Well folks, after 6 months waiting around, studying and rotting watching endless youtube videos on how to pass this stupid thing…. I finally got my license. So I suppose I'll write this for anyone else that may need the help!

Your Written Test

50 questions, we all know that. The English translation is honestly not that bad at all, if you read the JAF book and seriously look at the small tips of the book, you'll do just fine. The only funny question that I remember seeing is something like:

"You're driving and about to change lanes, but a car approaches from behind, you stop your lane change" T/F? For this specific one, I've been told that its F, why? I don't remember but, I did see this question come up! For me it was in Test booklet 2. There's also a section on road signs so be sure to brush up on those!

Honestly read the question with care, and apply a minimal amount of brain power, you'll pass. Take a few practice tests online, specifically the honmen tests, they're pretty close to what I ended up seeing on my test! The writing on many of the practice exams online and the actual tests are not 1:1 per say, but the theory behind each of the questions is exactly like what you read online, the JAF book and well..Common sense. Remember! Use your brain, you'll be alright!

Skills Test:

As for the skills test…What worried me the most was not having been to a course before, so I didn't have a sense of "scale" right? I didn't know just how small or big, thus messing me a little. I've already drove around Japan with my IDP so I do know how to drive here…but the scale worried me. So I booked a practice session with a guy on facebook, pretty well known if you search around a little and bro gave me a solid reality check on not only the scale of the place, but EXACTLY what to do. If you have a chance to walk the course before your test starts, DO IT. Get comfortable to where things are and when they come up! It'll help ya!

Speed

Speed…Because of the size of the place (konosu in my case). The whole course is rather compact, you will never go any faster than like…20kph, and like 40 at the fastest during that stretch of road on the north side of the course…When you make it to the speed, pump your breaks twice! Don't ride the thing, pump the breaks!

S-Turn/Crank Turn

The S turn is a nothing burger, just go slow and physically sit up a little more so you can see the front of the car! You can't mess this up! The Crank turn …Not a problem, just go slow and use your mirrors to aim the car in the middle of the next turn, you'll get it perfectly centered every time. At least that's how I learned many years when I struggled to park in Costco lol. I didn't see anyone in my group mess either of those turns so, trust me.. you got it!

Turning

If you're turning left…GET AS FAR LEFT AS YOU POSSIBLY CAN. It may feel a little sketchy, but you'll be alright. You'll bleed points if you don't. This not only goes for turns but in general, you want to be on the Left for MOST of the test. For right turns, get your car AS RIGHT AS POSSIBLE in the turn lane. and when you peel out get into the FURTHEST LEFT LANE POSSIBLE!

Do your Checks obviously, starting with mirror, signal to the direction where you're turning, check said mirror a quick and obvious glance to the opposite mirror, and blind spot and do your turn. While doing this, I also said "よし" after each check. Your neck should be aching a bit after this.

For the speed during your turns, You're going no faster than like 10kph/15kph. Something like that.

Even if your light is green, just look left and right before heading straight or which ever direction you're going in. Double check!

Timing

The moment you hear your instructor say a direction, your indicator should go up. Ideally this is within 30m of your turn, so time it carefully. If you forget what the number turn you go at, just ask your officer, they'll repeat it for ya!

Blind Intersections

PLEASE PLEASE go slow here, if you cannot properly see right or left due to a barrier or trees or because of a Mitsubishi Type 89 IFV is blocking your view. SLOW TF DOWN DUDE. Let the car creep a little and ride the break and physically move yourself up and try to peer around the corners. I did this while also saying outloud

"I cannot see, i will proceed slowly…..It is clear, i'll advance now".

Just something so bro next to you knows whats up. Leave no room for interpretation here. If the coast is clear, proceed.

Hill Start

Stop at the point where bro tells you to, pull on the hand break and let go of your break. make sure you're in 3rd/2nd gear while you're stopped to! Slowly release the hand break while giving it a little gas and your take off will be smooth. At the end of the hill, there should be a stop sign, put it back into drive at this point. My officer commended me for this!

Passing a parked car/Obstacle on the road

Signal right and do your checks, enter the opposite lane but keep your right turn signal on. The moment you pass, Signal left and do all your checks and hop into the lane. EZ

Luck?

I think that covers about everything right? I think there's an element of luck as well maybe……The guy that went before me tried to peel out with his parking break fully on and the car gave us a nasty jolt. So much so that the officer basically told him "git gud" and failed him after a few turns. So after that catastrophe you then have someone who..Practiced right? I think that helped my case a little. When i pulled into the parking spot, I personally forgot to say "Done" and opened the door without turning off the car, I've heard legends of people failing at this point but…Bro didn't fail me. Was it because of the poor soul before me? Maybe..I have no evidence for that.

TLDR: Chill bro, you'll be alright!