Hello all! I made a post a couple of months ago asking about the foreign driver’s license conversion and people’s experiences. I was extremely worried about my driving tests, especially since my IDP expires in July and even scheduling the exams are a hassle. I’ve heard many times that basically everyone takes at least a couple tries to pass the tests.
However! I took both the written and driving tests yesterday, and passed both on my first try! I wanted to share how I did it so others can have an easier time through this ridiculously difficult process.
First, I want to stress the importance of practice driving lessons. I was only able to take one practice lesson before my test, but I was provided with incredibly valuable tips. Agena DS in Uruma City is (probably) the best place for you to go, especially if you don’t understand any Japanese! Practice lessons are 5,500 yen for an hour, but totally worth it.
Second, read online guides! There’s a lot of resources out there about how to pass the exam and I believe it’s totally worth reading through a few. Even though most of the resources are for other prefectures, the tests are pretty similar no matter where you are.
Third, watch Youtube videos! OIST has a [pretty useful video](https://youtu.be/ApNO-D7wzLM) that shows you how the driving test will probably look and it includes some tips! There’s another video I watched from [Mellow in Japan](https://youtu.be/XMpM3i5m8jc) that gives pretty useful tips. Also, if you search “Okinawa Driver’s License test” in Japanese, you can get a few more videos about the tests here. Obviously you can watch videos for other prefectures too. Anything helps!
Finally, if you have your own car that you’re able to drive, try practicing some of the tips on your own. I got more used to actually turning my head to check blind spots and saying “check” whenever I checked mirrors/blind spots. It feels unnatural to do, so if you’re able to practice before hand, it feels easier to remember on the test.
I’m super grateful for everyone’s advice and I hope if you’re going to try this process that you pass easily! Everyone at the driving center was really nice and accommodating (with my lack of Japanese lol), so please don’t worry!
by bee_hime