How to Convert a U.S. Driver’s License in Japan Without Losing Your Mind Part 2 — The Written Knowledge Test
Three months had passed since my consultation with the officer at the Konosu Driver's License Center in Saitama. At the end of that appointment, he handed me a packet of documents with a slip of paper containing a QR code and one very clear instruction: do not take the packet apart.
Before I could move forward, I had to track down a hard copy of my 2016 W-2 and wait until January 5th, 2026, when reservations for the written test opened. Once the final document was submitted, all that remained was waiting—and studying.
This article covers only the written knowledge test portion of the gaikoku menkyo kirikae process. The behind-the-wheel test will be covered in Part 3. Here is the link for Part 1
What Is the New Written Test?
Before October 2025, the written test was a short 10-question quiz, requiring 7 correct answers to pass. From what I had heard, the questions were extremely basic—things like "I shouldn't drink and drive" or "I should stop at a red light."
After October, the test was overhauled to closely mirror the exam Japanese nationals take when obtaining their license. The new version consists of 50 true-or-false questions covering a wide range of topics, with a 90 percent passing threshold. In practical terms, that means you must answer 45 questions correctly to pass.
Some countries are exempt from large portions of the gaikoku menkyo kirikae process. The written test, however, is the great equalizer—everyone must take it.
Other Parts of the Process Were Changed
The changes did not stop with the written exam.
The interview and eligibility screening process has also become more stringent. Applicants are now subject to a deeper review of their residence status, which requires an official document issued by the local town hall, called the jyuminhyo, confirming their current address.
Leniency around visa status has also disappeared. In the past, applicants in the middle of a visa renewal were sometimes allowed to proceed with license conversion. Under the new system, your visa must be fully renewed before you can continue.
Why the Changes?
The answer depends on who you ask.
The most widely reported reason is that short-term foreign visitors—particularly those staying for three months—were using hotels as their registered address, converting their licenses, and then leaving Japan after causing traffic accidents.
Another explanation I heard repeatedly over the years (though I could not independently verify it) is that obtaining a license abroad and converting it was significantly cheaper than attending a Japanese driving school and earning a license through the traditional route.
Regardless of the original motivation, while tourists may have triggered the changes, it is foreign residents who now feel the impact most directly. I'll stop there before this turns into a rant.
The New Process
Before the overhaul, it was theoretically possible to complete the entire license conversion in a single day:
Apply → Written test → Driving test → License issued
That is no longer the case.
Today, every step is handled separately and by appointment.
First, you must visit your prefecture's driver's license center website and reserve an initial consultation. (For Saitama, the portal can be found here.) Appointments can only be booked two weeks in advance, and time slots refresh at midnight—God be with you.
After gathering all required documents (listed here), you attend the consultation, where an officer reviews your paperwork and asks a series of questions. I've described that interview process in detail here.
If approved, you are given a QR code that allows you to reserve the written knowledge test after a specified waiting period. This article covers that stage of the process.
Once you pass the written test, you may proceed to the driving exam—and, if successful, finally receive your Japanese driver's license.
Alright. Let's get into it.
Making the Reservation
The QR code directs you to a reservation page similar to the one used for the consultation. This time, however, you won't need to stay up until midnight refreshing the page.
When the staff gives you the QR code, they also tell you exactly when reservations open, which in my case was 12:00 p.m. on January 5th. I logged in at that time and was able to secure a test date toward the end of January.
Studying for the Test
There are plenty of online resources available, but the single most useful one is the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) book "Rules of the Road." It's available digitally and in paperback, including on Amazon. It is available in multiple languages.
The English in this book is natural and clearly written—it is not machine-translated. If you read it carefully and understand it, you should be able to pass. However, this is where the catch comes in.
The wording on the test is deliberately designed to test attention to detail. One online resource that closely matched the real test was this guide from Lease Japan. It is not official, but it helped me understand how questions are phrased. JAF also has some resources on their website to help people prepare, you can find it here.
Test Day Experience
When you attend the consultation, the staff gives you a paper indicating where to go and what time to arrive on test day. In my case, I was instructed to be at Window 3 by 1:00 p.m.
I don't like surprises, so I arrived about an hour early. When I got there, people from the morning session were still receiving their results on the large screens. Seeing a group of smiling twenty-somethings taking selfies was oddly heartwarming—and briefly made me miss my twenties.
Around 12:20 p.m., people began lining up. By 12:30, the window opened and staff began checking documents. Everyone was asked to have their passport, residence card, and paperwork ready, and anyone wearing a hat was told to remove it.
During this process, the staff checked for a medical questionnaire, which is only available in Japanese. When they realized I didn't have it, they handed me a copy and told me not to worry about losing my place in line, since everyone would move together as a group.
The questionnaire asks basic questions: whether a doctor has told you not to drive, whether you've ever held a Japanese license before, and similar items. There is no English version, so I used a translation app on my phone to complete it.
Under the new system, the group was fairly small—about 25 test takers, from many different countries. Some were accompanied by interpreters.
A Critical Warning
One person ahead of me was denied entry to the test because the spelling of his name on his reservation did not exactly match across the documents. It appeared to be a single-letter discrepancy. He was not allowed to proceed.
Yes. It's that strict, and it low-key had my heart racing before my turn.
Document Check, Payment, and Eye Test
When it was my turn, I showed my reservation email on my phone and handed over my passport, residence card, and prepared documents. Everything was carefully checked.
Payment is no longer done via revenue stamps. The system is now cashless only, which feels ironic given that much of the process still feels stuck in the late 1980s—except for the money part.
After payment, I was escorted to the eye test.
You look into a green machine that displays a broken circle, and you must identify where the gap is: up, down, left, or right. The staff told me I could answer in English, even though the characters inside the machine were in Japanese. I was shown several circle sizes, followed by color recognition (red, yellow, green). That was it.
Once finished, I was directed upstairs to wait near Room 2.
Pre-Test Check
All test takers were processed as a group. While 1:00 p.m. was the target start time, delays were inevitable due to missing documents and individual issues. It was one of those unavoidable しょうがない (shōganai) moments.
Once everyone was processed, the same staff member who checked our documents instructed us to line up outside the test room. She went through the line and physically checked that all phones were powered off, placing them back into our bags. We were also required to remove watches, bracelets, large jewelry, hats, earphones, and anything that could be used for cheating.
One Muslim woman wearing a hijab was respectfully asked for permission to check her ears by a female officer. I appreciated the professionalism and respect shown.
We handed over our document packets and took our assigned seats.
Test Instructions
Before the test began, the staff explained the rules. Interpreters translated the instructions for those who needed it, and then left the room.
We were not allowed to:
- touch our bags
- speak
- ask questions
We filled out our answer sheets together, line by line: name, nationality, and test type. Test numbers were pre-printed.
The staff maintained a strict tone throughout, but when she passed my desk and noticed what I had written for nationality, she quietly giggled. That small moment reminded me she was still human—and helped me relax.
Just before starting, she announced:
"If you fail, you must wait until May to retake the test."
This test took place in January. Failing would mean a four-month delay.
The Test
Japanese traffic law is written and defined in Japanese. As a result, all non-Japanese versions of the written test are machine translations of the original legal language. Even when familiar words appear, they are being used within a Japanese legal and grammatical context—not the natural usage of the test language.
The JAF book proves that clear English explanations are possible—which is exactly why the test wording can feel brutal.
After the test, I spoke briefly with a Chinese test taker who said the Chinese translation was also extremely difficult to interpret.
Many questions are straightforward; "You must stop at a red light." But others are very specific to Japanese law:
- license classifications
- towing requirements
- passenger age calculations
- signage rules
All of this is clearly explained in the JAF book—but recognizing it in machine-translated test language is the challenge. A key example is the distinction between "must" and "should."
- "You must stop at a yellow light" → False, because stopping depends on distance and safety.
- "You should stop at a yellow light" → True, because the phrasing allows exceptions.
All questions are true or false, and many are worded specifically to make you second-guess yourself.
For example:
- "Two children under twelve years old are counted as one adult."
This sounds intuitive—but it's false. The correct rule is that three children under twelve are counted as two adults.
Paying close attention to wording, while also memorizing the specifics of Japanese traffic law, is essential.
Some questions are deliberately phrased to trap careless reading. One example involved sounding your horn near children. The answer is false, because horns are only used when directed by signage or to prevent immediate danger.
Advice for the Test
You have 30 minutes to answer 50 questions. I finished in about seven minutes and spent the remaining time checking every answer repeatedly.
With true-or-false tests, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking answers must "alternate." Don't. Each question is independent. On my test, I had multiple identical answers in a row—and they were correct.
Do not close your booklet early. Once you do, it will be collected immediately.
One final note: the announcement about failing and waiting until May almost rattled me. Stay calm. Panic leads to careless mistakes.
After the Test
Once time was up, the tests were collected and we were told to wait in the same room. Restroom and vending machine breaks were allowed, but results would not be announced until everyone returned.
When the officer came back, he called out names and asked those individuals to step outside. No explanation was given.
I was among those called.
We were escorted to another area of the building—the same annex where the driving test is conducted—and told that we were the group who passed.
Each of us received our packet back with a "passed" stamp, along with a new QR code to reserve the behind-the-wheel test. Thankfully, this appointment only requires about a one-month wait.
Behind-the-Wheel Test (What's Next)
The written test result is valid for six months, during which time you may attempt the driving test as many times as needed.
That final stage—and what to expect from it—will be covered in Part 3.
Conclusion
The written knowledge test is not difficult in the way people usually expect. It doesn't test whether you can drive well, and it doesn't try to trick you with obscure scenarios. What it does test—very deliberately—is whether you can read carefully, understand Japan's traffic laws as written, and stay calm under pressure.
If you prepare using the JAF Rules of the Road, pay close attention to wording, and take your time during the exam, passing is absolutely achievable. The strict procedures, the machine-translated questions, and the high passing score can feel intimidating, but once the test is over, the process becomes far more manageable.
Passing the written test is a major checkpoint in the license conversion process. From here, the focus shifts away from paperwork and memorization and toward actual driving on a closed course.
In Part 3, I'll cover the behind-the-wheel test: how it's structured, what examiners look for, and what you should realistically expect on test day.
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