around the corner until you are sure that it is safe and then go through the intersection.
26. After passing the intersection turn on your left turn signal, check over your left shoulder for bicycles, and move into the left of the lane. You want to be on the shoulder as you are essentially cutting of the path of bicycles so that you don’t turn into them.
27. You must stop here for at least 1 second. Look right, left, and right again for cross traffic. There may be cars coming from the left. Don’t go until they have passed.
28. Enter the turn at 20 kph and stay to the left of the lane.
29. Check your center mirror here.
30. Signal left, look over your left shoulder and begin to move to the left of the lane.
31. At this point you should be on the shoulder, cutting it off from bicycles. Do one more check over your left shoulder and proceed with the turn.
32. As you exit your turn, move to the right of the lane and turn on your right turn signal.
33. This is exactly the same as number 22.
34. Exiting the turn, you will be in the left lane. Immediately turn on your right turn signal and move into the right side of the right lane as the lane splits into two. Keep your right turn signal on.
35. Look left and right for cross traffic. The instructor will tell you which lane to enter. It is usually the same one that you left from. Before turning, make sure there is no oncoming traffic.
36. After exiting the turn you want to pull into the left of the lane about 30 cm from the curb. The instructor will tell you which pole to stop at. It will most likely be the same one that you left from as you will need to pick up the next person. If in doubt then pull up to the farthest open spot. When you stop you want the pole to be exactly inline with your front bumper. Do not pass the pole. Put the car in park and engage the emergency brake.

After you finish the test you should immediately go back to desk one and get in line for appointment sign-ups. After 30 minutes or so they will hold up a whiteboard that has the numbers of the people who passed. If your number isn’t on the board then you didn’t pass and you need to sign up for your next appointment. They have a calendar with 10-15 spaces per day. You sign up by filling in your name next to the corresponding day. Usually your test will be about 1 month after the day that you sign up. The day of your appointment you must go to desk 7 by 3:00. Present your paperwork to them and sign in. They will give you a blue number badge and you should go wait in the driving test waiting area until your test begins. Notes about appointments: you can change your appointment at a later time but you have to do it in person. Also, you can’t just show up and try to take the test again. After the first time you must have an appointment in order to take the test.

If your number is on the board then go to desk 7 to fill out more paperwork and find out when you can come back to get your license (usually the next day).

Step 3 – Getting the License:

*** Under construction ***

When you show up again you have to watch a video and they ask you to donate money to the traffic bureau. It’s totally optional and most people don’t do it. Then you get in line to have your picture taken and pay. I’m not sure how much it costs. Then you wait again and they will call everyone out by a number which you will receive somewhere in the process. Foreigners will be called last so don’t worry that you are one of the last 5 people in the room. Then you go out and get in the line you’re your number to pick up your license. Hurray, you’ve finished!!!

Additional Questions:
Lessons:
Rumor mill: