Getting
a Japanese drivers license --Written by Lee
Even before
we arrived in Japan we were told how difficult it would be to get a Japanese
drivers’ license.
Nagoya has
a high incidence of traffic accidents involving older people, hence the
reported bias against older drivers.
It often
takes 4 to 7 times to pass the driving test.
Japanese
who do not already have a license, must take driving school and pay over $3,000
to learn to drive and prepare for the practical driving test.
For
foreigners the cost depends on how many times one fails, and how many driving
practice sessions they purchase.
Warning:
If you lack patience, and are not really interested in knowing what it takes to
get a Japanese Driver’s License, skip to the end.
To get
a license, patience is required due to the bureaucracy.
The
steps to get a license are:
1. Get your passport and USA state issued
drivers license translated at the Japan Automobile Association, like AAA.
Pay $30 and you walk out with a “translation.” Remember to pick up the
step-by-step instruction for getting through the bureaucracy, and a driver’s manual.
2. Next stop at city hall, to get a
certificate to prove you are a resident of Nagoya. Simple--pay $5 and walk out with
documentation. Note: due to time
restrictions and travel, the first two steps took two half days.
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| Window 1 (across the way in this photo) is an information booth that helps get us started. |
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| If in doubt you can always just read the signs. The number in the circle is the window number. It obvious you start at #1. There I was told to go to #12. I got to know windows #12, #11, #14, #2, #3, #17, #16 very well. This DMV is a big building that handles large crowds. Literally all the drivers seeking licenses in Nagoya must come here. |
3. Then drive nine kilometers to the
DMV. I arrived at 9:00 am to a beehive of activity. I went to
station #1 where I was told to go to window station #12-- the window for
Foreign Drivers who already had a license. Take a number and wait. Continue
to wait.
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| Window 12 - Having a license already gets Foreigners their own window. |
4. Finally a nice 40-year old Japanese lady official
asked for my passport, Japanese resident card, translated American driver’s
license, and address document, etc. She helped fill out a “white”
processing form that will record the key steps in the process. Automatic (AT) or manual transmission (MT)? My initial thought is a manual transmission
license, but on second thought I will not be driving a manual transmission car
in Japan. Do I really want to learn to shift with my left hand? “AT
please!!!”
To my
surprise--the nice official pondered my entry/exit stamps in my passport.
Her purpose was to verify that I had driven for at least one year in
America. No brainer, right?
Wrong. She had to verify it based
on date stamps in my passport. My passport had me departing and returning
from Mexico. 200 and some days later, we departed for Europe. There
was a clean Homeland Security Stamp documenting our departure. But, not
my return in June of 2008. The official
could not document from my passport that I was in America between 2008 and 2012
from my passport. What did this
mean anyway? For drivers with less than a year’s experience, I would
need to display a green and yellow novice driver marker on the front and back
of my vehicle for 12 months of driving in Japan. This marker is a warning to
other drivers. Oh well, I just smiled. After completing the
form, I was then told to go to Window 11.
6. At Window 11, I paid the initial processing
fee.
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| Window #11: Cashiers. This line leads to the cashier windows. I returned to these windows at least three times in the process. |
7. Next go to Window #14. There was a
long snaking line of mostly Japanese. I did not know what the line was
for. It turns out about an hour later, I learned that it was for
verifying that a) the “white” form is complete, b) processing fee is paid, and c)
the required documents are attached.
Everything except for the white form is kept at Window 14.
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| Window 14: snaking line to verify the Window 12 processor did the documents properly. Actually Window 12 and 14 look in the same room. The processor and person verifying sit back to back. Indeed switch roles to likely break the boredom. |
8. Next go to station #15 for an eye exam. My “white” paper was double checked to make
sure it was complete and date stamped. So I was admitted to the eye exam
area. In the large eye exam area, I commenced my eye exam. I did
not understand exactly the Japanese description of how the eye test
worked. How difficult could it be? After missing the first several
images, the official asked if I could see at all. In Japanese he mentioned a break in the
circle symbol. I thought, oh, I guess he is asking if I can see the
location of the break of the various sized circles. With that clue, I was
able to pass the eye exam. By now it was 11:45 am.
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| Station 2: Eye Exam area. Rare moment when the lines are short. The machines in the background are the eye exam machines. |
9. Next I was lead to the station to
schedule the written exam. When I received the schedule, I realized my
exam was for 1:30 pm. Problem--I had promised Sister Barney that I would be
back around noon to take her to Sister Endo’s home in the city of
Inuyama. When I told the clerk I could not be there at 1:30 pm, I caused
confusion. They called another official over; I explained that I had a
conflict. He then escorted me back to Window #12 where I met the original
lady official. She explained that the eye test and written driver’s test
had to be on the same day. She retrieved all the paper work that I had
turned in at window #14, and crossed out the verification stamped date. And,
I left the DMV.
10. The next day, I arrived at the DMV early. By
8:15 am I went to Window 12, and the nice lady looked over my papers again. Then out of nowhere she said to me “last
evening I was singing Gospel hymns and I like them so much.” She obviously knew I was a missionary and
wanted to share a personal experience. I
told her that I liked to sing hymns too. I thanked her for sharing her thoughts
with me. I thought to myself, I am sure
glad I did not get irritated with her the day before when she was laboring over
my passport. A smile is best when we find ourselves in lengthy process.
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| Window #14 again. A fun conversation in line with a young Japanese man makes the line "seem" shorter. |
11. This time I ended up standing in a much
shorter line at Window #14. It only took about 30 minutes in line. Plus I
had an interesting conversation with a young man in his early thirties who
worked for a car dealership. The wait seemed much shorter.
Again my paper work was validated, and I got my “white paper” re-stamped with a
new date. They again kept the other papers.
12. Back to the eye exam station. Passed it with
ease having practiced the day before.
13. Back to the written driving test
scheduler. Now I was scheduled for 10:30 am that morning. It turns
out they only give the written test twice a day to foreigners at 10:30 am or
1:30 pm. But by getting an earlier
start, I would make the 10:30 test. So I
sat and waited for the test outside a single door with the sign, Foreigner’s
Exam Room. As I sat in the waiting area, all the people passing were carrying their
own “white” paper.
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Solo Door for foreigner's exam room. Fortunately the test is in English.
|
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| I sat in the waiting area across the hall and watch the door to the Foreigner's exam room as others walked by with their "white" paper. |
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| Still waiting to enter the Foreigner's exam room. These Japanese have their "white" paper and are waiting to take their written exam in a nearby room. There are two of us foreigners waiting to take our exam. One frustrated Brazilian lady asked me where I got my driver's manual in my own language. My Portuguese is non-existent, but in English and Japanese I tried to help her as she was not strong in ether language. The blind leading the blind. |
14. At 10:30 am, the single door opened and a
Brazilian and I were invited in. After a practice test on the computer, I
took the ten question test and scored 100%. If you learned how to read
traffic signs, and used simple logic, it was possible to get the 70% passing
score without reading the manual. But, I
left nothing to chance, so I had read the whole manual. On the computer generated score sheet was the
date and time for my practical driving test. Oops, I had a conflict. This
date conflicted with a missionary transfer day – these are the busy days.
To change the date and time of my driving test, I needed to go to Window #17.
15. At Window #17, a uniformed official
listened to my conflict and identified a date and time on Thursday of the same
week that worked for me. So I had two weeks to get ready for the
challenging practical driving test.
16. Then I was given a “yellow” ticket that
needed to be paid to take the driving exam. Back to Window #11, the
cashier’s office. Once the fees were paid, I was officially ready for the
driving test.
17. But based on other people’s experiences of
failing the test multiple times, I chose to go to the local driving
school. This was located in another building near the DMV. There I
paid $150 for two driver’s training sessions that week.
18. The first step in preparing for the exam is
to take a printed layout of the driving closed course, and to trace the two
possible driving courses: Course A & B on the layout paper. Objective:
memorize the course to be able to drive it without any instructions from the
tester.
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| This is fly over view of this large facility. The main building is two football fields long. There are multiple driving courses on the roads of his facility. |
19. First day of Training – my first trainer
was a white haired Japanese trainer who reminded me of a drill sergeant.
He first drove the course and then told me to try. [I came to understand
that the Japanese driving test was an artful combination of rules and nuanced driving.
If you could negotiate the course smoothly and demonstrate the ability to do
all the maneuvers, you could pass the test. The sequence and order of
things mattered.]
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| The course is large maze of streets laid out to create a range of driving situations. The white Toyota Crown Car on the right is what you drive for the vehicle test. Drivers of Fork Lifts and semi-trucks can be on the course at the same time taking their tests for their commercial licenses. |
This first
instructor impressed upon me the importance of checking my mirrors and looking
back to verify that the road is clear. For example, if changing lanes to
the right, confirm that the way is clear by 1) using the rearview mirror, then
(2) the right side mirror, and then (3) look over the right shoulder.
When it came time to check, drill instructor (I mean instructor) would bark in
a loud voice in Japanese, “Confirm 1,2,3”. Depending on direction, he would yell, “Confirm
1, 2, 3” expecting the use of the correct mirrors for the situation.
He
would also remind me to signal in a timely manner, since the blocks of the
course are fairly short. The first lesson reminded me that this would not
be easy. And I needed to be prepared to know exactly which way I needed to
turn next and anticipate the next turn or action, so I could have the car in
the right place after each turn.
20. After the first session, I decided to take
advantage of a time slot each day to walk two courses, A & B. The
courses were different, but similar. As I walked the course, I mentally
signaled, Confirmed 1, 2, 3 and thought through each little artful
requirement. The walking was good exercise, too.
21. I walked and visualized one more time
before my second training session. Plus,
as I drove on the regular streets in my normal course of driving, I practiced
what I was taught. I tried to do it
correctly in hopes that I would more naturally look in the right direction and
signal properly. Sister Barney noted my
improved driving even before I completed the training.
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| In the morning before the driving tests start, these three people are walking the course just ahead of me. Notice the simulated hills for starting on a slope and signals. There is a scooter driving course just to the right of the tower. |
22. Second training session was with a
different trainer. This was a younger man who was very helpful. I learned
how to get into a car in the right order: 1) look around the car before getting
in, 2) open the door, get in, and lock the door, 3) adjust the seat, 4) adjust
the rear view mirror, 5) put on the seat belt, 6) put foot on break and wait for
instruction to start the car, 7) put the car in gear, 8) take the hand break
off, 9) signal, 10) confirm – right, left, right, 11) pull straight out of
parking space.
Note: In
speaking with one young Chinese man, he failed twice because he had not put his
seat belt on at the right time.
This trainer also reminded me of the importance of “confirming that the way was
clear”, but he did it in a gentle manner.
He
pointed out other finer points: how to turn corners properly, how to stop a car
properly, and the detailed steps of how to exit the vehicle. At the
end of the session, he recommended I have one more session to fine tune my
skills.
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| These curving narrow roads simulate real conditions. Notice the wear patterns and how close cars come to the edge as they navigate these narrow paths. If you touch the side of the curb, you fail. |
23. My next training session was scheduled for
the afternoon before my actual driving test.
I walked the A & B courses 2
or 3 more times. I memorized every minute detail.
24. On my last training session, I had an
excellent instructor who was good at sharing even finer details of the art of
driving the courses. For example, he pointed out that at the start of both
courses there was a cross walk painted on the road that was not obvious; it went
nowhere and came from nowhere. He
cautioned me to confirm right, left, right before crossing it.
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| A large dedicated course with lots of corners, streets, and obstacles. This is the stretch where you need to accelerate to 50 km/hour and watch for other vehicles. |
Also,
he instructed me of the various speeds to drive the sections of the course. For
example, one stretch I was to get to 30 km/h, and another stretch 50 km/h, and
another narrow section to drive under 5 km/h. [The young Chinese man had
failed once because he was driving the course too fast, and another time for
driving too slowly.]
As we
completed each course, the trainer would take out his clipboard and rule book
and point out the details to watch for. For example, when you are making
a left turn, as you confirm the way is clear, the vehicle is to be driven to
the left to within 50 cm of the curb. This prevents a bike or scooter from
trying to pass on your left as you are turning left.
He
pointed out points on the course where it was essential to make sure the way
was clear before proceeding. [There are a number of cars, trucks, buses
and semi’s on the course all at the same time, following difference courses on
the same facility. The traffic signals change, and so this all helps
simulate actual road conditions.]
So in
addition to remembering all the fine points, it is essential to drive safely
and adjust as expected under normal driving conditions. At the end of the
session the instructor told me I was a smooth driver and was doing the
confirming correctly under all the various scenarios, and he felt I was ready
for the test.
25. The day of the exam, I got to the DMV
practical driving facility about 7:45 am. I mentally went through both
courses in my head. Then I walked the A Course. Next I went to Window #17
and checked in. At that time I was notified that I would be tested on Course
A. In the 30 minutes before the test started, I re-walked Course A one
more time, visualizing every fine point I had been taught.
26. The big day I had anticipated was here. At 9:45 am, we lined up and we were
instructed in Japanese that the test started the moment we opened the car door
and did not end until we exited. Also if at any time the examiner felt we were
making an unsafe move, the test would be over.
As
others started their exam, I watched as they got in the car. I could see the
sequence in which they started and how exacting they were in the process.
Some were careful, but others appeared to not know the finer points of starting
the car.
When my
turn came, I tried to follow and execute with exactness every fine
detail. The drive went smoothly, I executed the tight turns with
precision, I reached the desired speeds and I thought I made the turns
properly, and confirmed the road was clear and signaled properly.
The
first good news, my exam was not terminated due to unsafe driving. At the end, the examiner spoke to me about
one of my turns. She explained that my
left tire had not touched the turning arrow marked on the road. I thanked her and
carefully executed the exit process, and got out. I took a deep breath.
27. Now the waiting game. The 20
foreigners (I was the only American) and 20 Japanese in the 9:45 am testing
session had to finish the driving, and be scored before any of us knew if we
passed or not.
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| My young Chinese friend and I waited to hear whether we passed. He was really positive and encouraging to me. I was sorry he did not pass this time. As a student he could not afford the training classes. So his training was by trial and error while taking the real driving test. |
So we
went to a second floor waiting area. There we sat and talked. The
young Chinese man had taken the test 5 times. He was hoping he passed this
time. Another Chinese Lady was on her 7th try. One very vocal man
was sure that they deliberately didn’t pass people just to increase revenue.
We all waited.
28. About 1:15 pm an official came out and read
two names, mine and a Brazilian’s name. At that moment, I wasn’t sure if
we passed or failed. So I stood up and walked away from a room of 40
people and was told to go to a nearby processing room. There I learned I had
passed. Also, two Japanese had passed. Hence, 4 out of 40 passed. My other newly made friends had not passed. I felt bad for them. It felt a little awkward to stand and leave
the anxious group of hopeful people behind.
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| Window 11: Cashiers again. |
29. I was not done yet. After taking a photo, I was given a sheet of
paper to take down to Window #11, the cashier. There I paid another fee for the
actual license. Then I returned to the processing room were the licenses
are produced. We were given instructions on how to use the driver’s
passwords that are encoded in the license.
30. The last step was to go to a Driver’s
license code reader to verify that our personal password codes were properly
entered on the card correctly. This card reader was by the waiting area where
there were still 36 people waiting to reschedule their driving exam.
It is amazing to me that there were only two foreigners and two Japanese that
morning who passed and earned their licenses.
As I
left the building I walked by Window #12, and thanked the lady who helped me
the first day, and let her know I had passed and had my Japanese Driver’s
License. She smiled as I smiled at her.
31. There is a hymn that reminds us to “count
our blessings, name them one by one.”
Having passed, and overcoming the odds of failure, was a blessing. Getting a license was important to so many
missionaries and others who depend on me to be able drive and get done what
needs to get done on our mission. The
Lord blessed us with patience, insight to practice, and a desire to drive the
rest of my mission. It was important to be willing to pay the price of
learning the nuanced rules of driving in Japan.
All-in-all,
I am a better driver in Japan.
32. You might be saying, why did Elder Barney
not just say, “I passed!” Well that is what I did say to Sister Barney,
President Baird and the other office missionaries. They celebrated with
me.
Hopefully
some of the highlights of the bureaucracy of getting a license have given you insights
into our Japanese experience and provide some entertainment. I found the process somewhat
exhilarating. Exhilarating because it
was a challenge, and it was interesting to see all that was involved in
converting a foreign license to a Japanese license.
The
End: For those who
skipped to the end, I feel blessed to have a Japanese Driver’s license! The good news is that I did not have to stop
driving on February 4th, 2013 when my International Driver’s permit
expired.
Thanks for those who were praying for
us.
PS – The fact that the DMV has a full
service cafeteria and concession drinks should have tipped off the casual
observer that the DMV process is long and time consuming.
PPS
-- Sorry for the delay in sharing this experience. I am focused on other
aspects of our mission. Again thanks for
being patient.
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