International Drivers License for Japan - ESL Teaching

gfell · Tue 12-Sep-06, 07:08 AM

Driving legally in Japan

Japanese law mandates that:

anyone staying in Japan for more than 12 months, who wants to drive legally, must obtain a Japanese Driver's License.

Which means that those of you renewing your international drivers license after more than a year in Japan are breaking the law.

And teachers who simply choose to whistle pass the police station whilst behind the wheel, hoping to play the "Gosh I didn't know!" gaijin, may be in for a shock if they are caught. Think ￥300,000 in fines and possible (though unlikely) time in jail!

Who Is Affected

In total, citizens of 22 countries are exempt from taking the practical test. They must, however, spend a joyous day at their local license processing facility completing the necessary paperwork and take the eye sight test and writtten test.

The Aussies of the world get off relatively easy.

Ditto the Kiwis, the Brits, the Swiss, the Germans and the beer swilling hockey players of The Great White North. These lucky souls need only to get their current license translated.

No surprisingly, the Great Satan has yet to have the safety records for all 50 states examined, and perhaps not so coincidentally, they don't exempt Japanese from taking a driving test. So, the lucky citizens of the US of A get the whole bells-and-whistles "smell the glove" treatment while bureaucracies collide.

Gerry Bennet
(English Teacher - Tokyo, Japan)

diik0nn · Sat 05-Jul-08, 03:00 PM

wow, this is great info, I do hold an International Drivers License, but I think I have to get it renewed before I head over to Japan.

Quote:

Originally Posted by gfell

These lucky souls need only to get their current license translated.

With the translating of the current license, does that mean say, my current "Australian" License would be translated? Or my current International Drivers License?

gfell · Sat 05-Jul-08, 03:09 PM

Your Australian license would need translated by JAFA. I think I paid about ¥3000 yen for the translation when I got it done. Then you need to take this translationn to your local License Centre.

diik0nn · Sat 05-Jul-08, 03:42 PM

^^^
Hey, thanks for the quick reply and info!
I think my Australian license is due to run out during my proposed stay in Japan, hmm, guess I gotta try n' get that renewed before I go too...

View Poll Results: Do you hold an International Driver's License?
Yes	3	23.08%
No	10	76.92%
Voters: 13. You may not vote on this poll

Tue 12-Sep-06, 07:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
gfell Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Nationality: American Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 654	International Drivers License for Japan Driving legally in Japan Japanese law mandates that: anyone staying in Japan for more than 12 months, who wants to drive legally, must obtain a Japanese Driver's License. Which means that those of you renewing your international drivers license after more than a year in Japan are breaking the law. And teachers who simply choose to whistle pass the police station whilst behind the wheel, hoping to play the "Gosh I didn't know!" gaijin, may be in for a shock if they are caught. Think ￥300,000 in fines and possible (though unlikely) time in jail! Who Is Affected In total, citizens of 22 countries are exempt from taking the practical test. They must, however, spend a joyous day at their local license processing facility completing the necessary paperwork and take the eye sight test and writtten test. The Aussies of the world get off relatively easy. Ditto the Kiwis, the Brits, the Swiss, the Germans and the beer swilling hockey players of The Great White North. These lucky souls need only to get their current license translated. No surprisingly, the Great Satan has yet to have the safety records for all 50 states examined, and perhaps not so coincidentally, they don't exempt Japanese from taking a driving test. So, the lucky citizens of the US of A get the whole bells-and-whistles "smell the glove" treatment while bureaucracies collide. Gerry Bennet (English Teacher - Tokyo, Japan) Attached Images To view attachments in this forum your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. __________________ English Teacher and Student Site Teach English and Study Abroad! Teaching Community at Teacher Forums ESL Teacher and Student Directory!

Sat 05-Jul-08, 03:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
gfell Administrator Join Date: May 2005 Nationality: American Occupation: Teacher Location: Posts: 654	Re: International Drivers License for Japan Your Australian license would need translated by JAFA. I think I paid about ¥3000 yen for the translation when I got it done. Then you need to take this translationn to your local License Centre. __________________ English Teacher and Student Site Teach English and Study Abroad! Teaching Community at Teacher Forums ESL Teacher and Student Directory!

Sat 05-Jul-08, 03:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
diik0nn ESL Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Occupation: Web Developer Location: Posts: 3	Re: International Drivers License for Japan ^^^ Hey, thanks for the quick reply and info! I think my Australian license is due to run out during my proposed stay in Japan, hmm, guess I gotta try n' get that renewed before I go too...

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Jobs and TESL/TEFL	Teach English China	Teach English Japan	Teach English Korea	Teach English Taiwan	Jobs in China	Jobs in Korea
Jobs in Taiwan	Jobs in Japan	Jobs Worldwide	TESL,TEFL Courses	Online TEFL Certification	Farm Stay	Educational Ringtones

ESL for Teachers		Teacher Training