更新日：2022年4月2日

Driver's License

Driver's License

In order to drive a car or motorcycle in Japan you must hold one of the below licenses.

• Japanese license (Must have a valid expiry date.)
• An international driver's license issued by a country that is party to the Geneva Conventions.

  One year from the date of arrival in Japan, or until the expiration of applicable licenses, whichever is shorter.

Notes

A license is not valid when obtained in time spent abroad if the time between departure and re-arrival in Japan is less than three months.

• Driver's licenses from Germany, France, Switzerland, Belgium,Taiwan Monaco or Estonia 

  German, French, Swiss, Belgian, Taiwanese, Monaco or Estonian driver's licenses, which are recognized as being on an equal level to Japanese driver's license, are valid as driver's licenses in Japan for one year after the date the holder arrives in Japan.

Notes

Only valid (i.e. within date) foreign licenses can be processed. Only accepted if translations made by a consular agency, or similar, are attached.

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How to obtain a Japanese driver's license

There are two methods to obtain a Japanese driver's license, as shown below:

1. Transferring a foreign license into a Japanese license.

To do this, you must fulfill the following conditions:

• You must have lived in the country that the license was obtained in for at least three months after obtaining the license.
• The license must still be valid in the country of origin at the time of transferal.
• You must pass an aptitude test and knowledge exams on road safety (practical and written) carried out by the Public Safety Committee.

Application

The necessary procedures should be carried out at your local police station. People living within the jurisdiction of the Hamakita Police Station should apply at the Seibu Driver's License Center.

• Applications available: Every Wednesday (excepting public holidays and between 29th Dec. - 3rd Jan.)
• Reception Time: Arrive by 9:30am (timeliness strictly observed)

Notes

• As it is on a reservation basis, license exchange tests are held approximately one month after application.
• Persons unable to write or speak Japanese must bring someone who can interpret.

What to Bring:

• One copy of your resident certificate (juminhyo no utsushi) with your nationality printed on it (if you are not a Japanese citizen) or family register printed on it (if you are a Japanese citizen).
• Special Permanent Resident Certificate (tokubetsu eijyusha shomeisho) or Residence Card (zairyu kado)
• ID photo – 3cm X 2.4cm & taken within the last six months
• A valid driving license
• Translation of foreign driver's license. Only translations carried out by an embassy, a consulate or the Japanese Automobile Federation (JAF) will be accepted.

  Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) Aichi Branch
  3-7-56 Fukue, Showa-ku, Nagoya-shi, Aichi-ken 466-8580
  TEL.052-872-3685

• Passport (all passports that you own)
• An ID card must be brought if it is a Brazilian or Chinese license. An official receipt must be shown if it is a Filipino license.
• Money to cover the processing fee.
• There may be cases when other documents will be requested.
• For those who previously had a Japanese driver's license, please bring the expired license or a driving history certificate.

2.Obtaining a Japanese Driver's License

You will need to take an aptitude test, a written exam about Japan's road regulations and a driving ability exam regardless of your nationality. Many Japanese attend driving school in order to pass these tests. Driving school classes, as well as the exams, take place in Japanese, so an ability to read, write and converse in Japanese is necessary. The written portion of the exam is also available in English, Portuguese, Chinese or Vietnamese (Reception only in English).

Contact details for information about transferring, obtaining and renewing your driver's license.

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Expiration Dates of a Driver's License

A notice about renewing your driver's license (by postcard)

A driver's license must be renewed within one month of the owner's third birthday after the license was obtained. It can be renewed starting from a month before the third birthday up until a month after the birthday. Staring from the 2nd renewal, a postcard with instructions will be sent to you when the renewal period is approaching. Please read the postcard carefully and proceed to renew your license. The postcard will contain the following information:

• The period for renewal procedures to take place
• The details of the license to be renewed and a breakdown of the courses
• Where and when you can apply for renewal
• The items that must be brought

Courses for renewing a driver's license

The courses to be attended at the time of renewal depend on the traffic offences and accidents that you have been involved in the prior five years.

Course of Excellence (30 min)	No accidents or offences	Cost ¥500	+Renewal fee ¥2500
General Course (1 hr)	One minor offence (3 points or lower)	¥800
Offender's Course (2 hr)	For repeat offendersor those with a 4 point or higher offence	¥1350
Beginner's Course (2 hr)	For people renewing a license for the first time that have committed no more than one minor offence.	¥1350
Senior Drivers	Drivers who will be 70 years of age or older on their license renewal birthday.	—

License Renewal Procedure Locations

Course of Excellence, Senior Drivers

People applicable for the Course of Excellence and Senior Drivers can renew their license at any police station in the prefecture (except at Hamakita Police Station), or at the Chubu, Tobu or Seibu Driver's License Centers.

General Course, Offender's Course, Beginner's Course

Shizuoka Seibu Driver's License Center: Mon - Fri
Or please go to the closest Driver's License Center to you.

• Tobu Driver's License Center　TEL 055-921-2000 (Ashitaka, Numazu-shi)
• Chubu Driver's License Center　TEL 054-272-2221 (Yoichi, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka-shi)
• Seibu Driver's License Center　TEL 053-587-2000 (Komatsu, Hamana-ku, Hamamatsu-shi)

Application Times (Mon-Fri)
Driver Category	Morning	Afternoon
Excellent Drivers Senior Drivers	9:00–11:00	1:30–3:30
General Drivers	8: 30–9:00	1:00–1:30
Offender Drivers Beginner Drivers	8:30–9:00	1:00–1:30

Contact

Where to inquire about transferring, obtaining or renewing driver's licenses

Contact details for information about transferring, obtaining or renewing your driver's license.

It is also possible to renew your license on Sundays.

Sunday Application Counters beginning in April 2013

Operating Days	Locations	For	Application Hours	Course Length
1st Sunday 3rd Sunday 5th Sunday *All year (except Dec 29–Jan 3)	Chubu Driver's License Center	Excellent and Senior Drivers	8:30–11:00 13:00–15:30	30 min (*Seniors)
		General Drivers	13:00–13:50	1 hr
		Offender Drivers	8:30–9:20	2 hr
		Beginner Drivers	8:30–9:20 13:00–13:50	2 hr
2nd Sunday	Tobu Driver's License Center	Excellent and Senior Drivers	8:30–11:00 13:00–15:30	30 min (*Seniors)
4th Sunday *All year (except Dec 29–Jan 3)	Seibu Driver's License Center	Excellent and Senior Drivers	8:30–11:00 13:00–15:30	30 min (*Seniors)

*Please keep in mind that when the Sunday application counters are open at the Tobu and Seibu Driver's License Centers on the 2nd and 4th Sundays respectively, the application counter at the Chubu Driver's License Center will not be open.

Things to be careful of

• The classes for senior drivers 70 years of age or older will take place at specified driving schools, etc., so please finish the class before coming to apply to renew your license. (Seniors renewing their licenses cannot take classes at the Driver's License Centers.)
• There are times the counters will be crowded due to license renewals.
• There are limited parking spaces, so there may be times when all the spaces are filled and you will be unable to park.

For more details, enquire at your nearby Driver's License Center.

・Chubu Driver's License Center TEL 054-272-2221
・Tobu Driver's License Center TEL 055-921-2000
・Seibu Driver's License Center TEL 053-587-2000