I am planning to obtain a Japanese Driver’s licence with my foreign driver’s licence. I am required to take a knowledge test and a driving test since I am not from one of the countries exempt from those tests. While researching, I found out I can practice driving at a driving licence center. Here is what [the website](https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/multilingual/english/traffic_safety/drivers_licenses/index.files/convert_license_english.pdf) says:
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Q17. Where can I practice for my driving skills test?
We have practice areas that are open on Saturdays and holidays. However, you will need to bring
your own vehicle and instructor. We cannot contact driving schools on your behalf.
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1. Can an instructor be anyone holding a valid Japanese driver’s licence? I am thinking of taking one of my friends with his car and practice there. Does anybody know if that’s possible?
2. What other options are there to practice driving other than burning 30man at a driving school?
3 comments
Hire one of the freelance instructors that lurks around the license center in the daytime, arrange to meet them there on a Sunday when you can rent a test car, and then drive the test course for a couple of hours with the instructor explaining to you what you need to do to pass the test.
> Can an instructor be anyone holding a valid Japanese driver’s licence? I am thinking of taking one of my friends with his car and practice there. Does anybody know if that’s possible?
Nope, it has to be someone who has a specific arrangement with the driver license center.
> What other options are there to practice driving other than burning 30man at a driving school?
Ask the staff at the driver license center to schedule some practice time. You pay something like 6,000 yen for an hour or an hour and a half.
I looked into it when I converted my license. For me to use my wive’s car to test drive the course I think she would have needed to register it at the driving center for about 5,000 yen. We decided not to do it and so I didn’t look into it further. I could be off by another 5,000 yen or so.