How is it for foreigners coming from your home country to be able to drive in Japan?
If you want to drive in Japan you usually need a Japanese license or international license.
Yet each country can be different in applying for different methods for an appropriate license in Japan.
International licenses only last a year, so you would have to renew it every year. And not every country is accepted to apply for a legal license in Japan. You will have to research to see if your country is allowed to use an international license in Japan.
Japanese licenses usually last a couple of years depending. Starting out at 3 years, and then after that 5 years. However, it is really complicated and costs more than most countries to apply for a drivers license.
In some cases, if you have a license from your home country you may be able to convert it to a Japanese license. Meaning you would have your country as well as a Japanese license.
Yet many if not most countries, or parts of countries may not be approvable. For example, even for those from the US, out of the 50 states only 3 states are approved to convert in a Japanese license. This is because it those 3 states, they have strict driving laws.
Do you have a driver's license, and how was the process for you?
I have a Japanese driver's license, converted from my California drivers license. But that was many years ago. I know that things have changed since when I did that nearly 30 years ago. At that time, I didn't have to take any tests at all.
I have, however, since then, taken a paper test once. It was pretty easy, though, since I have driven in Japan now for more than 30 years and am aware of local driving laws. In fact, I have a gold license, indicating that I haven't had a driving violation in a very long time. I think the last ticket I had–for parking–was around 18 years ago.
I’m currently learning to drive in Japan but I did a bit of driving in my own country. I was taught to handle the steering wheel in that when you’re turning, you pull your hands downward. It’s a bit difficult to explain but if you’re turning left, you’ll obviously use your left hand to pull the wheel leftward and left the wheel slide through your right hand as it turns.
In Japan, the rule is to use both hands to turn the wheel and switch your hands as and when need be. So if you’re turning left, you wind the wheel left with both hands and then remove your left hand and grab the steering wheel over the right hand so you can continue to pull it leftward. Again, very hard to explain but I found it odd. Apparently I have to do it this way
The driving test took three tries for me. It is really hard and the examiners are very strict. There is also a lot of paperwork. I went to Fuchu driving center and the wait for the driving test is not as long in winter.