●Driving a car

If you have a driver’s license from another country other than Japan, you may have to convert it to a Japanese driver’s license.
□ Conditions for conversion of driver’s license
・must be more than 18 years old
・must have stayed in that country for at least 3 months after
obtaining the driver’s license
・the foreign driver’s license should be within the validity period
□ Place for Application
・Akashi Driver’s License Examination Center
(Akashi Untenmenkyoshikenjoo)
Akashishi Niyamachoo 1649-2 
☎078-912-1628

・Examination documents, a simple written test and a practical
driving test are available.
＊ The written test can be taken in English, Chinese,
Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Persian or Japanese
(with furigana).
＊ For some countries, only the examination documents 
are issued. 
□ Reception Hours 
Monday to Friday, 9:30-10:30 a.m. 
□ Requirements for application 
　 ・application form
・foreign driver’s license: with date of issuance 
・passport: with record of departure from one’s country
・photocopy of alien registration card or certificate that an
　alien registration card has been applied for
・Japanese translation of foreign driver’s license: please have
it translated at your consulate or at JAF (with fee)
・examination fee: \2,400, application fee: \1,750　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
□ Renewal
・The validity period of the license is 3 years after the applicant’s birthday. After that, it has to be renewed every 3 years (or once every 5 years for excellent drivers).
・You will receive a postcard from the police department (in the address written in your license) informing you
when it is time to renew your license.
＊ In Japan, you have to take a written examination and practical driving test to obtain a new license.
＊ You can also take the written examination in English.