Introduction

If you have a foreign driver's license and live in Tokyo, are you having trouble switching to a Japanese driver's license? In fact, there are many people who have tried to switch their license several times but have not been able to pass, and are still unable to switch.

In fact, the biggest hurdle in switching your driver's license is the driving test. The number of people switching their foreign licenses to Tokyo is increasing year by year. Especially in recent years (after the COVID-19 pandemic), the number has increased dramatically, and if you fail the driving test once, you may have to wait 2 to 4 months before you can make another appointment.

 Against this backdrop, the automobile transportation industry has been newly added to the list of Specified Skilled Worker (Tokutei Ginou) fields starting in 2024. Over the next five years, it is expected that around 25,000 foreign workers will enter Japan’s automobile transportation sector. At the same time, the demand for driver’s licenses among foreign residents will continue to rise. For example, ground handling staff at airports are now required to obtain a Japanese driver’s license, and from 2025, new home care services supporting foreign workers in the nursing care industry are also scheduled to begin. With these changes, reservations at driver’s license centers are expected to become even more crowded in the coming years.

 In this article, we’ll show you how to pass the driving test (技能試験) on your first try.Preparation: Understand the test requirements in advance, study the key tasks, and practice in a setting that closely simulates the real exam.​Review & Final Tips: Learn how to effectively review your practice and apply last-minute strategies right before the test.Multilingual Study Materials: study videos (textbooks) that are available in multiple languages,perfect for foreign residents who may not be confident in Japanese.

Measures to check driving skills for foreign driver's licenses in Tokyo - A guide to using designated driving schools

Even people who have years of driving experience abroad and are accustomed to driving can fail the driving skills test many times.
The average pass rate is said to be in the 30% range (including Japanese applicants). With the number of foreign workers expected to increase in the future, what is the reason for such a low pass rate?

There are three reasons for this:

1. Japanese-style driving behavior such as safety checks​Lack of understanding of
   In fact, the test for converting a foreign driver's license tests whether or not you understand Japanese traffic rules and driving manners. In other words, no matter how used to driving you are, if you don't know the Japanese traffic rules, you will fail. In particular, those who wish to convert a foreign driver's license are used to foreign traffic rules and driving manners, so it is difficult for them to pass the Japanese driving test.
2. driving on the left side of the road.​I'm not used to
    In countries such as the United States, China, Vietnam, and the Philippines, people drive on the right-hand side of the road. This difference can create challenges during Japan’s driving skills test. On public roads, drivers simply follow the flow of traffic, making it nearly impossible to drive on the wrong side. However, on the wide and mostly empty testing course, where usually only one vehicle is driving, mistakes are much more common. For example, some examinees lose points for driving on the wrong side when making a right turn at an intersection, often due to extreme nervousness.
3. driving instructions in Japanese​Unable to understand
   The examiners for the driving test are police officers, and all driving instructions are, of course, given in Japanese. If you don’t fully understand the instructions and fail to follow them correctly, you will be marked down. In many cases, extreme nervousness can even lead to panic, preventing you from driving the way you normally would, and resulting in an unfortunate outcome on the test.

Measures to check driving skills for foreign driver's licenses in Tokyo - A guide to using designated driving schools

License Centers in Tokyo that handle foreign license conversion

There are three license centers in Tokyo that handle the procedures for switching to a foreign driver's license. Among them, only two locations, Fuchu Driving Test Center (Fuchu City, Tokyo) and Samezu Driving Test Center (Shinagawa Ward, Tokyo), can take the practical test for switching to a foreign driver's license.
(As of January 2025)

Fuchu Driver's License Examination Center

Samezu Driver's License Center

Koto Driver's License Examination Center

We recommend designated driving schools for practicing your skills confirmation (driving test) in Tokyo!

Within Tokyo, you can choose from three locations to practice for the driving skills confirmation (driving skills test): a license center, a designated driving school, or a registered driving school.
Practice sessions at the license center are limited to one hour out of the three hours on Saturdays and holidays. Because of this, practice sessions at the license center are extremely busy. In the first place, the phone lines are flooded with calls, and it is difficult to get through even when making a reservation.
Therefore, you will have to practice at either a designated driving school or a notified driving school (unofficial).

First of all, I will explain the differences between them.

A designated driving school A designated driving school is a driving school that meets three official standards: the personnel standard, which requires qualified and licensed driving instructors; the physical standard, which covers facilities such as a proper driving course, classrooms for studying theory, and vehicles that match official test specifications in width, length, and wheelbase; and the operational standard, which ensures that the lesson content and training programs follow official guidelines. Because these schools satisfy all three requirements, they provide the closest preparation to the real driving test environment.

In other words, designated driving schools offer the advantage of allowing you to practice with the same types of vehicles and on courses equivalent to those at the license center, with both the school building and the driving course located together in one place. In addition, all instructors are nationally certified, and the quality and content of instruction are standardized and consistent, ensuring reliable preparation for the practical driving test.

On the other hand, a notified driving school is a school that has submitted notification to the Public Safety Commission but is not required to meet the official personnel, physical, or operational standards. These schools are often referred to as unofficial driving schools. While their size and facilities vary, they still provide instruction in driving skills and knowledge, much like designated schools. In cases where a notified school does not have its own practice course, it may rent external facilities to offer practical training.

6 designated driving schools in Tokyo where you can prepare for the driving test (practice test) for foreign license conversion

Now, we will introduce you to designated driving schools in Tokyo where you can prepare for the skill confirmation (driving test)!

①Shintokyo Driving School

☆Lessons available until 8:30pm
Recommended for those who are not good at Japanese! Foreign language support (English, Chinese, etc.) available
5 minutes by shuttle bus from Seibu Line "Ogawa Station" and 7 minutes by shuttle bus from "Higashiyamato-shi Station"

②Koganei Koganei Driving School

☆Lessons available until 7:50pm on weekdays
10 minutes by shuttle bus from JR Musashi-Koganei Station, 13 minutes by shuttle bus from Seibu Tamagawa Line Tama Station

③Koyama Driving School

☆ Lessons available until 8:30pm on weekdays
The first English-speaking lessons in Japan! Many English-speaking instructors on staff
Free shuttle bus available for boarding and disembarking along the way

Futako Tamagawa School

Seijo School

Shakujii School

Akitsu School

The definitive guide to passing the exam: What is the Foreign License Conversion "Ziplus Fast-Track Package"?

 In response to these challenges, ZIPLUS has developed the Foreign Driver’s License Conversion “Fast-Track Package”. This program is designed to help foreign residents pass the skills test on their first attempt and to ensure they can drive safely and confidently on Japanese public roads after converting their foreign driver’s licenses.
This program is an all-in-one package that covers every step necessary to pass the foreign driver’s license conversion test in Japan, as outlined below.
We provide comprehensive skills training in cooperation with designated driving schools in Tokyo, supporting you through every stage of the license conversion process, from issuing official license translations to checking your knowledge and skills with advance preparation, driving practice, mock test training, review, and last-minute tips before the actual exam. In addition, once you pass the test, you will also learn to understand Japanese traffic signs and road markings in your own language, ensuring safe and confident driving on public roads.

" Drivey" is a knowledge verification app (multilingual) that is fully compatible with the new format from October 2025. Clickhere▶

 We offer the preparation videos “SAMURAI DRIVER”, which allows you to understand the test requirements in advance and study effectively before taking the exam!

You can watch preparation videos for the driving test  required for foreign driver’s license conversion, all from the comfort of your own home!
A total of 10 videos will explain 10 key points for passing the driving test.

Here are the 3 most appealing reasons to buy our videos:

①You are not tied to study time or place

You can watch the videos "anytime," "anywhere," and "as many times as you want," so you can study at your own pace. With just one smartphone, you can use your free time, such as during your commute to work or school.

② Efficient videos that explain only the main points

Each video is short, about 3 to 7 minutes long. It's easy to concentrate on a short video, so it's recommended for people who wants to study fast and effectively.

3. Viewing in multiple languages

 In addition to Japanese, the videos also feature audio commentary in English, Chinese, and Vietnamese, making it easy for those who are not confident in Japanese to study and prepare effectively.

We have prepared a study guide called "Road Ready in Japan" for you to review and what you need to know just before the exam!

In January 2025, this long-awaited resource was finally published as a book—the only specialized textbook focused entirely on the gaimen kirikae driving test. Designed as a comprehensive study guide for foreign drivers, it is available in full color and serves as the ultimate text for preparing for the license conversion skills test.

Here are the 3 most appealing reasons to buy our videos:

①Excellent knowledge and readability

The book is about 50 pages long and contains a lot of information, making it very satisfying to read. It also uses many illustrations and photographs to make it easy to read.

②Detailed explanation of the features of skill verification

Explains the grading criteria, the number of points required to pass, the deduction of points for each task, common interruptions during the skill check, and tips and tricks for passing.

③Vocabulary you should know

We have put together the vocabulary that the examiner will ask you to use during the skills test. Make sure you memorize it well in advance.

summary

How was it?
To make the switch smoothly within Tokyo, careful advance preparation is required.
Please feel free to use it for practicing at the driving school, or for preparation and review using videos and textbooks.
I hope that all readers will be able to successfully convert their foreign driver's licenses and gain confidence in driving in Japan.
I sincerely hope that through this article, you will understand the importance of safe driving and be able to put it into practice. I also hope that your life in Japan will be safe and fulfilling, and that you will find new possibilities and happiness through driving.