Job Discussion Forums

mfaulkner · Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Salinas, CA

Seems a somewhat unusual requirement. I was under the impression that bikes and public transportation were the best way to get around in Japan. Yeah, okay, it's pathetic that I'm 20 and I can't drive, but it just seems an awful lot of jobs want you to have a drivers license, and it's kinda frustrating.

Sorry if someone's already asked this... I did a search and didn't see anything offhand, so I figured it hadn't been covered, or at least not in the Japan forum and not recently.

6810 · Joined: 16 Nov 2003 Posts: 309

The majority of jobs out there do not require a license. It could be related to the kinds of jobs you are currently looking for, the location they are in etc.

Most Eikaiwa are set up so that employees are located in an area usually fairly close to public transportation.

markle · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Posts: 1316 Location: Out of Japan

chirp · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 148

I agree with most of what markle said. "Drivers license required" means you will be in a location where public transportation is not an option and will probably have more than 1 school. As for more than 1 school in a day, I have heard of this happening, but it is not the norm from my experience.

If you are already in Japan, there are lots of jobs that don't require a license, as was already posted. If you are applying outside of Japan, this is probably not a requirement, but rather an asset. It gives the company more flexibility in your placement location.

easyasabc · Joined: 13 Jul 2003 Posts: 179 Location: Japan

My first two jobs in Japan were with Eikaiwas and both required you to have a driver's licence. They were in smallish cities and had classrooms in more than one location that I needed to get around to. It was great because both those companies provided me with a car which I used both for work and for my own use.

Having a car in a small city, where public transport was pretty useless, was fabulous . I was able to get to loads of cool places (mountains, beaches, other cities etc etc).

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

You don't really need a Japanese driver's license the first year here anyway. Get an international driver's permit. It is valid only for the first 12 months you are in Japan, and after that you will have to get a Japanese driver's license.

southofreality · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Posts: 579 Location: Tokyo

mfaulkner · Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Posts: 14 Location: Salinas, CA

Thanks everyone. That clears it up. (As for where I was looking, just at the internation jobs that are posted here.)