The training camp to obtain a driver's license lasts about two weeks, or nearly a month at most, so it's important to check what you have to bring to make sure you have a comfortable time.

Absolutely necessary items such as ID cards and clothing are generally listed in the driver's license training camp guide, but useful items such as mobile batteries and small playthings are not listed. yeah.

Therefore, in this article, we will explain useful items and points to consider when selecting items. There is a limit to the amount of luggage you can bring to the license training camp, so use this article as a reference to pack as efficiently as possible with as little luggage as possible.

What you need to enroll in a driver's license training camp

First, we will explain the documents and items that are absolutely necessary for admission to the license training camp. The minimum requirements are:

• Identification
• Driving Driver's License (if available)
• Certificate of residence
• signature stamp
• Glasses or contact lenses (only for those who need them)

Identification

First, prepare your ID.

In general, identification documents include:

• driver's Driver's License
• Health insurance card
• passport
• My number card
• Original basic resident register card (with photo)

The important thing about ID cards is that the address written on the ID card is the same as the address registered in the resident card.

Also, it is important that your ID is within its expiration date at the time of graduation, so be sure to check carefully if the renewal date of each ID is near.

Driving Driver's License (if available)

If you have a driver's Driver's License, be sure to bring it with you. What you need is the original, not a copy.

If you have a driver's Driver's License, the academic training will be shorter and the cost may be lower. If you have a driver's Driver's License, please note that it is not "preferably brought" but "required".

For example, if you have Driver's License but have lost it so you can't bring it with you, you can have it reissued and bring it with you. The same applies if the item is damaged or soiled and is difficult to use.

Also, if it expires during the training camp, renew it before bringing it with you.

You should also be careful if the information on Driver's License differs from the current information due to marriage, moving, etc. Please go to the police station or driver's license center to update the information and bring it with you.

Certificate of residence

A resident card issued within 3 months is required to confirm your current address. There are two forms of resident card: the individual form, which only lists the person himself/herself, and the household form, which lists the family members living together, but there is no problem as long as you obtain only the person's name.

Please note that a residence card that does not include your permanent address will not be accepted, so when you request a residence card at a government office, be sure to check the box to indicate whether or not you want to include your permanent address.

In addition, there are cases where you live alone and have not transferred your resident card and your parents' address is registered, but in that case you will need to request it from the city hall of your parents' home.

It takes a lot of time to have your family send it to you or ask the city hall to process it by mail, so make sure you have plenty of time to prepare it. If you are in a hurry, you can have your My Number card issued at a convenience store.

signature stamp

Please note that stamps such as Shachihata and rubber stamps cannot be used. Be sure to prepare a seal that uses vermilion.

If you are using vermilion, you can use a seal sold for a flat price of 100 yen, for example. You will have at least three opportunities to use your seal:

• Stamping the pledge when enrolling
• Receipt stamp when issuing provisional driving Driver's License
• Seal stamp when Transportation Expenses Provided at the time of graduation

Along with your seal, it is also convenient to carry a seal case with vermilion. You can purchase it for 100 yen.

glasses or contact lenses

If you have poor eyesight, be sure to bring glasses or contact lenses. There is a vision test on the first day of school, and if you fail, you will not be able to participate in the training camp.

The passing criteria for driving license vision are as follows:

• Regular cars, motorcycles, large specials: 0.3 or more in one eye and 0.7 or more in both eyes
• Large vehicles, medium-sized vehicles, semi-medium vehicles, class 2, towing: 0.5 or more in one eye and 0.8 or more in both eyes

If you cannot meet this standard with the naked eye, you will pass if you can reach the standard visual acuity using corrective equipment such as glasses or contact lenses. You may be able to make glasses in a few hours at an eyeglass store near your training camp, but depending on the area, there may not be a store nearby.

Additionally, lenses for people with astigmatism are often out of stock, in which case they have to be ordered and cannot be prepared immediately. Prepare your glasses and contact lenses in advance.

What you need to live at the driving school

Next, I will explain what you will definitely need during your license training camp life. Here's what you should bring:

• cash and credit card
• Health insurance card

I will explain each of them.

cash and credit card

Be sure to bring cash and credit cards. You may purchase necessary items, and depending on the facility, you may be able to pay part of the meal or lesson fee on the day.

However, if you carry too much cash, there is a risk of it being lost or stolen, so only bring what you need.

Some places only accept cash, so cash is a must. You can also use a cash card to drop off the money locally. However, you are responsible for storing your valuables. Please be careful not to lose it.

Health insurance card

Your health insurance card is required even if you provide another form of identification. If you get injured or get sick during the training camp and go to the hospital, you will have to pay the full amount yourself if you do not have a health insurance card.

It is possible to request a refund within two years, but the procedure requires preparing receipts and medical records, as well as filling out separate application documents, which can be time-consuming. Be sure to bring your health insurance card.

In addition, some people may think that ``a photocopy is fine,'' based on their experience of submitting a copy of their health insurance card to their school during an excursion or school trip. However, copying is only effective in cases of extreme emergency, such as an accident. Please be sure to have the original copy of your health insurance card ready.

What to prepare as needed

Next, we will explain what you should prepare depending on the situation at the license training camp. These items are provided at the facility or can be purchased locally, so there is no problem if you forget them. However, local procurement costs extra, so it is recommended that you prepare as much as possible.

• clothing and underwear
• toiletries and towels
• laundry supplies
• cosmetics and sunscreen
• rain gear
• mobile and charger

I will explain each of them.

clothing and underwear

Be sure to bring your own clothing and underwear. You can wash your clothes at local accommodations or laundromats, so as long as you have at least 2-3 days' worth of clothes, and at most 5 days' worth, you should be fine.

The following are precautions regarding clothing and underwear.

• Wear clothes that are comfortable for driving and moving around?
• Is it suitable for the local climate and the time of the training camp?
• Is it easy to adjust to changes in temperature?

During lessons, it is recommended to wear T-shirts, sweatshirts, jerseys, or casual shirts. Jerseys and sweatshirts can also be used as pajamas.

We also recommend long pants as bottoms. Skirts and shorts are not recommended from the standpoint of safety and ease of driving.

Clothes that are too revealing, shoes with heels that are too high, and platform shoes are not suitable for studying or driving, so they are not allowed in lessons. You may not be able to attend the lesson, so choose clothes that are more suitable for driving than fashion.

It is helpful to have a thin cardigan or inner shirt on hand to protect yourself from changes in temperature and the air conditioner.

toiletries and towels

Bring toiletries and towels that you are familiar with. Specifically, it is a good idea to prepare the following:

• shampoo
• rinse
• soap
• toothbrush
• tooth paste
• razor
• Hairdryer
• Face towel
• bath towel

These items may also be provided at your accommodation. Please check the information you receive when applying for the training camp, as it will list all the amenities and things you will need at the accommodation, and only bring what you need.

laundry supplies

During the training camp, you will need to bring laundry supplies as you will be washing your clothes using the washing machine in the accommodation facility or a nearby coin laundry. Prepare the following items.

• laundry detergent
• Softener
• clothespins
• laundry net
• laundry rope

We recommend laundry detergent and fabric softener, which are sold in single-use types for travel at convenience stores and drugstores. If you use detergent and fabric softener all in one, you can further reduce your luggage.

It may be helpful to bring a laundry line with you so you can easily dry your laundry indoors. You can wash dark-colored clothing or clothing made from delicate fabrics without damaging the fabric by using a laundry net.

cosmetics and sunscreen

Also be sure to stock up on cosmetics and sunscreen. You can get it at local convenience stores and drugstores, but it may not suit your skin and may cause irritation or allergies, so it is recommended that you bring what you are used to.

Sunscreen is a must, especially in the summer. Please be aware that depending on the region, UV rays are strong and skin problems may be more likely than usual. For example, the amount of UV rays in Okinawa is said to be twice that in Hokkaido. If you have sensitive skin, take precautions in advance.

rain gear

Also be sure to prepare rain gear. The training camp will last at least two weeks, so there is a possibility that it will rain on some days.

A foldable umbrella is less bulky. Also, it is useful to prepare a raincoat during the rainy season, when there are many typhoons, or if you are going to a training camp in rainy weather.

smartphone and charger

Don't forget to bring your smartphone and charger. This is especially necessary if you have plane or train tickets stored on your smartphone.

Also, if you get lost or encounter trouble in an area you are visiting for the first time, you can rest assured knowing your current location and surrounding conditions, as well as being able to make inquiries over the phone. Be careful, it's easy to forget your charger.

Useful items to bring with you

Next, we will introduce some useful items that are not required for the license training camp, but will make your stay more comfortable.

• hangers and hooks
• Extension cord or octopus wiring
• earplugs or eye mask
• slippers or sandals
• mobile battery

I will explain each of them.

hangers and hooks

Be sure to bring hangers and hooks. This is because the hangers provided at local accommodations are often insufficient.

Also, some accommodations may not even have hangers. You'll need hangers for both laundry and clothing storage, so check in advance to see how many you'll need before bringing them.

Also useful is an S-hook for hanging hangers. You can get hangers and S-shaped hooks for even 100 yen, so be sure to have them on hand.

Extension cord or octopus wiring

Extension cords or power strips for octopus wiring are also useful. Since driver's training camp is a group experience, you may run out of electrical outlets for a variety of reasons, such as charging hair dryers, hair irons, and smartphones. This is a common sight, especially in shared rooms.

Therefore, if you have an extension cord that allows you to use power even when you are far from an outlet, or a power strip with an octopus-like wiring that allows you to share a single outlet with several people, you will be able to use it without stress.

earplugs or eye mask

Earplugs and an eye mask can help reduce stress. If you live in a group, you may be concerned about the noise around you or have trouble sleeping at night due to other people's snoring.

Training camp takes at least two weeks, and long-term lack of sleep can reduce your ability to concentrate on studying. Earplugs and eye masks can be purchased for just 100 yen, so even if you're not used to earplugs or eye masks and don't want to use them, it's a good idea to bring them with you.

slippers or sandals

Please prepare slippers or sandals to wear indoors at your accommodation. If you are staying at a hotel, slippers are often provided, but if you are staying in a school dormitory, condominium, or apartment, slippers may not be provided.

Also, some people may be reluctant to wear shared slippers for hygiene reasons. Having slippers or sandals that you can use without hesitation and that fit your feet will help you relax.

mobile battery

If your smartphone's battery capacity is low, consider bringing a mobile battery as well. There is no problem if you only need to charge it with a charger, but if the battery runs out during the day, just having a mobile battery will make a big difference in usability.

Also, if you live in a shared room, many people use electrical outlets, so you may not be able to charge your device at your convenience. A mobile battery will be useful in such cases.

Useful entertainment items to bring along

Having recreational supplies will help you have a fun time at license training camp. We recommend the following recreational items that you can bring to the license training camp.

• computer or tablet
• comics and books
• easy card games and board games

I will explain each.

computer or tablet

It is helpful to have a small laptop or tablet. You can easily enjoy browser games, reading books, videos, and movies. It will also be useful not only for leisure time, but also for studying and research.

Especially for those who enjoy watching movies, it would be useful to subscribe to a video distribution service even just during the training camp period. Many services have free trial periods, so find the one you like.

comics and books

If reading is your hobby, having books such as comics and novels available will help you kill time. If you're worried about your luggage being bulky, we recommend installing an e-book app on your smartphone or bringing an e-book reader or tablet.

Also, some video distribution services allow you to read electronic comics, novels, magazines, etc.

easy card games and board games

If you want to get to know your camp participants better, it's a good idea to bring some simple card or board games. Playing cards can be enjoyed by a large number of people, and many people know the rules, making it more useful than you might imagine.

It will be especially exciting if you share a room.

Important points to remember when preparing for a driving school

Up to this point, we have explained what to bring to the license training camp, but what you need to bring will vary depending on the accommodation, time of year, surrounding environment, etc. Therefore, I would like to introduce two points to help you prepare flexibly.

Check property facilities and amenities

There are various accommodation facilities for license training camps, such as hotels, pensions, and condominiums, and each has different facilities and amenities.

If you take all the things you have locally, you'll end up with a lot of luggage, so be sure to check in advance what's prepared and what's not. You can check this on the driving school's website or information pamphlet.

Check nearby shops

Use map apps and tools like Google Maps to check what kind of shops are located near the training camp facility.

Also, regarding meals during training camp, if three meals a day are not available, nearby restaurants may be an option. Check to see if there are only convenience stores, or if there are restaurants or fast food restaurants where you can eat well.

If you have a lot of luggage, use home delivery.

Because the training camp lasts about two weeks, which is longer than a typical trip, you tend to carry a lot of luggage. If you have too much luggage to carry, you can use a delivery service to send your luggage to your accommodation in advance. You can also participate empty-handed by sending your luggage home.

Some driving schools may offer free delivery services, so be sure to check.

Packing is important to have a comfortable driving training camp

Once you attend a license training camp, you will often not be able to return home until you graduate, so it is very important to pack your things in advance. Some items can be sourced locally, but they tend to be expensive.

Another drawback of local procurement is that it is not always possible to purchase products that you are familiar with. Be clear about what you will buy locally and what you will prepare, and pack your luggage compactly.

You will also need a driver Driver's License and prescription lenses. If you forget anything, you may not be able to enter the school, so be sure to check the training camp information and pamphlets to make sure you don't forget anything.