I just transferred my license today which was for normal car class and large motorcycle class (大自二). Even though I have nearly 5 years since I got my motorcycle license, they gave me a “beginner’s period” of about 2 years so I can’t ride on the highway with a passenger. I found out afterwards this is a rule for new riders.
Anybody who’s transferred receive this same beginners period? I feel like they might have made a mistake and just wanted to confirm before I go back and ask about this.
4 comments
I was not given a beginner’s period when I transferred my motorcycle license (also 大自ニ). I had almost 20 years experience, though.
You might also want to ask in r/RideitJapan.
Yup same thing here, licensed for eight years in nz at that point. Given what the other guy said maybe it’s at the discretion of the center you do it at. I remember the copper I interviewed with tried to talk me into a chuugata licence lol… Un fuckin likely.
Fwiw depending on where you’re riding and how you’re riding it’s unlikely you’ll get caught.
Unsure how this is calculated. I ended up with a restriction for ~4.5 months even tho I had a license for > 10 years in America. I was just happy to get it transferred over and didn’t stress over it. If you’re riding on the highways in Japan, you’re missing all the fun roads anyhow :p