A while back I subjected myself to the grueling process of getting a driver’s license in Japan from scratch. This means no converting a license from another country and without attending driving school. I’m not exaggerating when I say it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do.
Those who do have valid licenses in another country, however, will find the process much less stressful. In fact, it was recently discovered that Chinese tourists in Japan have been using this system as a loophole to upgrade their Chinese licenses to Japanese ones.
The reason is that a Japanese driver’s license falls under the Geneva Convention on Road Traffic along with 101 other countries that simply need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive on each other’s roads. China, however, is not a part of this treaty and has to set up agreements with each country individually. As a result, Chinese licenses can work for a few months in a few dozen countries but it’s a lot less convenient than the Geneva IDP route.
▼ It’s less about the actual Japanese license and more about the Japanese IDP
So, some Chinese drivers are opting to come to Japan, get a Japanese driver’s license, take it back home, and use it when they travel most anywhere in the world. That might seem like a huge hassle, but it’s surprisingly easy for those with the means. Residence in Japan is not necessary and a hotel can be entered as the address on the license.
The test itself is nothing compared to what I had to go through. The written tests are about a tenth of the size of a regular one and usually don’t contain those gotcha questions with ambiguous wording. Even the standard to pass is lower, with only 70 percent needed, compared to the 90 percent needed on a standard test for new Japanese license seekers.
Also, you can imagine my righteous anger back when I took my practical driving test and all the test-takers had to gather in a room while the police officer explained the courses for each type of test. After explaining how for my test I had to drive through extremely narrow S-curves, parallel park in a space tighter than the front of a Manhattan brownstone, cross train tracks the “right” way, stop on an upward slope with the parking brake while shifting gears in an automatic car, and much more, the cop then told international license takers how they should go straight, turn right, turn left, turn left, and stop.
▼ A news report on the recent rush of Chinese license seekers which also shows some questions from the written test, such as identifying a stop sign
In the above news report, one person in the long line of test-takers at a little after 5 a.m. told reporters that they didn’t even bother to study because the questions were common sense. The biggest hurdle is the waiting times, both in long lines and between the written and practical tests. But with the yen still fairly affordable, it’s not a big problem for someone to come to Japan for a few days to take the written test and then come back when the driving test date rolls around.
It’s a really strange dichotomy to have a test for Japanese residents be so insanely hard and the test for someone staying in a hotel for three days be so laughably easy when the exact same license is on the line. Perhaps because people visiting from most countries around the world with the same IDP treaty have no need to exploit this system, it hasn’t been a high priority for the Japanese government. It’s just that one country right next to us with 17 percent of the world’s population that can take advantage of it, so no big deal.
Readers of the news in Japan were largely aghast at how easy it is and worried it might cause problems when people holding Japanese licenses start getting into accidents around the world.
“Being able to use a hotel address is surprisingly lax.”
“Only seven out of ten questions? That’s even easier than the moped license test.”
“Japan is gearing up to be a major exporter of traffic violations worldwide.”
“How do they know those Chinese licenses aren’t fake?”
“All these people getting licenses with a simple quiz will get into accidents and show their Japanese licenses, making us look stupid.”
“Japanese people used to do that too. Go to another country, get a license, bring it home, and convert it to Japanese.”
When I first attempted to get my Japanese license, I was recommended by a few Japanese people to take a trip to Hawaii and get one there instead because it’s easier. Considering driving school in Japan can cost upwards of 200,000 yen, it was a viable option that some Japanese people took advantage of back in better economic times. So, it’s not like this is a uniquely Chinese thing to do.
Still, with a high-profile fatal car accident involving a Chinese national as the driver at fault currently in the news, it is very possible enough pressure will be put on the government to raise the difficulty of these tests in the future. But for now, if you’re planning a trip to a driver’s license office near you, be sure to get there early because they’re pretty busy these days.
Source: FNN Online Prime, My Game News Flash
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
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- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2024/10/24/chinese-drivers-flocking-to-japan-for-quick-and-easy-route-to-international-licenses/
16 Comments
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sakurasuki
Wait they don't need Japanese residents card to get Japanese international license?
JeffLee
The one time I tried to use my Japanese licence and its associated IDP overseas, I was refused. Vietnam, it turns out, is a signatory to the 1949 convention, Vietnam the 1968 one. I wonder how many other countries where the Japanese licence can’t be used.
virusrex
With the speed that the Japanese government has to solve these kind of loopholes we can expect discussions about it to begin in 5 years tops, and for the hole to be closed in 15 to 20 more.
DanteKH
I always said that taking the Japanese driving license is one of the easiest in the world, especially if you do the school from scratch. Is just not that cheap.
You are taking the driving exam with the instructor, doing very simple maneuvers, and the paper test is also easy, if you study a little, since most of the questions are from the paid dedicated study materials.
However, Japanese drivers are indeed very polite, but also one of the worst drivers in the world. I can never understand how they signal after or while turning, never 10m before, or why are never stopping to pedestrian crossing. And don't get me started on their very slow driving...
Hello Kitty 321
What is difficult about it? The bike test was a bit tricky but the car was easy.
kohakuebisu
I didn't know you could switch over licences as a tourist or that the switch-license test was as easy as described.
This "as a tourist" loophole should be closed.
NCIS Reruns
People who live in a tightly constricted society like China's become skilled at finding loopholes.
Desert Tortoise
I was able to obtain a Philippine Drivers License while on there for a five day training event. Filled out the paperwork, showed them my Florida drivers license, paid a small fee and I was handed a Philippine drivers license.
By comparison when I was working in Papua New Guinea and spent my off duty time in Australia the Australian officials preferred I just use my Florida driver's license even though I had a motorcycle I bought and registered in Australia. I also had an IDP which they didn't care about either. Every nation is a little different.
iron man
I always believed that an IDP was exactly that, p/p pickie completed form + a few bucks and check nations it applies to. for national license residence is paramount, even in M.E. Using your national license typically ok for first 3mths in most 'western' nations, but ensure insurance, insurance, insurance. Especially 3rd party stuff. I visit Thailand sometimes, IDP ok, but 3rd party (something like 'going to the slammer'). All nations accepting IDP are on-line.
ebisen
I'm using the Japanese IDP as a cheap translation for the Japanese license, as I'm driving a lot in Germany (who accepts Japanese licenses if they're officially translated). Never had issues getting rental cars, but I was also never stopped by police to really check this system ;) . But yeah, it takes only a few minutes to get the international driving permit and it's very useful if you travel.
mountainpear
I don't know about the current situation in China, but Chinese people told me 20 years ago that they had paid 5000yuan to buy a driver's licence in China! No test required!
garypen
Several things are not completely accurate in this article:
The difficulty of obtaining a license from scratch depends on whether or not one attends a driving school. It is much more difficult without doing that. Some schools actually administer the tests. And, their teachers are usually not as strict as the police examiners on the driving tests.But, you can take a behind the wheel lesson or two for a fraction of the cost of the full school course, and you will get the tips you need to know what the police examiners look for during the driving test. They are extremely nit-picky, and some of the things are actually counter-intuitive and may even contradict what you learned in your home country. (Only 20% pass the first time at the police sites.) It also helps to walk the course beforehand and/or view walk-throughs on YouTube. I really think that's what helped us pass the first time out.
Converting a foreign license depends on which country your foreign license is from. And, in the case of the US, which state it is from. It can range from having to take an abbreviated written test and closed course driving test (as opposed to closed-course and on-street for from-scratch applicants), to written test only, to no tests at all! Unfortunately, we're from a US state that required both written and driving tests. (My wife lost her old J license. Even though it was long expired, she could have avoided the driving test, if she still had it.) I'm extremely envious of those folks from countries and the handful of US states who don't need any testing. Lucky ducks!gaijintraveller
I suspect that the author is American as he couldn't easily change his licence to a Japanese one. This is because there is no such thing as a single United States driving licence. There are over 50 different state licences and not every state has an agreement with Japan for mutual recognition of driving licences. I believe California has an agreement. If I remember correctly Japanese used to go there and get a driving licence which they could later change to a Japanese one. That loophole was closed a long time ago. I think you now have to have held a driving licence in a country you have been living in for at least 6 months continuously. I think that Japanese also used to go to the US to get licences to fly planes or helicopters. I don't know if they still do.
Foreigners used to be able to use an international licence virtually indefinitely in Japan, and many foreign residents did until the rules changed.
Peter Neil
when you start from scratch you take a 50 question test and driving test to a get temporary license, like a learners permit, and can drive with a licensed driver in the car. you have to wait some time (can’t remember how long) before taking the 100 question test and road driving test. the international license after that was just paperwork and the fee. take the photo and you’re good.
if you have a uk license, you don’t need to do anything. just pay the fee and get a japanese license.
i’m not the smartest person in the world, but i passed all tests first time through. it baffles me that people say it’s so hard. just read the darn book, then research a little and learn the driving test tricks, e.g. check under the car, remove your jacket, point to and touch mirrors, etc.
i guess reading and following instructions is just too hard now.
OssanAmerica
While the 外免切替 based on your valid D/L from your home country is much easier as far as the written test goes, the driving part is not so easy because the Driving Test Instructor only instructs in Japanese in preparation for and during the road test. And for those from countries who drive on the right side of the road, getting used to the left side driving can be very difficult. Even just having the wheel on the right side can be disorienting. Drivers from UK, Australia etc are at an advantage in this respect.
An International Driving Permit is only good for 1 year from issuance, and you need to get it physically in that issuance country in order to renew it.
Moreover, in order to get an IDP from your local JAF, you need to show your valid Japanese D/L which will have your home address on it, because you had to submit your 住民票 to get it. So I don't know where the author gets the idea that you can get an IDP in Japan using a hotel address.
I have personally instructed foreigners to get their Japanese D/Ls for a driving school.
garypen
gaijintraveller
I can tell you from personal experience that California does not. We had to take the abbreviated written test and closed-course driving test. The written test is a piece of cake. The driving test is a souffle that will flop if you do the slightest thing wrong.
It's only three months, not six. And, it doesn't need to be continuous. Only US licenses from Ohio, Oregon, Colorado, Virginia, Hawaii, Maryland and Washington get to transfer directly to a J license without any testing. And, Indiana license holders are only required to take the written test.
It is currently only one year. After that, you would have to prove that you were in the country of issuance for another three month period before using a new IDP in Japan.