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Peko-Peko Mwalimu
Joined: 15 Mar 2006
Posts: 6
Location: Japan
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 Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:50 am Post subject: Getting an international drivers' license issued in Japan |
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Being that my driver's license back home has long expired, (as I have a valid Japanese license). I find myself traveling back this Christmas and will be renting a car.
So, in light of this, I'm going to need an international driver's license issued by the Japanese authorities. I assume that this is done at the local DMV office.
If I go there, I know that no one speaks any English... What would I ask for (in Japanese) to request the forms to fill out so I can obtain what I need... I.E. How do you say "international drivers' license" in Japanese? And is there anything else I should know/bring with me to complete the procedure?
Thanks in advance, everyone. |
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Gordon
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:14 am Post subject: |
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| What is your home country? In Canada, you can drive on your Japanese DL. |
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Peko-Peko Mwalimu
Joined: 15 Mar 2006
Posts: 6
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:40 am Post subject: |
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You're kidding. You mean if I show up in Canada weilding a Japanese driver's license but not an international one, they'll respect that?
Even at the car rental company????
If true, that's great... But I AM a bit skeptical...  |
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injapantoday
Joined: 26 Apr 2005
Posts: 40
Location: japan
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 2:46 am Post subject: |
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| you need the intl license...and it very simple. there is a form you fill out..show your passport and japanese licesne....pay 2650 yen...... |
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JimDunlop2
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Posts: 2286
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Mon Dec 18, 2006 3:40 am Post subject: |
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I'm pretty sure you also need a photo (B&W, unsure of the dimensions) that you have to supply at your expense.
I too doubt that any Canadian car rental company would look at your Japanese license and let you walk out with keys to a car.... Although it's certainly worth looking into and asking. |
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littleturtle
Joined: 31 Oct 2006
Posts: 24
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Peko-Peko Mwalimu
Joined: 15 Mar 2006
Posts: 6
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:34 am Post subject: |
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Sure. Great if you are fluent in Japanese -- therefore completely useless to me. I suppose if my level of proficiency were that high, I would just go ahead and look up the phone number for the DMV in the phone book, give them a call and ask them directly. Sorry, no sarcasm intended there -- but that didn't do me much good.
But for what it's worth, yesterday I got it done.
You need:
- Your passport
- a recent 4x5 cm photo
- your Japanese driver's license
- about 2,600 yen
You fill out a form, pay the cash, they ask you a zillion questions, like where you are going, for how long, and which countries you intend to drive in... And that's about it. Whole thing takes about 20-25minutes, and is a bit of pain in the butt unless you are indeed a Japanese speaker. |
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madeira
Joined: 13 Jun 2004
Posts: 182
Location: Oppama
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| Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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You don't need an IDL anywhere, at least not the last time I checked. They're just handy as they come in English.
Our Japanese licences work in NA, the UK, EU countries... no IDL required. And yes, we have rented cars.
(We do have to switch them to UK licences now, but that's easy.) |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Peko-Peko Mwalimu wrote: |
Whole thing takes about 20-25minutes, and is a bit of pain in the butt unless you are indeed a Japanese speaker. |
Wow, who would have thought: you have to be able to speak Japanese when you're in Japan and dealing with a Japanese organization?! :roll: |
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Peko-Peko Mwalimu
Joined: 15 Mar 2006
Posts: 6
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 2:19 pm Post subject: |
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| G Cthulhu wrote: |
Wow, who would have thought: you have to be able to speak Japanese when you're in Japan and dealing with a Japanese organization?!  |
And why the vitriol? Am I not allowed to mention the fact that language is a barrier without you getting all sarcastic? Am I to interpret your sarcasm to mean that I somehow SHOULD be fluent in Japanese?
Some Japanese offices DO offer services in English, you know. Certainly the entire alien registration section at city hall has fluent English speakers... And my gym where I work out has new member information in English too. In fact, many of the signs at the DMV are in English too... Am I bi tching about them not speaking English? No. I only pointed out that it IS a pain in the butt if you don't speak the language. Nothing more.
So with that.... Right back at ya, bud! |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 3:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Peko-Peko Mwalimu wrote: |
| G Cthulhu wrote: |
Wow, who would have thought: you have to be able to speak Japanese when you're in Japan and dealing with a Japanese organization?! :roll: |
And why the vitriol? Am I not allowed to mention the fact that language is a barrier without you getting all sarcastic? |
Vitriol /= sarcasm. Sarcastic? Yes, it certainly was. Vitrolic? No, not in any way.
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Am I to interpret your sarcasm to mean that I somehow SHOULD be fluent in Japanese?
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No, you should interpret it as meaning that it should hardly be a shock to anyone that they encounter Japanese speakers in Japanese offices in Japan.
Japan does not owe the residents service in any language other than Japanese. You write as if service in English is somehow a normal thing that _should_ be offered. To me that speaks of either considerable arrogance or ignorance. YMMV, but IME it's all too common among certain sections of the ex-pat community.
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Some Japanese offices DO offer services in English, you know. Certainly the entire alien registration section at city hall has fluent English speakers... |
You mean the AR section at the city hall office you happened to visit? Trust me, that isn't the norm. Would you have been as upset if they had offered service in Japanese and Chinese, but not English? After all, there are far more Chinese-speakers in Japan than there are English. Why trot out that example unless you _expect_ service in English, in which case we return to the idea of unreasonable expectations & when in Rome blahblahblah.
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And my gym where I work out has new member information in English too. In fact, many of the signs at the DMV are in English too... Am I bi tching about them not speaking English? No. I only pointed out that it IS a pain in the butt if you don't speak the language. Nothing more.
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Fine. But you're in Japan. Would you support the bithcing of an Urdu speaker complaining about the lack of native language support they get from the DMV in any US State? I suspect you wouldn't.
And while we're at it, it isn't a "DMV" or "international driving licence". :) If you're going to ask advice on an international forum about something to do with Japan you might want to try using the correct terms or at least avoiding the US-specific terminology. Then again, 30 seconds using the search function would have answered all your questions without this entire watse of bandwidth.
Obviously, YMMV. :) |
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madeira
Joined: 13 Jun 2004
Posts: 182
Location: Oppama
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| Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 9:19 pm Post subject: |
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Um, if you get an international driver's licence from Japan...
It says 'International Driver's Licence' on the top.
(Which still doesn't mean you need one..) |
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6810
Joined: 16 Nov 2003
Posts: 309
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| Posted: Thu Dec 21, 2006 11:18 pm Post subject: |
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FYI - In Australia you can drive on a Japanese license as long as you have a valid translation issued by a consulate or embassy of the state you are residing in.
It costs about $30AUD and takes, depending on the time of the year and the office, 1-3 days to get your translated document.
I have done this myself (I have a Japanese license but no Oz one) so can verify its validity, as has my wife.
Things differ from country to country, if in doubt just contact your relevant embassy/consulate. |
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G Cthulhu
Joined: 07 Feb 2003
Posts: 1373
Location: Way, way off course.
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| Posted: Fri Dec 22, 2006 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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| madeira wrote: |
Um, if you get an international driver's licence from Japan...
It says 'International Driver's Licence' on the top.
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It does? Mine <checks> says "International Driving Permit", as does my NZ one and my US one. Which I'd always assumed they all do because that's what the convention calls them.
But then, it is Japan so I'm not inclined to disbelieve you straight off... :)
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(Which still doesn't mean you need one..) |
True, but where's the fun in winding people up over that? ;) |
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Peko-Peko Mwalimu
Joined: 15 Mar 2006
Posts: 6
Location: Japan
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| Posted: Sat Dec 23, 2006 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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| G Cthulhu wrote: |
And while we're at it, it isn't a "DMV" or "international driving licence".  If you're going to ask advice on an international forum about something to do with Japan you might want to try using the correct terms or at least avoiding the US-specific terminology. Then again, 30 seconds using the search function would have answered all your questions without this entire watse of bandwidth.
Obviously, YMMV. |
Geez, you really DON'T have a clue, do you? If you can't tell the difference between b itching and just making a simple comment that something may be difficult if you don't speak Japanese. You've obviously been in Japan too long. I think you need a holiday.
By the way, I haven't the foggiest what YMMV means.
And US-centric? Maybe in your mind. I'm not American. Nor an I aware that I was using incorrect terms. If I don't call it a DMV, then what SHOULD I call it? DMV is the term that most epople on this forum are likely to understand. I guess I COULD use the term DRIVING CENTER which is written IN ENGLISH above the building. As for the word "LICENSE" versus "PERMIT" -- well, if you're going to be so didactic about a single word, I can see you are either little more than a troll who wants to make his voice heard, or just trying to be difficult for the sake of self-justification.
Enough said. I got my license -- and everything is good. |
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