Among foreign residents in Japan, there are certain markers of prestige: permanent residency, N1 on the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, double-glazed windows. But none seem to divide along the lines of the foreigner haves and have-nots so sharply and cleanly as a coveted Japanese driver’s license.
Casually drop “Can you drive in Japan?” at a gaijin gathering and people either nod in placid solidarity or look shattered. That’s because converting a valid driver’s license from another country to a Japanese one can be a surprisingly harrowing experience — but only for some.
Japan’s National Police Agency (NPA) broadly divides drivers into two categories: those who can simply pay ¥4,000 (about $26) to translate their existing licenses and trade them for Japanese versions in one appointment, and those subject to a written test and a practical skills test atop a mountain of paperwork.
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