Requirements for a Japanese driver’s license vary depending on the applicant’s country of origin. If the applicant currently possesses a valid driver’s license issued by one of the following countries, it is possible to obtain a Japanese license without taking the written and driving test:

Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Italy
Luxemburg
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Portugal
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
United Kingdom

If their license is from a country that is not listed, such as the United States, China or Brazil, one needs to take a written and driving test. The written test is 10 simple yes and no questions and it’s available in different languages including English, Spanish, Chinese and Korean. If the written test is passed, the applicant will be given a date and time to take the road test. Please also note that this part of the process typically takes more than one attempt and sometimes several, even for experienced drivers.

If the applicant would like to take driving lessons before attempting to take the test, there are two schools offering driving lessons with English speaking instructors in Tokyo.

Koyama Driving School

• Driving practice in driving school’s course.
• 4 hours minimum
• Approx. 45,000 JPY in total

Ogikubo Driving School

• Driving practice at Fuchu license center’s actual test course (Saturdays only).
• 90 minutes
• Approx.  18,000 JPY in total (includes driving from the school and the Fuchu DL center, and course using fee at Fuchu)

*The instructors can speak English, but the receptionist likely do not speak English, so please have a Japanese speaker call to make the reservation.

*One will need to book the Fuchu DL center’s course after booking the lessons at the Ogikubo Driving School. So proper communication might be a challenge for a non-Japanese speaker.  We, of course, provide this help in our driver’s license conversion program, however, the Japanese speaking staff at the DL center will call the applicant after the appointment is made in order to verify their identity. (They will confirm their name, address, the date of appointment, etc.)

Japan’s taxis are always clean and in excellent condition. There are approximately 50,000 taxis operated in Tokyo alone. Naturally taking a taxi is more expensive than taking the train, but trains often stop running around midnight, so taxis are often the only way of getting around once public transportation stops operating. Also In the countryside and even in urban centers like Kyoto, public transportation tends to be less convenient, therefore making a taxi from the nearest train station to your destination an important alternative. If you are a group of three or more people, taxis can also be an economical option on shorter distances.

How to get a taxi

• Most city train stations, and even some smaller ones, have taxis waiting to take passengers, often at a designated taxi stand.
• If you would like a driver to pick you up at home, or from another location such as a hotel or restaurant, you will need to call for one on your own or via your hotel reception (There may be a small fee charged by the taxi for pick-up service.)
• When you would like to catch a cruising taxi on a street, check the plate that is lit up above the dashboard in the lower left corner of the windshield. It indicates whether a taxi is vacant or not. (See examples below) Or see if the lamp on the top of the car is on (as this usually means a vacant car).

• Also you can wave at a taxi on the street and they will stop and pick you up.

How to use a taxi

• When you board a taxi, the rear passenger door is operated automatically by the driver so please avoid trying to open or close the door by yourself.
• If you do not speak Japanese or if your destination is not a well-known place, it is recommended to give your driver the address of your destination on a piece of paper or point it out on a map, since the Japanese address system can be confusing even to local taxi drivers. Fortunately, recent improvements in navigation systems have made it a lot easier to just give a driver the address and get to your destination even without speaking Japanese.
• All passengers are required to fasten their seat belts.

When the taxi arrives at your destination, they will tell you the fare according to the meter price. Please note that it is not customary to tip taxi drivers.

Taxi fare in Tokyo (Fare would be cheaper in countryside)
• Starts at JPY730 for the first 1km ride.
• Goes up JPY90 in 280m increments.
• When taking a taxi at late night from 10:00pm – 5:00am, there is a nighttime surcharge of 20 % added on to the fare.
• When taking a highway route, the tolls will be charged separately.

Note:
• M sized taxi (most of taxis) can take up to 4 passengers.
• Also some major stations, such as Tokyo Station, have separate taxi stands for hybrid and electric taxis that are more environmentally friendly. The fees are the same as regular taxis.

Tokyo has one of the best and most affordable public transportation systems anywhere comprising trains, subways, and buses. They are frequent, clean, safe, and very punctual. The one drawback is that they do not run that late. Trains and subways run until midnight or 1AM. Many commuter bus lines end as early as 9 or 10PM.

TRAINS
There are both above ground trains and subway lines. There are 13 subway lines in two separate systems 9 Tokyo Metro lines and 4 Toei Subway lines. Travel between the two requires a separate fare. Each line is color coded and each station is also coded with a letter and a number. Free maps in English are available at many stations.

PREPAID CARDS
It is very convenient to get rechargeable prepaid cards such as Suica and PASMO. They can be used for trains, subways and buses. You simply place the card over a card reader as you pass through the ticket gate, and again when you leave. The fare will be automatically calculated and deducted from your card. A refundable deposit of JPY 500 is needed for initial purchase of the card, and it can be charged with a few thousand yen at machines (English capable) in every station – though Suica cards can only be charged at JR stations and PASMO cards at subway stations. These same cards can also be used for purchases in many convenience stores as well.

BUSES
The bus system is slightly different between central Tokyo and outside of central Tokyo. In central Tokyo, you can enter at the front of the bus and place the prepaid card on the card reader. You don’t need to place the card again when exiting in the middle of the bus since the fare is fixed at JPY 210 for a Toei bus (green) or JPY 220 for a Tokyu bus (gray) per ride and this entitles you to ride from the beginning to the end of the line. Outside of central Tokyo, you need to enter at the central door, place the prepaid card or receive a ticket if you pay in cash. Then, you will need to place the prepaid card on the reader again or insert money when you exit at the front. The display will show how much you owe (price varies with distance traveled).

SHINKANSEN (BULLET TRAIN)
The Shinkansen, high-speed railway lines are currently operated by four Japan Railway (JR) Group companies. It covers Japan’s main island Honshu and connects Tokyo with most of the major cities including Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu. Hokkaido Shinkansen which will connect Shin-aomori (Main island Hunshu) and Hokkaido will start operating from the end of March 2016. Tokyo Station is the hub for most of the Shinkansen lines. Most of the Tokaido Shinkansen trains that connect Tokyo and Osaka also stop at Shinagawa Station, which gives easy access to the southwestern area of Tokyo.

TAXIS
Taxis in Japan are clean and safe and in major cities can easily be hailed everywhere. Like most countries taxi fares are metered by distance and time. The starting rate varies around the country, but in Tokyo it is JPY 730 for 2 kilometers and it goes up in increments of JPY 90 for 280 meters or 105 seconds of waiting time. A late night 20% surcharge is applied to all fares from 10 pm to 5 am. There are several colors of taxis, but their price is all the same. Most taxis accept major credit cards and some taxis accept the PASMO and Suica cards. The rear passenger side door is opened and closed automatically by the driver, so it is best to avoid doing this yourself. Tipping is not necessary. At major stations like Tokyo station environmentally friendly taxis (hybrid, electric) can be found in special lines outside the station.