1. Valid Foreign Driving License

2. Japanese Translation of the Foreign Driving License

3. Certificate of Residence [Jūminhyō ]

4. Residence Card [Original]

5. Passport(s) [Carry old One used during entry in Japan if applicable]

6. Photograph

• Size: 3.0 cm (height) x 2.4 cm (width)

• Taken within 6 months prior to application.

• Bareheaded, frontal view from the upper torso, with a plain background.

7. Previous Japanese Driver's License [if applicable]

1. For residents of Edogawa Ward, you will typically apply at one of the Tokyo Driver's License Centers. The main centers in Tokyo that handle foreign license conversions are:

• Samezu Driver's License Center (Shinagawa Ward)

• Fuchu Driver's License Examination Center (Fuchu City)

• Koto Driver's License Examination Center (Koto Ward)

2. Note: As of January 2025, only Fuchu and Samezu conduct the practical driving test for foreign license conversions.

3. Recommendation: It is highly advisable to visit a Driver's License Center prior to your application day to confirm the exact documents required for your specific case and to inquire about the language available for tests, accepted times for applications, and any potential reservation requirements.

1. On the day of your application, bring all your prepared documents.

2. You will undergo an "aptitude test" which includes an eyesight test (including color recognition) and possibly a hearing test.

3. You'll submit your documents, and an officer will conduct an interview asking about your driving education, history, and traffic laws in your home country. This interview typically takes about 20 minutes.

4. They will verify your proof of stay in the issuing country.

5. A short written test (10 questions, usually available in multiple languages like English). You need 7 out of 10 correct answers to pass. 

This is a practical test conducted on an enclosed course. This test is known to be very strict, and many experienced drivers from overseas fail on their first attempt because it assesses adherence to specific Japanese driving procedures and safety checks, rather than general driving ability. Consider taking lessons from a driving school that specializes in foreign license conversions (some offer English-speaking instructors and practice on test routes).

1. If you pass all required tests and your application is approved, you will pay the issuance fee and your Japanese driving license will be issued.

2. Your first Japanese license converted from a foreign license will be a "green license," valid for three years. You will need to display a "beginner's sticker" (shoshinsha mark) on your vehicle.