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The Traffic Center is where you have to go to get a Japanese driver's license or an IDL (for your Japanese license).

Getting a License:

If you are an American:
You will need:
1. American license
2. Official translation of your license from JAF
3. Passport
4. Alien Registraion Card
5. Photo 3cm x 2.4cm (免許用 size available from photo booths outside of bookstores)
6. Copy of 1 (front and back) on A4 size paper
7. Copy of 3 on A4 size paper (main page and all pages with stamps)
8. Copy of 4 (front and back) on A4 size paper
9. Copy of 4 (front and back) on B5 size paper

Bring all of the above to the Center sometime from 1:00-1:30 Mon-Fri. The reception desk is on the second floor of the building closest to route 17. Hand in your paperwork and sign the clipboard. You will then have to pay the test fee and affix your picture to your paperwork at the other end of the counter. (There is glue on a small desk for affixing the picture.) Do your eye and physical coordination check in the little office on the other side of the room. If you're ok then wait (a long time) for them to direct foreign residents into one of the rooms for the paper test. (The test paper is in Enlgish and Japanese so if you've read Rules of the Road then this should be a peice of cake.)

If you pass then you will be given a copy of the driving course map (see attachment) and a number. Go down the long hallway to your left as you exit the test room. There is a waiting room at the end. After another wait you will be directed down to the test area. Unless your number is called first, you will have the chance to ride in the back one time as the driver before you takes their test.

After your driving test the instructor will give you some advice on anything you did wrong. Then you have to go back up to the main reception desk again. After another wait, the numbers of those that passed will be announced. If you passed you can fill out more paperwork. You can't get your license on the same day because foriegners take their tests after hours. If you didn't pass then you can schedule your next driving test when you hand in your number. (The waiting list is usually a little over a month long and people who have failed once can't just 'walk in' and take it; you have to schedule.)

After passing you can come back another day to get your license. Go around 1:30-2:00 to the same desk as before. Hand in your paperwork and wait a long time. They won't call you in to the hall so you have to wait and watch for the Japanese people to come out of the main meeting hall for break. Go in with everyone else and listen to a couple of speeches about driving. They will then call everyone's name to pick up their paperwork. (Foreigners are last so you have to wait through a hundred or so names.) With your paperwork in hand you can go get your picture taken (no teeth showing) and pay your fee at the fee counter. Then after another wait you should have your shiny new Japanese license. Your license will be good until your third birthday after you receive it.

The Road Test:
left side-view mirror = lsvm
right side-view mirror = rsvm
riewview mirror = rvm

You can not take the test in open-toed shoes or heels. Wear sensible shoes.

You will need elementary Japanese for this. (You need to know whether the instructor is telling you to turn right at this entrance or the next one, etc.) Make sure to say onegaishimasu to the officer when you are ready to start off. Also remember to say hai whenever you are asked to do something.

In general do everything slowly and smoothly. The officer will not appreciate jerkiness or having to hold onto his seat.

Before getting into the car walk around to the back and front of the car. At the front, check under the car for cats and small children.

Adjust your seat, seatbelt, and rvm. Remember to signal before you pull away from the curb. And then signal again as you get to the first roadway.

There will be an obsticle somewhere in the course. Check your rvm, rsvm and then over your right shoulder for traffic. Signal. Check again just to make sure and then pull around the obsticle. Leave a good space between you and the object, but don't let all four wheels go into the opposite lane. Signal left immediately and check over your left shoulder just in case something has slipped in there. Return to your lane.

The area I have marked in red on the course map should be done at 50kmph. (The rest of the course is fine at a slow speed.) Make sure you get up to and hold 50kmph in this section. You will have to slow down directly after to make a smooth turn.

Right Turns: Check your rsvm before you get to the area you want to turn right. Before you actually get to the place you want to turn right at, pull over to the right side of the lane (so people can go by on your left). Signal. Check for traffic on your left. Turn. (If there are arrows on the road try to turn where the arrow is printed.)

Left Turns: As you get to the area you want to make a left turn, check your lsvm and over your left shoulder for bicyclers. Signal. Pull over to the left side of the lane to make sure scooters can't get past you on that side. Check for traffic on the street you're turning into. Check again over the left for people. Turn.

The Crank: This is an area where you have to make two right angle turns in succesion. You can reverse your car if you need to a couple of times. Do not hit anything (automatic fail). Do not get close to the poles at all in fact. (Even if you think the car can make it the officer may think otherwise and fail you anyway.) Remember to use your turn signals in this area.

The S-Curve: Immediately after the Crank. Take it slowly and there's really no way this can be a problem. Again, remember your turn signals.

Traffic Lights: Visibly check to see if there is no traffic coming before you go through (even on a green light).

Areas with High Hedges: In the areas with high hedges you have the right of way with no stop signs. However, you shoud slow down (don't stop) and check left and right a bit in this area as people from the sidestreets need to pull out beyond the hedges in order to see around them.

Make sure you move your head at least a little whenever you check a mirror or over your shoulder.

Getting an International Driver's License (IDL):

You will need:
1. Japanese license
2. Passport
3. Existing IDL (if you have one)
4. Money (around 3000 yen)
5. The following information:
Name
Phone Number
Country of Origin
Passport Number
What kind of vehicles you are authorized to drive
Where you're going, when you're going, when you're coming back

Go into the building closest to the main road. The IDL section is on the first floor. The IDLs are handled at the 国際免許 (kokusai menkyo) counter. It's on the far right. Ask for the forms at the counter. There is a sample on the counter where you fill things out so it's pretty easy to fill out the forms. If you're a member of the driving safety club you can get your picture for free.

It should be noted that you cannot just get an IDL for the heck of it. You must have travel plans already.