Wanted to update the Kanagawa community as an older post on Japanlife gave different times. Recently went to the Kanagawa Driver's License Center in Futamatagawa to sign up for the written test to convert my foreign license into a Japanese license and learned:
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Sign Up Times: To make a reservation for the written test go to Counter 12 on the 3rd floor at least by 1:30pm. They officially state 2pm-3pm as the sign up times but an employee comes out to start taking down information as early as 1:20pm or so.
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Earliest Test Time: I was quoted 5 months out, this is just for the written test. If you pass, then it will be (based on my past experience) about another 3 months out to take the practical exam. So it'll take approx 8 months minimum, as the time of this writing, to get your foreign license converted. I think that's pretty ridiculous.
Note – There's an official PDF about what documents you need to prep and the procedure, just search online for: Procedure for Exchanging your Foreign Driver's License Kanagawa
Advice needed: I want to try to start from scratch and get the Japanese Driver's License the "Japanese Way", i.e., through a driving school and taking the longer written test. Questions:
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Recommendations for driving schools in Kanagawa?
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Can I have an active application for the foreign license conversion while I also try to get a Japanese license through a driving school?
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I'm assuming this way is faster compared to the foreign conversion (less than 8 months)?
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If you got your license this way, would love to hear your experience!
Would appreciate any thoughts! Thanks in advance.
by g-ming