Driving Camps in Japan: A Helpful Guide for Foreigners Looking to Get on the Road Fast

If you’re a foreigner living in Japan and want to learn how to drive or get a Japanese license, you’ll find that driving camps in Japan for foreigners offer one of the fastest and most efficient ways to do so. Since this type of program doesn’t really exist outside Japan, you might be wondering what a driving camp actually is.

In this article, we’ll explain what driving camps are, how the process works, and what you’ll need to enroll, including your Japanese ability and required documents.

What Is a Driving Camp in Japan?

A Japanese driving camp is an intensive 2 week training program where participants live in accommodations provided by the school and complete all coursework and driving lessons in a condensed time frame. 

These camps are:

• Fully accredited by the Japanese licensing authority
  
• Designed to help you pass both the written test and practical driving exam
  
• Often more affordable and takes 2 weeks instead of potential months
  

Many foreigners (and Japanese) choose this option to save time, especially those who need a driver’s license for work or who generally want to get licensed quickly. 

Why Driving Camps Are Popular Among Foreigners in Japan

Driving in Japan can be a complex process for foreigners, especially if your home country has more relaxed traffic laws or you drive on the right side of the road. If you have a driver’s license from your country and your country has a license conversion agreement with Japan, then his is the de-facto fastest way. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to take both written and practical exams which is much cheaper but can take significantly longer. Read more about which countries are exempt and driver’s license conversion here. If you would need to take both exams, or you are getting a driver’s license from scratch, this is the best option if you can spare the two weeks.

Driving camps offer several advantages:

• Structured programs that cover everything you need to pass
  
• Fixed schedules that let you finish fast (typically 2–3 weeks)
  
• Potential savings compared to long-term private lessons

If you’re planning to stay long-term in Japan, having a local license can also be useful for travel, job opportunities, or emergencies.

What Is Included in a Japanese Driving Camp?

Driving camps are all-inclusive packages that usually cover:

• Classroom instruction (road rules, traffic laws, written test prep)
  
• Practical driving lessons (on closed courses and public roads)
  
• Lodging and meals
  
• Use of a training vehicle
  
• Final driving test and application support
  

Some schools even offer free shuttle service to and from nearby train stations, in addition to transportation refunds.

Tip: Most camps offer separate packages for manual transmission (MT) and automatic transmission (AT). If you don’t specifically need MT, go for AT, it’s easier and more common in Japan.

Do Driving Camps in Japan Offer English Support?

While most driving schools operate in Japanese, a growing number of camp-style driving schools now offer English support, especially in regions popular with international residents (e.g. Nagano, Shizuoka, Saitama). Please note that as of now, there are no driving camps that offer classes taught in English. There may be schools that have English speaking staff, but it is far from the norm as of 2025. There are, however, plenty of schools offering written tests and textbooks in English. If you don’t speak Japanese, be sure to ask about language support before booking.

How Long Does a Driving Camp Take?

The standard driving camp length is:

• Automatic (AT) license course: Around 13–15 days
  
• Manual (MT) license course: Around 15–17 days
• Motorcycle Manual Transmission (MT): 10 days 

If you fail any internal tests or assessments, you may need to extend your stay by a day or two, but many students finish on time with no retests needed.

How Much Does a Driving Camp in Japan Cost?

Costs can vary depending on season, location, and language support. As a rough guide:

• ¥240,000 – ¥350,000 (approx. USD $1,660–$2,400)
  
• Usually includes accommodation, food, training, and test fees
  
• Some schools offer discounts for early booking, off-season dates and group bookings
  

Watch out for peak season surcharges (especially in summer and spring breaks when Japanese students also attend).

We also have a detailed breakdown of how much a Japanese driver’s license costs here.

What are the accommodations like?

A driving camp will see you spending the better part of two weeks away from home, so people will not judge you for choosing  driving camps based on how nice the accommodation looks. Driving camps can have many options, depending on the school. Some will have their own dormitories while others will have contracts with real-estate companies like Leopalace. The different accommodation types include everything from fully furnished apartments, student dormitories, ryokan-style inns or even hotel-rooms. Many schools offer different room-types also, with single-room, Shared and twin being the most common options. The price of your driving camp-stay will also change potentially drastically depending on the accommodation you choose. 

Where Are Driving Camps Located?

Driving camps are typically held in rural or suburban areas, where traffic is lighter and facilities are more spacious. Popular prefectures include:

• Shizuoka
  
• Hyogo
  
• Gunma
  
• Nagano
  
• Okayama
  

These areas often have schools with experience training foreign residents and may be easier to navigate for non-Japanese speakers. You can also find schools located in or near tourist spots, so you can combine a vacation with getting your Japanese driver’s license.

What to Prepare Before Attending a Driving Camp

Before signing up, make sure you have the following ready:

• Resident Card (在留カード)
  
  
• Juminhyo (住民票) with nationality listed
  
  
• Basic Japanese language skills (helpful, but not always required)
  

Some camps may require a health check or vision screening as well.

Final Thoughts: Is a Driving Camp in Japan Right for You?

If you’re a foreigner in Japan who wants to learn to drive or convert your license efficiently, a driving camp can be an excellent option. It’s fast, cost-effective, and immersive  and with growing English support, it’s more accessible than ever.

Whether you’re planning weekend road trips, commuting, or expanding your job options, getting a Japanese license through a camp could be the smart move that puts you in the driver’s seat.

If you are curious about Japanese driving camps, you can read more about different driving schools all over Japan or feel free to reach out to us from Do-Live!

Key Takeaways for Driving Camps in Japan for Foreigners

• Driving camps in Japan offer intensive driver’s license training over 2–3 weeks.
  
• They’re ideal for foreigners needing efficient, structured driving instruction.
  
• Costs typically range from ¥240,000 to ¥350,000, including accommodation.
  
• Some of the schools offer English textbooks and tests.
  
• Camps are perfect for those converting foreign licenses or starting from scratch.