Driving Miss Crazy Part 1: Japanese driving classes

Just because I like a challenge (yeah right), I've been taking driving lessons in Japan so I don't have to cycle an hour in the snow to get to some of my schools. So for those of you who need to know exactly how to get a licence from scratch in Japan as a foreigner (beats me why you would), here's a detailed explanation on all the steps involved.

Back in Australia you can just go to the nearest RTA, pass a quick 20-question theory test and get a learner's permit on the spot. Then all you have to do is get a full licence holder to teach you how to drive in a car of your choice and take the practical test when you're ready. Things ain't so easy here, even though the speed limits are unusually low. Maybe the high population (and obstacle) density has something to do with it. Also, almost everything is in the local language, so if your Japanese isn't all that flash, it'd probably help if there are a few native speakers to help out.

Grab a coffee or something, this might take a while.

Step 1: Registration

Get to your local driving school (ドライビングスクール), and bring your passport and alien registration card (外国人登録証明書 - gaikokujin touroku shoumeisho) with you. Also get a certified true copy of your Alien Registration Certificate (a copy of your particulars held at your local city hall - ¥200), and probably about ¥50000 to ¥100000 for the enrolment fee. Bring a translator with you if you're not confident in Japanese.

The folks at my driving school were a little reluctant to take a gaijin because of the language barrier, and this was made abundantly clear to me when I enrolled. I'm told it's their job to say stuff like that, but it does an excellent job of instilling humility and motivation, since people are making an extra effort for you.

Payment can be done in instalments up to the time you get your actual driving licence. At least this was the case in my school. The fee is based on the minimum number of lessons you will need to pass, though there may be extra charges if you need more time. It's probably a good idea to clear up any payment issues with a translator around.

Step 2: Basic Theory Classes Part 1 - 10 hours

How classes are scheduled depends on the individual school, but you should be able to find classes outside of normal working hours. If your school is particularly nice, they can arrange for you to be picked up from your home or work, then sent back once you finish classes for the day.

A point to note is that the textbooks are in Japanese (duh). Fortunately for the linguistically impaired gaijin, there's a version with English alongside the Japanese text. *Un*fortunately, it'll set you back about ¥9000-10000. The upside is that all the kanji in the book has furigana to help you out, so it's an alternative way to learn Japanese while you're at it. Also, the classes don't have to be taken in order, so it's great for people who are in a rush (like me).

And because we should all be friendly with nature:


I generally like to be the master of stuff, so this suits me just fine. *whip*

Step 3: Driving Techniques Part 1 - 12 hours

My driving school had a driving simulator which they put me in for my first practical lesson. While not the most accurate mockup of the look and feel of driving, at least you won't break anything on your first go. They also had a large collection of instructor cars in the back, and they all had passenger side brake pedals and mirrors everywhere.

The rest of my 12 hours were spent practicing on the school's circuit, which crams a lot of twists, turns, crossings and even slopes into an area smaller than a regular athletic track. I can't be sure if it's a standardized design, but it's important to note that the first (and perhaps final) driving test will be based on a circuit, not on actual roads. So it pays to know what you're up against by checking out the circuit of the DMV (運転免許センター - unten menkyo sentaa) or equivalent you will be taking your test at.

Some schools might not allow you to take more than 2 practical lessons a day, others might not allow you to take them consecutively. Best to check beforehand.

Time saving tip: the theory and practical lessons can be taken concurrently, so you can zip through this part relatively quickly. I took no more than 2 weeks to finish the lot by going to the school almost every day and pulling all day sessions on weekends.

Step 4: Aptitude Test - 20 minutes

I was required to take a test to gauge my reaction speed, judgement and accuracy as a formality before I could proceed beyond basic lessons. The test (適性検査 - tekisei kensa) involves a series of questions where you have to quickly or accurately match symbols, identify correct ones or draw shapes, plus an additional section of yes/no questions to determine your personality traits. I liked the one that asked if I've ever heard voices that weren't there (who said that?). It's a really good idea to bring a translator or interpreter for this one.

While they're not going to stop you from getting your licence if you turn out to be an overanxious schizophrenic with poor judgement (at least I hope not), the results will be significant further down the track. I think they also modify the practical instruction based on any tendencies to misjudge things.

Step 5: Basic Driving Techniques test - 10-20 minutes

After a minimum of 11 hours of practice on the school's course, your teachers will use the 12th lesson to familiarize you with the route for the first driving practical test (技能試験 - ginou shiken). Once they think you can handle it, they'll mark off your report card (gah!) and you can do the test itself. If they're really nice, they might throw in an extra hour on the house so you can practice freely. The school will probably be able to conduct the test on their premises, though there's no guarantee your examiner will be anyone you've met before.

I was told that they look out for the following during the test:

1. Checking mirrors and blind spots before changing lanes
2. Ensuring safety at all times
3. Hill starts and driving on slopes
4. Accelerating to 40km/h at least once
5. Not hitting the kerb during an S bend or crank turn
6. Returning to the starting point and proper stopping procedure

An important thing about S bends and cranks: it's ok to kerb the car, as long as you know you've done it and back up a bit so you can make a second attempt. Running over the kerb without backing up leads to an automatic fail. Each time you back up it counts as a new attempt, so keep it under four and you'll pass that bit.

It's ok to miss a turn if you're not confident, and there's no need to overtake other drivers on the test should they be moving, but it's really important to obey any traffic signals, to check at all intersections before proceeding and to wind down your window while attempting the railway crossing.

You get no help from the examiner (duh), except for directions on where to turn so you don't have to memorize the course. I'm a bad driver and I still made it, so it's really not that scary.

Yes, gaijin get put last no matter what, but my case this was an advantage. I got to see someone else attempt the course and pick out their slip ups so I didn't make them myself. The test costs about ¥4830, but if you've paid your course fees in full it's ok. There are also long gaps in between waiting for everyone else to finish other things, so it's a good time to hit the theory book.

Step 6: Written Theory Test - 30 minutes

Once you finish the practical test, you have to sit a written test (学科試験 - gakka shiken) at the school or the nearest DMV. You CANNOT take the test until you've completed the practical part. While 50 true or false questions might sound like a cakewalk, it should be noted that the test is in Japanese and the passing mark is 90% or higher. There is an English version of the test for foreigners, but you only get one shot at it (ever), and it's only available in larger cities. In my case I had to take it at either the closest major city (Koriyama) or the prefectural capital (Fukushima-shi) since they didn't have it in English at my school, so everyone else got their learner's permit on the day but me. Boo.

I was asked to bring the following:

1. Alien Registration Card
2. Alien Registration Certificate
3. My practical test result from the driving school (修了証明書 - shuuryou shoumeisho)
4. Pencil, ballpoint pen and eraser
5. 2 to 3 ID photos of myself (the school provided these)

There are a number of forms to fill out, so get a Japanese speaker to help you if you're not confident. It's a really good idea to know your date of birth by the Japanese year system (Taisho, Showa, Heisei and so on) because all the forms ask for it that way.

If you take the test at the school you might use a photocopied answer sheet, but they use optical answer sheets at the DMV, hence the need for a pencil. The briefing before the actual test is fairly complicated, and you have to go it alone since you'll be in the exam hall, but hopefully the staff will help a confused looking gaijin fill out their details on the answer sheet. I thought the questions would be the ones I was told to memorize from my textbook, but when I opened my test booklet I realized I was gypped! So don't assume you can get by with just swotting.

It's a really good idea to pass the first time round - you have to make all subsequent attempts in Japanese if you fail. Not fun.

After the test you'll have to wait around a bit for them to mark your test, but it isn't too bad if you bring something to amuse yourself with. I took the time to scope out the takoyaki dispensing machine in the cafeteria ^^ If you pass, they'll issue you your Learner's permit (仮運転免許証 - kari unten menkyosho), which is just a piece of paper with your photo and an important looking stamp on it. Now you're ready to take on Part 2 of your driving course! Joy!