Blizzardboy | A Kiwi in Japan

I have been rather busy recently, and I am sorry for not posting for a while. One thing that I have been doing is trying to get my drivers license. Getting a drivers license in Japan is quite a simple process if one has held a drivers license from a recognised country (such as New Zealand or Australia). In that case, all one needs to do is to get the paperwork translated into Japanese, pass a simple test and then a short driving test on a test course. There is a useful page – Japanese Driver’s License and Driving Test Tips with more information on this if this is your situation.

However, having been away from New Zealand for coming on 8 years, I no longer hold a valid New Zealand drivers license, so the process is a bit more complicated. Much like in New Zealand, one has to go to the Driving Center, pass an eye test, then a written test to get ones learners license. Well at least in New Zealand one would get ones learners license at that point – in Japan one also has to pass a driving test before receiving ones learners license.

The written test for both learners and full licenses is available in English in only 11 of Japan’s 47 prefectures – including Akita, but not, unfortunately Ibaragi (although they have plans to introduce an English version in January or February of 2008). So rather than brave the vagaries of the test in Japanese (my Japanese is good, but I fear not that good), I changed my address to Tokyo (thanks E). One has to be domiciled in the prefecture one takes the test (anachronistic Federal system?) – so by doing that I was able to take the test in English.

The written test for the learners license has 50 questions and one has to get more than 45 to pass. Most of the questions are reasonably straight forward and require only common sense. It is a good idea to pick up the road code published by the Japanese Automobile Federation – get a Japanese friend help you obtain a copy (about 1200 yen).

I have my second try at the driving component next Thursday. The last time I drove was back in New Zealand in 2001 – for about 2 hours, and before that a scooter in Thailand in 1999 (that poor bike!), so I was quite rusty when I got behind the wheel the first time. I failed the test on the level crossing – didn’t quite get the hill start together. I wish I had known then what I found out after that test – one can hire a car at accredited driving schools, and with the holder of a full license in the passenger seat, practice to ones hearts content. This cost us 3500 yen for an hour and was invaluable.

Fingers crossed for my driving test take two next Thursday!