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Residents of Fukushima Prefecture have to apply for a Japanese driver's licence through the Fukushima Prefecture Driving Centre.

This can only be done between the hours of 8:30am-9.00am.

This office is located in Fukushima City and is the only one in Fukushima Prefecture. The address and phone number are 1-1 Ohara, Machiniwasaka, Fukushima-shi, 960. Tel: 024-591-4381

1. To switch from a foreign driver's licence

You will need to take with you:

• Valid foreign driver's licence (you must have lived in the country where you obtained the driver's licence for at least 3 months)
• Alien registration card
• Certificate of Alien Registration
• Current passport
• Two 3cm by 2.4cm photographs (taken within the last 6 months)
• Translation of your foreign driver's licence.

A translation of your foreign drivers licence can be obtained from your embassy, consulate, or the Japanese Automobile Federation (JAF). There will be a charge for all translations. JAF charges 3000yen. It is possible to do this by post, and in this case you will need to send a copy of both the front and the back of your driver's licence and a bank order for the sum of 3700yen. It will take 3-4days to complete by post or about 1 hour if you go there. Only the Fukushima City branch of JAF offers this translation service. The address and telephone number is, 12-1 Yaji Yoshikura, Fukushima-shi, Fukushima 960-8165. Tel: 024-546-0022

Procedure:

Once you have all the above items, take them to the Fukushima Driver's Licence Centre along with the fee for the licence (usually about 4200yen) and then wait your turn. You will have to fill out an application form from the Driver's Licence Centre about your driving history. If you don't speak and write enough Japanese to apply, it is advisable to take someone with you who can. If your documents are all complete, you may be required to take an eye test and sit a written exam. You need to correctly answer seven out the ten questions to pass. Depending on the country you are from, you may also be required to take a driving test. You will find out the results later in the day.

2. Japanese Driver's Licence.

If you are not in possession of a foreign driver's license, then you will be required to pass the written, practical, and physical components of the Japanese driver's license test, which are quite difficult to pass. Most Japanese people enter a driving school and pay more than 200, 000 yen to participate in a two months driving course in order to pass this test. These sections of the test are only in Japanese.