Yonezawa Driving School

There are some reviews saying it's pretty bad or unpopular, but there's nothing wrong with that! They only scold people severely when they do something obviously outrageous, like some people not following the rules and making noise in the facility, minors trying to smoke, or people causing trouble! (Scolding and getting angry are different things.) I actually enrolled in the school at a training camp, and the drivers who took me to and from school, the instructors, and the reception staff were all very polite and kind. I consulted the instructors about my failing the effectiveness test, and they gave me some kind advice, so I passed the provisional license test on the first try and was able to graduate safely. I think whether you pass or not, and whether you study or not, is up to you. The food at the accommodation is also delicious, and I think this is a perfect driving school.

I got my driver's license (manual, training camp) in January.

To summarise my impressions:
・A homely atmosphere and warmth from teachers
・Breakfast, lunch and dinner are very delicious
・The lessons are easy to understand.
- In winter, road conditions are poor due to snow accumulation and packing, requiring more skill than in urban areas.
・Strict but appropriate guidance for safety
・For better or worse, teachers are all different, and students are treated as students who are trying to get a license rather than as customers.
・The way they treat students who forget to book a bus is harsh in a bad way.
・The accommodation (ryogin) was comfortable.
・Good connection to smartphone signals
-The waiting time is long, but you can rest in the attached cafeteria.

I chose Yonezawa Driving School because I needed a driver's license to get a job.

I was worried about spending two weeks in a prefecture where I didn't know anyone, and I was worried that I would be the only high school student there and whether I would be able to make any friends, so I went to the driver's license training camp with many anxieties.

But those worries were blown away (laughs).

There are college students and adults around, but it's mostly high school students!
Everyone there was so interesting and I quickly got along with them and made lots of friends 😆👌🏻

It was my first time making friends from another prefecture, so it was very interesting to talk to them about things like dialects and differences in food, and I learned a lot too.

I eat lunch in the school cafeteria, and it's made fresh the moment I enter!

Living in a hotel is fun and feels like living alone, and the food is very filling and nutritious.
You can also have a refill 🤤💓
It was my first time trying Yonezawa beef and it was delicious to die for! Delicious!!!

You will be picked up and dropped off at your hotel by bus!
I was very grateful!!

The hotel has plenty of things to do, such as a dance studio, karaoke, gym, badminton court, and ping pong table, so you'll never get bored!
The school also has billiards and tennis courts.

As for the lessons, both the theory and the ride-alongs are very interesting!
(I get sleepy in class after lunch though...😂)
All the teachers at Yonezawa Driving School are kind!!
When we're riding together we talk a lot, and when I ask questions they answer me patiently.
Someone has written bad things about the teacher who was in charge of my class in past reviews, but I wonder what they are talking about.
She is very kind and has a lovely smile. I really liked her.
When we're riding together, we can't stop talking (laughs).

This may be a self-indulgent review, but I hope that after reading this review, more and more people will start attending Yonezawa Driving School.

I can't write all of my memories of Yonezawa Driving School in Yamagata here.
It's hard to put into words.
Two weeks is short, isn't it?
Graduation came by in a flash.
I really love it.
Thank you so much to all the friends I made and the teachers who helped me 😭

I received help with my regular motorcycle training.
It was my first time driving on a public road since getting my license, and I felt grateful for the guidance I received. The teachers always put our lives first when they teach us.
It only has 5 stars, but if there were 10, this driving school would definitely be 10 stars!

I enjoy talking with the teachers in the motorcycle room, and the balance between work and personal time is comfortable. The teachers also seem to get along well with each other, so I can trust them.

After discovering the joy of riding a motorbike safely, I decided to take lessons on large motorbikes here as well.

Hello everyone, I am Le Hoang Thien.

I'm not good at Japanese, but I'll try to write in Japanese.

I learned to drive at the school for 14 days. For me, it was an interesting, memorable and unforgettable experience. I love all the teachers here because they are all so enthusiastic about teaching me, supporting me and teaching me how to drive safely. There were some teachers who were very special to me, and I miss them so much, but I won't mention their names here, I'll keep them a secret 😄

After graduating from school, I returned to my hometown and went to the Saitama Prefectural Driver's License Center to take my final driver's license test. I passed the test on the first try.
I would like to once again thank the teachers at my school.

In the future, I plan to go back to school to study for a medium-sized vehicle license. I look forward to your support.

I graduated the other day. When I first came to the driving school, I didn't have any Chinese friends. I'm not very good at Japanese. Thank you to the teachers for patiently teaching me. If there's something I don't understand, I ask the teachers. All the teachers here are very good and very humorous, and if there's something I don't understand, I always ask the teachers. They teach me patiently. I had fun during the camp and made a lot of friends, so thank you very much.

I had AT help in February.
I went alone to a training camp, and everyone who was there on the same day as me was there with their friends, so I honestly thought it was all over, but most of them were around the same age, so we quickly became friends. (Everyone was kind and talked to me.)

As for the teachers, most of them were good, including my teacher in charge and the teacher who I only met once. Sometimes they would say things that would break my heart, but I'm not the type of person who would be broken by such things, so it wasn't a problem at all. Rather, my curiosity about whether I could become friends with this teacher won out. I think it depends on whether you get along with each teacher's personality.

About the accommodation
I stayed at Ryogin Yonezawa.
Curfew (the time when you must be in your room unless it is unavoidable) is 10pm.
There are convenience stores and pharmacies nearby.
However, it's about a 10-minute walk from the accommodation. I went there in February, so it was scary to walk alone on the dark road covered in snow, but I got used to it quickly.
There was a washing machine and microwave in the room, and I was alone in the large room, so I got to experience living alone. The WiFi worked well, and I could hardly hear any noise around me on the floor I was staying on, so it was very comfortable.
If I make new friends, we can play badminton together in the gym on the sixth floor.
You can also create fun memories.
The food is generally delicious (especially the hayashi rice) and the portions are just right, so I'm satisfied, but the only thing that bothers me is that they serve fried food every day, which can make you feel a bit bloated.
This is the accommodation that is the farthest from the driving school, so you must not forget to reserve the bus. One of my friends walked for an hour or paid a high taxi fare, so please make sure you do not forget to reserve the bus!!

When you think of Yonezawa, you think of Yonezawa ramen, and I have the impression that there are quite a few delicious ramen restaurants near Ryogin Yonezawa, so it would be a good idea to go out and try the local ramen!

I came back feeling nostalgic and had a lot of fun, so I read the reviews and I don't think it's as bad as everyone is writing.

The classes were pretty normal, and even when I had questions after the classes were over they were there to help, so it was a camp that made me want to go again!
Also, if you have a lot of free time or only one free time (I recommend going after you get your provisional license), there are many tourist spots that are only a 30-minute walk away, so if you're thinking about going to Yonezawa and wanting to enjoy it, I recommend going there! I also had fun at the roadside station.

To all the people going to the training camp, do your best for the next two weeks!

Thank you for your help for the past two weeks 🌿
In conclusion, I would recommend this course to anyone who is planning to attend Driving Camp!

It's full of bad reviews, but I think that can't be helped since people with bad impressions are the ones who write comments.
Neither my friends nor I had any bad experiences with any instructors. Of course, there were some strict instructors and some who had problems with their language, but I don't think there were any problems with the instruction.
I think it's really childish to complain about something like this...
I was more impressed by the kind instructors and the ones who were interesting to talk to! I felt that most of the instructors were around 40 to 50 years old. They were veteran instructors.

I stayed overnight at the Park Hotel, and the food and rooms were amazing!
The staff at the facility were kind and the atmosphere was very comfortable. The lunch served at the driving school was also delicious, and I gained 1kg!

The road lessons on snowy roads were really scary, but it was a rare experience and I'm glad I got to have it (?)✌️I made some friends and the two weeks went by in a flash!
thank you very much!!!

I took the regular AT at a training camp!
At first I felt nervous and stressed, but with kind teachers and delicious food, I was able to enjoy getting my license.
I think a big advantage of the training camp was that I was able to get my license in a short amount of time without having to make a reservation.
There was little traffic, so it was easy to teach on the road.

Although the teaching methods at the driving school varied slightly depending on the teacher, which was a bit confusing at times, I thought the experience was good overall.
I was glad to stay at Ryogin. The room was a one-room apartment of about 8 tatami mats, spacious and comfortable, and I was able to relax very much. I recommend it.
PS: In my free time, I rented a bicycle and touched Keiji's Chikaraishi at the temple across from the station, where I gained energy.

I had AT help in August.
I went alone to a training camp, and everyone who was there on the same day as me was there with their friends, so I honestly thought it was all over, but most of them were around the same age, so we quickly became friends. (Everyone was kind and talked to me.)

About the accommodation
I stayed at Ryogin Yonezawa.
Curfew (the time when you must be in your room unless it is unavoidable) is 10pm.
There are convenience stores and pharmacies nearby.
However, it's about a 10-minute walk from the accommodation.

There was a washing machine and microwave in the room, and I was alone in the large room, so I got to experience living alone. The WiFi worked well, and I could hardly hear any noise around me on the floor I was staying on, so it was very comfortable.
If you make friends, you can also make fun memories by playing badminton together in the gymnasium on the 6th floor.
The food was delicious (especially the hayashi rice) and the portions were just right, so I was satisfied, but the only thing that bothered me was that they served fried food every day, which made me feel a bit bloated.

This is the accommodation that is the farthest from the driving school, so you must not forget to reserve the bus. One of my friends walked for an hour or paid a high taxi fare, so please make sure you do not forget to reserve the bus!!

When you think of Yonezawa, you think of Yonezawa ramen, and I have the impression that there are quite a few delicious ramen restaurants near Ryogin Yonezawa, so it would be a good idea to go out and try the local ramen!

Coming back home brought back nostalgic memories of how much fun it was.

The classes were pretty normal, and even when I had questions after the classes were over they were there to help, so it was a camp that made me want to go again!
Also, if you have a lot of free time or only one free time (I recommend going after you get your provisional license), there are many tourist spots that are only a 30-minute walk away, so if you're thinking about going to Yonezawa and wanting to enjoy it, I recommend going there! I also had fun at the roadside station.

To all the people going to the training camp, do your best for the next two weeks!

We were taken care of in Yonezawa during our training camp.
It was my first time in Yamagata Prefecture.
The accommodation was old but clean and comfortable!
At first, I had no idea how to drive at all and struggled a lot, but many teachers taught me kindly, and sometimes strictly.
Thank you for your help🙇♂️

I attended their training camp for obtaining a regular driver's license in the winter.
For me it was pretty good.
I think it depends on the person, but in my case, I never had a scary instructor. I never heard of a really scary instructor, so I don't think there are any strict people. If you listen to what you're told and do it normally, both in the classroom and on the actual car, everything will go as planned.
Also, the food in the cafeteria was incredibly delicious every day. When I went there, they had beef bowls, omuhayashi (the kind with soft eggs), tonkotsu ramen, and more. The food served every day is of such high quality that it must cost more than 1,000 yen per meal. You can have seconds of rice, so you'll never have a shortage. I thought it would be similar to a university cafeteria, but my expectations were pleasantly exceeded.
I went there in the winter, so it was snowing, but the driving school course had been cleared of snow, so I was able to drive normally. However, there was 1-2 meters of snow piled up on the sides of the road, so it was hard to see, and the tires got stuck in the ruts, so you had to be careful. I think you could take driving lessons on the road normally unless it was a really heavy snowfall.
Also, to prevent snow from piling up, water is coming out from various places, and the snow melts and becomes slushy, so I recommend wearing shoes that are less susceptible to water seepage. (Although the most important thing is to be comfortable while driving.)

Maybe two years ago🤔, I had a great time at Driving Camp. There was nothing in front of Yonezawa Station, which surprised me🤭
The people who are complaining are just complainers. Don't worry about it. You're driving a car. It's a matter of life and death. It's only natural that you're being given strict guidance, right?
The girl at the orientation was super cute and my type, so I actually fell in love at first sight. I hope you find happiness 😉 Ah, I should have confessed my feelings... I didn't mind being rejected 😊
The lunch was delicious and filling. I fell in love with Yonezawa ❤️ I want to go back again 🚄
Also, the female teacher on the motorcycle was super cute. There are a lot of beautiful women in Yonezawa 😆

⚠️ I hope this gives you an idea of what it was like for me. The schedule and exams from now on will not necessarily be as written below. I think there are some people who are anxious about starting school, so I'll just write this down as a note. I don't know if it will be useful or if there will be demand for it though 🙋

My biggest impression was that the two weeks went by in a flash. Even though I was terrible at practical driving, I was able to get my license without overstaying my visa, so I'm sure everyone will be able to do it.

I don't know where to start, so I'll start with my impressions after completing the first phase (from the first day to the morning of the seventh day), what I did, and what I'm glad I did.
・The first week was a little difficult because I had to study, review my practical skills, and get used to the lifestyle. In order to get my provisional license, there are two lessons and two practical skills per day.
On the first day, the schedule is as follows: fill out the necessary paperwork → eat lunch (lunch is provided) → orientation → learn driving operations through a simulation → actually drive.
・I recommend that you review the theory every day. The lectures are sleepy, but you should listen carefully. The parts of the textbook that the teacher said were important that were not in blue were also on the exam. The 800 yen problem book is sold separately, but I'm glad I bought it. I did the practice problems for the provisional license, "If you do it, you can do it 1-4" and the appendix of "Rakushomon" (an app that instructs you to do), and I only did the problems with many mistakes, the pages of the problem book that test the effectiveness, and read the textbook over and over, and I got a perfect score on the actual test. You pass if you get 45 points out of 50, so if you get 44 points, you'll be crying (1 day extension, if you fail on Friday, 2 days extension). You take the effectiveness test before the provisional license, but it was okay to take it once. During the orientation, it was explained that you can't get the provisional license unless you reach the passing score (45 points). (I wonder if it's okay to talk about it lol)

・I was really bad at the practical part. I think we started practicing S-curves and cranks from the third day. I was so bad that on the third day I was just practicing right and left turns and curves lol
Those who are good at driving will have a radio training course (probably driving alone with instructions from a teacher). I didn't do the radio training course, and while everyone else was doing it, I practiced S-curves, cranks, and other courses. On the sixth day, there is a final exam (look it up online). Everyone passes, so don't worry! I think it's the last practice time to get a provisional license. I think if I had commuted to Tokyo, I would have definitely failed.
On the seventh day, there is a final test (provisional license). First, you do the practical test, and if you pass the practical test, you can take the written test and pass if you get 45 points or more. I thought that if I didn't study the written test, I wouldn't be able to concentrate on the practical test, so it's better to study properly.
Apparently the passing rate for the practical test at Yonezawa Driving School is over 98% (I don't know if I should say this), so I think everyone will be fine. All the students who started the school on the same day passed the practical test. I was so bad at the practical test that I drove slowly most of the time during the actual test, and I was so nervous about S-curves and cranks that I forgot how to do them and didn't even know which way to turn the steering wheel (I didn't skid off the road), but they still let me pass.
For the practical test, I was really lucky with my teacher. If you're still not used to steering after three days, just ask for a teacher lol. The teacher in charge was Sato Koichi, who was really good (his picture is on the website so I think it's okay to mention his name). I was able to pass both my provisional license and final exam thanks to that teacher, so if you really can't do it, I think it's worth asking at the reception. He's really kind, and makes lots of notes in the notebooks you get. Also, he can see through your personality to a surprising extent lol

Next are my thoughts from the afternoon of the 7th day to the end of the 14th day (Phase 2), what I did, and what I'm glad I did.

・After I passed my provisional license, I took three road tests in the afternoon. I realized that I needed the knowledge I learned in the theory class. There were more road signs than I expected, and the teacher explained to me things like, "This is the outer line of the road, the shoulder, so what should I do when there are pedestrians on the crosswalk?" I understood it in my head, but I couldn't actually do it.

I had some free time after I got my provisional license, so I wish I had watched some videos of driving on the road by driving school YouTubers. The time to drive on the road for 50 minutes by yourself is surprisingly short. The second stage practical test consists of 18 sessions (3 sessions per day x 6 days) + assessment. Of those, 7 sessions are 50 minutes on the road by yourself, 5 sessions are 50 minutes on the road with 3 people (each person can only drive for about 15 minutes), 4 sessions are simulations (highways, hazard prediction, etc.), and 2 sessions are backing up (parallel parking, turning right and left).
・Just like with provisional licenses, you only need to take the effectiveness test once, and the assessment can be used as practice time (it's not a test or anything like that).
・The final exam is a practical test only, no written test. You drive on the road for about 15 minutes and do one of three types of backing. I was so nervous that I forgot to put the handbrake down when moving forward, forgot to signal left when stopping, forgot to move to the side when turning right or left, and I was driving too slow, so I doubted I would pass, but they let me pass. During the exam, the teacher gave me hints next to me, so there was no need to worry.
There are no written exams, so you have plenty of time. I was able to do a lot of sightseeing during my free time. I went to Yonezawa Roadside Station, Fruit Kiyoka, Ryushanghai, other cafes, and Uesugi Shrine. There are lots of souvenirs for sale at the Uesugi Castle History Museum near Uesugi Shrine. It might be a good idea to research the shops you want to go to in advance.

Others
・About the hotel
When I booked the hotel, I chose a single room. The place was Otowa. The food was delicious. I ate breakfast and dinner at Otowa, and lunch at the driving school Friendly Azuma. At Otowa, there is one day when they serve Yonezawa beef steak. The breakfast was also delicious.
There was detergent for the washing machine, so I didn't need to bring it. There was also hand soap (Kireikirei). There was also a box of tissues and slippers. There was shampoo and conditioner, but my hair got really messy, so I wish I had brought it with me.
There was Wi-Fi and more than enough power outlets.
Please note that some rooms do not have a toilet or a bath in the room, and you have to use the toilet and the open-air bath next to the elevator on the first floor.
The hotel did not sell any snacks. Vending machines, washing machines, and dryers only accepted cash. Other stores also did not accept cards, so it's better to bring coins with you.

Instructor
Since I was a terrible driver, the same teacher was in charge of most of the first stage. Thank you very much.
I was also taught by two or three teachers who had been described as scary in reviews. I regret not being able to get into that kind of situation where they would scold me. They gave me kind words of comfort, like, "Even if you can't do it, you'll be able to do it eventually!" and "There are some kids who have so many stamps that the pages are filled up, so it's okay."

・Clothing
I thought I might slip on the snow, so I brought shoe stoppers to put on my shoes, but I didn't use them. In the first place, there was a bus from the hotel to the driving school, so I didn't have to walk on the snowy roads. I didn't need to take much precautions against the cold (this was from early to mid-March). I personally don't think I needed gloves or earmuffs.

・About buses
There is a shuttle bus from the hotel to the driving school. It's a bit of a hassle because you have to make a reservation through the app yourself.
Some of my friends have had to walk home after the man on the bus got half-angry because they forgot to make a reservation, so don't forget.

·friend
I participated in the driving school camp by myself. I'm glad I didn't go with a local kid who was friendly. If we were in the same hotel and in the theory class, I would get tired, and I would be upset if I failed an exam... By the way, the theory class is the same schedule for students who started the class on the same day. The practical class is different for each person. It starts early in the morning at 7:30, and the last class ends at 20:30.
It was right in the middle of spring break, so there were only college students there. I made some friends, so I think it's fine to go alone.

lastly
Even though I was terrible at driving, I was able to graduate without any extensions, so there's no need to worry. I think it's rare to find someone who never takes the radio training course.
About three days before the training camp started, I watched videos of various people's license training camps, including driving school YouTuber Albaka. I think it's worth watching because it will be useful for the theory part as well. However, in my case, I think that I watched too many videos and thought too much, which may have made my driving at the beginning not go well. I think now that I would have been able to drive without thinking if I had learned it on the spot lol.

If you go to the training camp, everything will work out, I'm sure🫶

I used it at a driver's license training camp.
The teachers were very kind to me and I was able to live a fulfilling life. There are strict teachers, but there are also many fun and kind teachers. Driving on the roads is easier than in the city because there are few pedestrians and the roads are wide.
The hotel facilities and food were excellent. The Yonezawa beef steak was large and delicious.
The hotel I stayed at had a lot of opportunities to socialize, such as playing table tennis and karaoke, so I had many opportunities to make friends. Overall it was a great experience, so I recommend you try it out.

I got my license at a training camp a year ago.

Even now, at times while I'm driving, I sometimes think of my instructor from back then.

He was very kind to me.
The old instructor was a man of few words, often scolded us, and was by no means a friendly person.
At the time, among the students attending the camp, he was considered a so-called "loser."

"If you go back to Saitama, you'll definitely cause an accident."
I was annoyed when I was told that, but
Six months after getting my license, I had a spectacular accident.

I remembered a lot of things later,
The accident occurred in the exact same situation as when that phrase was uttered.

You're always pestering me, so... always pestering me.
It was then that I understood the meaning behind having him practice only one movement over and over again.

Driving is only possible with your life in mind.

I felt that when learning, I shouldn't expect kindness (not being scolded, not being scared).
If I were to boldly express "kindness," I think it would be to speak clearly and firmly and sternly when something is not right.

I still remember their names and faces.
There are things that I didn't notice back then, but now I try to make it a top priority to be careful.

I think he's retired now,
I would like to say, "Thank you for that time."
It was a school with some really great instructors.

I suddenly remembered that I want to go back and show off my gold driver's license again someday...

I used it at a training camp.
There were some kind instructors, some funny instructors, and some strict instructors. The instructor is always assigned to a specific class, but sometimes it may be different. There are a lot of people in the lobby at the beginning of the class. There are cushions and zabutons in the break room, so you can sleep except during the day. If you use the bus, be careful because if you forget to make a reservation, you will have to walk.

I stayed at Ryogin, and the manager was very kind. Even when I got to the wrong bus stop, he kindly helped me out. The room was very clean. There was a washing machine in the room, which was convenient. The food was also delicious.

If you study properly and listen to your instructor, I don't think you'll have any problems with the exam.