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[dtomchek]

Hey everyone:

I have a ? for everyone. I just tried to get my Japanese Driving Liceanse a couple of weeks ago. My boss called them and told them I had a Liceanse from California but no International Liceanse (already been here a year so would be worthless anyway). They told us to go get it translated and bring it down with some other documents.

Well, I did this and they made me take the written, visual, and road test anyway. Cannot say that I passed it though. I only have a 120cc scooter and they had me take the test on a 175cc Motorcycle (had not ridden one of those in 8 years) with no practice. I could not even complete the course they showed me it was so complicated.

My ? is why, if my liceanse from America was totally worthless and I needed to take all the tests, did they need to have a translation of it from America? Did not seem to affect what I had to do to obtain a Jap drivers liceanse.

Also, is there an easier way of doing all this? Based on the conditions of the exam, I hardly think that I can pass the motorcycle test but have heard that a car liceanse does suffice for a scooter. Can anyone confirm that the car liceanse is easier to obtain than the motorcycle one and is it true it covers a scooter as well???

[JimDunlop2]

The bad news is... That IS the easier way to do it.

1. The way it was explained to me is, based on Japanese gov't stats show that American drivers in Japan don't fare so well... The reason why, (as it was explained to me) is that licensing in America is a local (state) affair, and too many areas in the United States APPARENTLY allow almost anyone to get a license -- and the road test/written test is merely a formality..... The interview you went through was to establish whether or not you actually had a REAL, NORMAL driver's license. This step entitles you to SET FOOT ON the test driving course. If you had NOT gone through this procedure, you would have been required to attend a Japanese driving school (which runs into the thousands of dollars) and is a pain in the butt. Also, the JAF will translate your documents from back home, among which should be proof that you've had your driver's license for more than 3 months prior to leaving your home country. BUT, it seems this step of your journey is done. Now it's just a matter of learning the courses and keep plugging away at it till you pass the test!

What most Americans (that I've spoken to) do is, they take a couple of "lessons" do get familiar with the course (you have to have all 3 memorized, and be able to do whichever one they spring on you). Then, just keep trying. One of my friends wore his best suit to the test, and made appropriate use of "keigo" (Japanese honrific language) and passed on his first try (his DID know his courses though). Another friend did it in 3 no matter how polite he tried to be.

2. From my friends who ride motorbikes in Japan, there are 2 ways to get a Japanese motorbike license. Method 1: Go and take the test every Friday morning (or whenever your local DMV does motorbike testing). It will cost you about 5000 yen each time, and the AVERAGE time it takes to get your license is about 10. Method 2: Go to Japanese motorbike driving school. Will cost you about 100,000 yen, take a few months, but you get your license at the end of it all on the first go.

3. Yes, a car license is sufficient for a <50cc bike or scooter IF your car license is Japanese. If it is not, you are driving illegally. The only way you can drive a scooter legally on an INTERNATIONAL license is IF you have a MOTORBIKE license from your home country and the international license indicates this. Otherwise, there is no scooter add-on for a car license on an international permit.

Hope that helps. Sucks, but Good Luck!!! Gambare!

[Glenski]

[adomo]

If your from Canada and you have your M1 motorcycle license along with the 1949 international license your permitted to drive a motorcycle in which is under 400cc.

[dtomchek]

Hey everyone:

Well, that sort of makes me feel better. I am not, however, going to take 10 days of Nenkyu and pay everytime for the privledge of flunking that somewhat bizarre test.

Um, maybe I will just return to 1941...