Quote:
Originally Posted by SgtBeavis
I believe that one year rule still applies. Unless you are US Military. US Military have to take a week long driving course and pass a driving test. Then they are good to go. Unlike the $4000 Japanese driving school (which requires 40 hours of instructor led driving) the military course is all classroom based with the exception of the actual test.
IMO there is almost no reason to get a drivers license in Japan unless your job requires it. You pretty much never need a car to begin with, especially in Tokyo or any of the other major cities. Even the smaller cities and towns have good public transportation.
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Agreed the transportation system is good enough that you can get by without a car. The road tolls are expensive as well, so weekend trips away are usually best done making use of trains.
I still changed my Australian licence over though(just paid the fee and did an eyesight test) and I've driven from Tokyo to Fukushima for long weekends with friends as we were staying in a remote area away from any major train stations.
I've used my Japanese licence as a form of ID on a few occasions as well.
Although not a necessity its definitely a nice to have