Lessons for
Japanese Driving Tests
(Karimen / Honmen Test)
Pass the written tests and driving tests at a license center
Karimen / Honmen Test Overview
If you don't have a valid foreign driver's license, you have to follow the procedure in the same way as beginners.
In Japan, beginners need to pass 4 tests to obtain a driver's license.
Test #1: Karimen written test (Written test for obtaining a leaner's permit)
Test #2: Karimen driving test (Driving test for obtaining a leaner's permit)
Test #3: Honmen written test (Written test for obtaining a Japanese driver's license)
Test #4: Honmen driving test (Driving test for obtaining a Japanese driver's license)
You have to take all the tests at a driver's license center in a prefecture you register.
Japanese driving test is quite unique. Even if you have a lot of experience in driving outside of Japan, it's difficult to pass the driving tests unless you properly show your driving skills required by a license center.
JYC driving school provides driving lessons to pass these Japanese style unique driving tests.
Lesson fees
Lessons for Karimen
Kyoto Practice Circuit
27,500 yen
tax inclusive
- 50 minutes x 2 lessons
- Including practice circuit usage charge
(4,600yen)
- Automatic transmission car and
Manual transmission car
are available
Osaka Kadoma License Center
32,000 yen
tax inclusive
- 50 minutes x 2 lessons
- Including practice circuit usage charge
(7,000yen)
- available on Saturdays and Sundays
- Including driving circuit appointment charge.
- Automatic transmission car only
Lessons for Honmen
Actual Test Routes on
Public Road in Kyoto City
25,300
tax inclusive
- 50 minutes x 2 lessons
- Automatic transmission car only
Actual Test Routes on
Public Road in Kadoma City
29,500 yen
tax inclusive
- 50 minutes x 2 lessons
- Automatic transmission car only
Lesson for Parking Test
in Osaka Kadoma License Center
32,000 yen
tax inclusive
- 50 minutes x 2 lessons
- Including practice circuit usage charge
(7,000yen)
- Automatic transmission car only
After passing Karimen driving test, you must practice driving on a public road at least 5 days in the last 3 months before taking Honmen driving test for application requirements. (2 hours x 5 days).
Practice location
Lessons for Karimen
Practice circuit in Kyoto
S curve
Crank course
Railroad crossing
Hill start
Traffic lights
40km/h
Obstacle
Changing lanes
Osaka Kadoma driver’s license test center test circuit
Starting point
Road lessons for Honmen
Actual road test routes around Kyoto driver's license center.
Actual road test routes around Kadoma license center.
Age and Physical Requirements for Driver's License
●Age: 18 years old or over.
●Visual acuity: 0.3(≒20/65) or better (each eye), 0.7(≒20/28) or better (both eyes)
If either visual acuity is below 0.3, the other must be 0.7 or better and its field of vision must be 150 degrees or wider.
(Glasses or contact lenses are acceptable)
●Color recognition ability: You must be able to recognize green, yellow and red.
●Hearing ability: You must be able to hear a 90 decibel horn sound at a distance of 10 meters away from you. (10 meters ≒32 feet)
●Physical ability: You must have the ability to turn a steering wheel at will and to operate other devices to drive safely.
Steps for Obtaining a Driver's License
JYC driving school provides lessons for the test #2 and #4.
Please ask us other than those 2 parts.
#1 Karimen written test
A written test for obtaining a learner's permit
- 50 questions about rules of the road
- 25 points for each question
- Passing score: 90 points or higher (45 questions correct or more)
- Time limit: 30 minutes
You can book the Karimen driving test after passing this written test.
[Note]
Before the written test, you have to pass driving aptitude tests.
(Visual acuity, color recognition ability, hearing ability, physical ability)
#2 Karimen driving test
A driving test for obtaining a learner's permit
Proper basic driving skills following the rules of the road are required.
- This test is cunducted at a license center test circuit.
- Point deduction system.
- Start with a 100 points.
- Passing score: 70 points or higher.
Learner’s permit is issued after passing the 2 tests above. (Test #1 and #2)
Learner's permit is a temporary permit for those who try to practice and take the test on a public road.
Learner's permit is valid for 6 months from the day that you pass the Karimen driving test (Test #2). You need to pass the test #3 and test #4 within 6 months.
#3 Honmen written test
A written test for obtaining a Japanese driver's license
- 95 questions about rules of the road, knowledge of safe driving and anticipating hazards.
- 90 normal questions (1 point for each)
- 5 illustration-based questions (2 points for each)
- Passing score: 90 points or higher
- Time limit: 50minutes
You can book the Honmen driving test after you pass this test.
[Note]
Road practice record is needed
#4 Honmen driving test
A driving test for obtaining a Japanese driver's license
Proper driving skills according to traffic situations are required.
- The road test is conducted on a public road around a license center and reversing test is in a test circuit.
- Point deduction system.
- Start with a 100 points.
- Passing score: 70 points or higher after the road test and reversing test.
Certificate of passing the tests is issued after you pass this test.
[Note]
You must practice on a public road at least 5 days (2 hours per day) within the last 3 months from the day of the road test. A person who is licensed at least 3 years must ride on the front passenger's seat in the vehicle as an instructor. You must carry a valid leaner's permit during the practice. The training car must be equipped with learner's signs on its back and front.
Practice is not officially counted without all of these conditions.
#5 Shutokuji Koshu
(Lectures for those who passed the tests at a license center)
After you pass the 4 tests at a license center, you have to take a 1-day lecture (7 hours) called "Shutokuji Koshu" at a driving school spproved by a public safety commission. (公安委員会指定自動車教習所)
Certificate of taking the lectures is issued after taking the lectures.
Instead of the Shutokuji Koshu, you can also take the Tokutei Koshu (特定講習) at a driving school classified as Tokutei Todokede Kyoshusho by a public safety commission. (公安委員会特定届出教習所)
#6 Apply for your driver's license at a license center
Obtain a Japanese driver's license
Application Steps for Lesson
STEP 2
Arrange the lesson day and time .
STEP 3
Make the payment
●Bank transfer or PayPal
(If you make the payment using PayPal, 6% handling fee will be added to the lesson fee.）
We will send a confirmation of the lesson detail after the payment is completed.
STEP 4
Practice slot reservation
STEP 5
Day of the lesson
What Must I Bring To My Lesson?
Necessaries
●Glasses or contact lenses (If you need)
●Only light sunglasses are allowed if you need to wear them.
●Suitable footwear for driving (Refer sample pictures)
Flowchart of a lesson day
01
Meet up with JYC instructor.
02
Start the in-car lesson.
- 50 minutes ×2
- 10-minute break is needed per lesson
03
End of lesson
