Did you know that winter driver's license training camps are a great deal?
It's a whopping 70,000 to 90,000 yen cheaper than summer and spring vacations. On the other hand, winter vacation is shorter than summer and spring vacations, and many driving schools are closed during the New Year holidays, so you may not be able to graduate during the break. However, by simply following the two points we will introduce now, you can get your license in time for the start of the new semester while paying significantly less than in spring or summer! If you read this article, you will be able to cover all the points to note about winter license training camps and narrow down your options for winter training camp driving schools.
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[1] Winter driving license training camps are just so cheap! Compare the prices with summer and spring vacations
First of all, please take a look at the comparison of training camp costs for summer vacation, winter vacation, and spring vacation license training camps ↓
| Summer: Early August to mid-September (1 and a half months) | AT: 310,000 to 340,000 MT: 340,000 to 360,000 |
| Winter: Late December to early January (2 weeks) | AT: 250,000 to 270,000 MT: 270,000 to 290,000 |
| Spring: Early February to late March (2 months) | AT: 360,000 to 380,000 MT: 370,000 to 400,000 |
As I mentioned at the beginning, compared to the most expensive time of the year in spring, you can save about 70,000 to 90,000 yen for a standard car license, whether it's manual or automatic, which is the equivalent of a four-day domestic trip, for example.
To be honest, I think that the low price alone could be the deciding factor for choosing a winter Driving Camp!
In the market for Driving Camp, summer and spring vacations are busy periods due to the length of the holidays, and prices are therefore higher, but winter vacation is shorter to begin with, and there are few driving schools that are open over the New Year holidays, so it is not a very busy period nationwide and you can apply at the same rate as in the off-season.
[2] Two points to note
1. Very few driving schools are open during the year-end and New Year holidays!
First of all, there are very few training camps that are open during the New Year holidays.
The reason is that many current students return to their parents' homes during the New Year holidays, making it difficult to fill up driving lessons, and since the license centers and police stations that issue provisional licenses are closed during the New Year holidays, driving schools are often closed as well.
冬休み中に免許取得したい方は、年内に仮免許まで取得し一時帰宅ができる合宿教習所を要チェックです。
2. Provisional licenses cannot be issued during the year-end and New Year holidays!
There is a period during the winter break when provisional licenses cannot be issued for Driving Camp.
2026年〜2027年のカレンダーでは、12月29日（火）〜1月3日（日）の6日間は免許センターが年末のお休みに入る為、仮免許証の発行が行えません。
Let me explain it briefly. Below is a chart showing the flow from enrollment to graduation.
After completing the first stage of training in STEP 5 and passing Driving Test and Karimenkyo Written Test test, you will obtain a provisional driver's license in STEP 8 and move on to the second stage. However, since it is not possible to obtain this provisional license during the New Year holidays, you cannot move on to the second stage. (IMPORTANT!!!)
この場合、合宿を一時中断、帰宅し、1月4日（月）以降から再入校する流れとなります。つまり、年末年始は教習を継続出来ないことになります。
では、12月28日までに仮免許を取得するには、逆算していつの入校が良いのでしょう？
【3】今年（2026年末～2027年始）の入校日はコレ！
結論から先に言うと、今年（2026～2027年）の冬、普通車免許を取りたいなら入校日は非常に限られてきます。
For AT
入校:12月22日（火）→仮免取得:12月28日（月）→卒業：1月6日（水）
2026年は多くの学生の冬休みが早い所は12月24日頃から始まり、1月7日頃迄、多くは2週間ほどの間でしょう。
2026年は免許センターのお休みが12月29日（火）〜1月3日（日）のため、冬休み期間内に卒業したい場合は12月28日（月）までに第1段階の教習を終わらせる必要があります。
Here's how to put them together on a calendar.
[4] 100% full! Apply early!
At the winter license training camp, there are only a limited number of dates that students can complete in time for the new semester, so competition is inevitably high.
Information on winter license training camps will be released (you can apply) at many driving schools around mid-September! If you are reading this article and are thinking of going to winter license training camp, please narrow down which school you will go to before the tickets go on sale and be ready to apply right away.
【5】オススメの学校
We will introduce some recommended schools where you can stay at the end of the year so that you can apply immediately in preparation for the release of information on the upcoming winter license training camp.
1. Smart Driver School Kawagoe (Saitama Prefecture)
Located an hour from central Tokyo in the popular tourist destination of Kawagoe, Smart Driver School Kawagoe is an urban, training school that combines gourmet food and sightseeing.It is a comprehensive driving school that offers all subjects.
・Closeness to the Tokyo metropolitan area
The convenience store is right next to the school and the supermarket is a 30-second walk away, making it a very convenient location. The course is located on the riverbank, allowing for spacious lessons, and the appeal of Smart Driver School Kawagoe is that it trains professional drivers for large vehicle licenses and Class 2 licenses.
Flora WEST, the men's dormitory, is the newest dormitory, completed in 2020.
Other accommodations are also safe and comfortable at Leopalace!!
The women's dormitory is a spacious loft type. There is a dryer in the bathroom, which is convenient for women, so there is no need to dry laundry indoors even on rainy days. The bathroom and toilet are separate, and home security (SECOM) is available.
The men's dormitory has high beds. There is a large storage space under the bed, so the living space and storage space are separated for a neat and tidy living space. The bathroom and toilet are separate and have a dryer.
The popular Smart Driver School Kawagoe is sure to fill up quickly! Apply early!
| schedule | Fee | |
| AT | 12/20 (Sat) - 1/3 (Sat) | 272,800 yen (tax incl.) |
| MT | December 17th (Wednesday) - January 1st (Thursday) | 344,300 yen (tax incl.) |
Click here for more information about the driving school
2. Smart Driver School Himeji Kakogawa (Hyogo)
Located about an hour from Osaka and 30 minutes from Sannomiya, Smart Driver School Himeji Kakogawa is a driving school that caters to all vehicle types. Opening in August 2025, the school and courses are in a beautiful environment!
・The accommodation is the familiar Leopalace
We offer a room in an apartment for single use! Of course, everything you need for daily life is provided, including a bath, toilet, washing machine, and TV. You can also choose a plan with or without meals!
・For sightseeing, head to Sannomiya
Himeji and Sannomiya are only 30 minutes away by train, so there is good access to tourist spots! Many students use their free time after lessons to go sightseeing, so you can enjoy a well-balanced license training camp life.
If you want to take lessons in a brand new school building, come to Smart Driver School Himeji Kakogawa!!
| schedule | Fee | |
| AT | 12/20 (Sat) - 1/3 (Sat) | 239,800 yen (tax incl.) |
| MT | December 18th (Thurs) - January 3rd (Sat) | 311,300 yen (tax incl.) |
Click here for more information about the driving school
【6】まとめ
What did you think?
冬の免許合宿の1番のポイントは警察署が休みに入る前までに仮免許を取得することです。それに間に合う入校日は毎年かなり絞られてくるので競争率も高くなりますが、発売と同時にすぐに申込ができるよう3つの注意点を踏まえて学校を選びましょう！
