I just passed driving test in Japan!

[caraway33]

without knowing Japanese. Very surprised it’s actually possible.
Took 3 months in total,
about 40 hours of driving (i’m almost 40 btw, zero previous experience).
At driving school was supplied with theory book in English- written test was in English (also available in several other languages).
Driving lessons were in basic/broken Japanese. Teachers in rotation, around 7 in total. Fascinating how teacher’s personality affects driving experience, glad it was so many. Some made me very nervous which resulted in more mistakes.

You start driving at school, then after obtaining learner’s license, go on the road. Then that driving test- was super easy, the route i’ve done dozens of times but due to nerves still managed to make mistakes. Was certain of failing but got a pass?! Cringed for days as it felt so underserved.
After that, mock written exam at school (100 questions) and then final written test at prefectural police driving centre.

other details: MT gear box, driving in JP is on the left side. School fee (including driving lessons) about £1700 .

Anyone would like to share experience of passing a driving test in different country/language?

or any questions regarding the one in JP?

@caulkheaded 🤯 so many! i hope i’d get a chance to drive in various countries.

@rifling how’s driving in Italy?! my husband was shocked how fast everyone is there.

@JugglingJanuary English is a foreign language for me anyway! that said i’d be more weirded out to learn in my native language 😅
i’ve been here long enough for dd to be already 6. My husband is Japanese but we met in London and always spoke English…

That's cool... well done you!

This was many, many moons ago,but I began driving lessons in the UK then moved to Dubai Where I continued lessons with a British born ex Dubai policewoman.

Test consisted:

Oral "Highway Code" test (one to one with police woman)

"Indoor Test" for the manoeuvres such as reversing round corners and parallel parking: actually outdoor in a purpose built car park with road markings, parking bays and a hill for hill start! Many students at the same time being directed to various parts of the car park on foot to take turns at the manoeuvres. It soon became apparent some students had not actually driven much before, if at all... one such student panicked and got out of car leaving it in gear and engine running... luckily it quickly stalled!

Road Test: one policewoman, three students per car...you take turns driving! Horrifyingly nerve wracking.

I passed!

A few years later I moved to Geneva where I had to take a mini test to exchange licence ( really just a short drive around with a policeman)... just about managed on my then very basic French.

The Swiss licence was swapped for a UK one on my return so I've never actually passed a UK test!

how’s driving in Italy?!
Stressful! People drive too fast and look at their phones all the time - not surprisingly there are lots of accidents. I avoid it as much as possible.

Where are you in Japan? I wouldn’t want to drive in Tokyo, the huge flyovers make me feel woozy being a passenger, let alone driving.
I love Japan and can’t wait to go back soon.

Quite niche, but I learned to drive in Gibraltar. No theory test, just a couple of questions from a list that my teacher had given me the answers for. The test route is the same for everyone, so I had practiced it multiple times each lesson for months (apart from a short section which is closed to learners). Still took two attempts to pass! I was then able to just exchange that license for a full UK one despite a max speed limit of 30 mph so I'd never gone into 4th gear, and never driven on a dual carriageway.

I’d forgotten all about this, but I have/had a Japanese driving licence, which was a conversion over from a UK one (early 90’s). I’m pretty sure no driving was required - possibly an eye test of some sort and for sure LOTS of forms. I lived in Japan for a while and we were buying a car, so I needed a Japanese DL. I seem to remember we also had to get our landlord to sign a form confirming we had a parking place as part of the process to buy a car - you either had to have a parking place, or you could only buy a certain specification of car called a “mini-ka”, which was weeny, like a Smart car. Some of the manufacturers would have mini-ka’s in their range, I remember there was a really cute sports car. I wanted to get one but they were very underpowered, about 800cc or similar.